Ikale Tahi Tonga

Christchurch-based hooker Siua Maile has been selected at the expense of veteran Elvis Taione, despite no previous involvement with the national team.

The former flanker was named in the Canterbury wider training group earlier this year and Kefu admitted his selection was more about the future than the upcoming tournament in Japan.

Coach John McKee's starting XV to face Tonga at Eden Park on Saturday is likely to be close to that which runs out against the Wallabies in their pool opener at Sapporo three weeks later.

The team is dominated by European-based professionals and most of them were involved in last November's historic 21-14 upset of France in Paris.

That includes Bordeaux-based outside centre Radradra, who has made slick transition to the 15-man code.

Western Force led in the first half 10-7 but the ‘Ikale Tahi proved too strong in the second half led by fly half Kurt Morath and scrum half Sonatane Takulua.

The Tongans stuck to Coach Toutai Kefu’s game plan being direct and physical.

The stadium was packed with fans who managed to keep dry in the rain, while other fans in the outer area were drenched but stayed to the end.

Some fans including students from Queen Salote College, who cheered the Force on, sat in the rain waiting for hours before the match.

The invitational from the Tonga coach Toutai Kefu comes just a week out from the start of the Western Force's National Rugby Championship season.

Western Force coach Tim Sampson says it will be a very special occasion for his team which also features two Tongans.

"Obviously playing a national team is a huge honour for the club and it is something that we are really looking forward to. It doesn't happen often these days where club plays country," Tim Sampson said.