Tonga rugby

Ten countries, including World Series regulars Samoa and Australia, are competing this week for the chance to confirm their spot in Tokyo next year, with the two pool winners to square off on Saturday in the Oceania Qualifying Final.

Tonga open their qualifying campaign against American Samoa on Thursday and will also take on Vanuatu, Nauru and Australia in pool play.

Head coach Tevita Tuʻifua said there was a lot at stake: "It is a very important tournament for us," he said. "Not only for our programme but for the future of Tongan sevens."

The 'Ikale Tahi were pipped 23-21 in Kumamoto last night, having trailed 17-0 just before half-time.

Tonga also gave Argentina a 28-point headstart last week and coach Toutai Kefu was at a loss to explain their sluggish beginnings.

"I don't know, it's a good question. The coaches talked about it straight away post-game - maybe we warm up for too long (laughing), I don't know. It's something we need to look at. I think it's probably just the mental thing because, as you can see, we finish a game really well so definitely an issue for us," Toutai Kefu said.

The 'Ikale Tahi are all but out of playoff contention after a 28-12 defeat by the Pumas in Higashiosaka left then winless and without a point after two games.

Argentine hooker Julian Montoya bagged a hat-trick inside 25 minutes as the South Americans raced out to a 28-0 lead.

The 'Ikale Tahi were given a lifeline just before the half-hour mark when fullback Telusa Veainu weaved past two defenders to score their first try of the tournament.

Manu was diagnosed with testicular cancer last year and missed the entire 2018 season as he underwent treatment.

He was then named 'Ikale Tahi captain for this year's Pacific Nations Cup, but had to withdraw from the campaign just before it kicked off because of a pectoral injury.

"He's been fantastic in the way that he has really worked hard to get back and all bearing well he is looking good and [hopefully] he will be up for selection against England but only time will tell," Alatini said.

The team was welcomed in a traditional Japanese manner in Kochi on Monday night.

Tonga will be facing England in their first match of the World Cup.

The team is under the guidance of Toutai Kefu, who was born in Tonga but made 60 caps for Australia during his playing career. He took charge of the Tongan national team shortly following the 2015 World Cup. Their most recent result was a crushing 92-7 defeat to New Zealand.

The 22 year old Maile was a shock inclusion when Tonga's Rugby World Cup squad was announced earlier this week and gets his chance against the world champions after injuries to Paula Ngauamo (calf) and Sosefo Sakalia (ribs), with Sione Anga'aelangi called into the team to provide cover off the bench.

'Ikale Tahi coach Toutai Kefu admitted he still did not know much about the young man who was only called into the squad a few weeks ago.

Tonga play Fiji as part of the Pasifika Challenge with the New Zealand Heartland XV meeting Samoa in the early game.

The Kingdom have only won 27 of their previous 91 match-ups against the Flying Fijians but prevailed when the teams last met in Lautoka 14 months ago.

Toutai Kefu said he is fine-tuning his squad heading into the World Cup but are not looking too far ahead.

"We have a squad of 33 at the moment so we need to drop two players out of the squad, one forward and one back but in terms of this game we want to win.

The 'Ikale Tahi could only manage one win over Canada in the last of their three games at the recent Pacific Nations Cup but have three more warm up matches before the world showcase.

Kefu said after a month of training and touring together his players were in good shape.

"We've made some big shifts in terms of weight loss and body fat loss. We also made some huge shifts in terms of intensive running," Kefu said.

"It was important that we get a win considering the last four weeks of training have been pretty tough on the boys."

The two sides meet in the last round of the Pacific Nations Cup in Lautoka.

Kefu has made four changes made to the forward pack which was soundly beaten in Osaka last week.

Paula Ngauamo and Siua Halanukonuka comes into the front row and former Hurricane lock Sam Lousi returns from injury forcing Sitiveni Mafi to move into the loose forwards.

Zane Kapeli will start at number eight instead of Maama Vaipulu, while James Faiva and Malietoa Hingano take their place in the backline at first five and centre respectively.

The Brave Blossoms put aside the absence of their head coach, an early yellow card to Kotaro Matsushima and some worrying penalties to ensure Tonga was never in the Pacific Nations Cup game at Hanazono Rugby Stadium on Saturday, finishing as 41-7 winners in stifling heat and humidity.

With the forwards showing the benefits of the Miyazaki “Camp of Hell,” and the backs making good use of the balls that came their way, the Brave Blossoms put in a performance that will have worried their World Cup Pool A opponents, particularly with the speed at which they played the game.