(eventpolynesia) –  Ikale Tahi head coach Isitolo Maka announced the Tongan team on Monday to play their third match against Japan at Northland Events Stadium, Whangarei, tonight (Wednesday, 21 September) with Aleki Lutui stepping into the shoes of Finau Maka in the captaincy.

Maka suffered bruised ribs in last week’s 25-20 defeat to Canada. In the last five years Japan and Tonga have met five times in the annual Pacific Nations Cup and on each occasion Japan has defeated Tonga.”It’s a big game for us. It’s a game that we need to win, so it’s a big responsibility when you get called up to be captain. Last week, we are disappointed with that, with Canada and before that, the All Blacks,” said Lutui.

1. Soane Tonga’uiha, 2. Aleki Lutui (c), 3. Taufa’ao Filise, 4. Tukulua Lokotui, 5. Paino Hehea, 6. Sione Kalamafoni, 7. Sione Vaiomo’unga, 8. Viliami Ma’afu, 9. Taniela Moa, 10. Kurt Morath, 11. Sukanaivalu Hufanga, 12. Alipate Fatafehi, 13. Siale Piutau, 14. Fetu’u Vainikolo, 15. Vungakoto Lilo

Replacements:, 16. Aloisio Ma’asi, 17. Alisona Taumalolo, 18. Halani Aulika, 19. Joseph Tu’ineau, 20. Samiu Vahafolau, 21. Samisoni Fisilau, 22. Andrew Ma’ilei

The sold-out match at Eden Park this weekend between the Flying Fijians and Manu Samoa will be the first time the two Pacific teams will be playing each other in a World Cup match. Both teams are in Pool D and need to win to have any chance of a quarterfinal placing. 

The Tongan supporters certainly caused the overwhelming upshot of support for the World Cup, now matched by Manu Samoa fans. Not to be outdone, the Flying Fijians can count on the Fijian Police entertainment band to set Eden Park alive with real Fijian entertainment this Sunday.

Better still, we should all get behind Ikale Tahi, the Flying Fijiand and Manu Samoa as Pacific in unison.

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Palemia Ugapo

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