Reuters
[Source: Tonga Rugby Union/ Facebook]
While most of the other teams at the Rugby World Cup have already tasted action, the strongest Tonga squad ever assembled have been biding their time in the calm of their Paris hotel by the banks of the River Seine.
World Rugby’s 2021 eligibility rule change means the squad features World Cup winner Malakai Fekitoa and other former All Blacks Charles Piutau, Vaea Fifita, George Moala and Augustine Pulu, as well as former Wallabies lock Adam Coleman.
They finally get their chance to test themselves against the best in the world when they take on top-ranked Ireland in a Pool B clash in Nantes on Saturday, when they hope to show some genuine class of their own.
Hilton was understandably reluctant to expand on what those areas might be but one could be the scrum, where hulking prop Ben Tameifuna plies his trade.
New Zealand-born Tameifuna was called into the All Blacks squad in 2012 but never played a test, switching his allegiance to Tonga after moving to France to play his club rugby.
Tameifuna said when he first started playing for Ikale Tahi, there was a gulf between the level of coaching, support and player quality he experienced at club level and with Tonga.
Tameifuna said the entire Tonga pack now plays in Europe, Australasia or Japan and he believes they will be able to compete with the best at scrum time.
In addition to the injection of international class, Tameifuna said the Tongans retained a special team bond that is reinforced by morning prayer meetings and cultural education for players raised in Australia and New Zealand.
Getting out of the opening stage for the first time in nine World Cups will nonetheless be a tough assignment given Tonga are in a pool also including Scotland, world champions South Africa and Romania.
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