Rugby Community Cup 2023 Meets Preview: Scotland v Tonga

14 days when they had been outmuscled and you will outpaced by defending champions Southern Africa from inside the Marseille, Scotland will want to kickstart its Rugby Community Mug issue facing Tonga, when you look at the Sweet – two hours further eastern with each other France’s Mediterranean coastline.

Lead advisor Gregor Townsend makes five alter to his performing front. Prop Rory Sutherland – to your their Football Business Cup first in the age 31 – and you may second-row Scott Cummings come into the new prepare to own Pierre Schoeman and you may Offer Gilchrist correspondingly, if you are centre Chris Harris and you can wing Kyle Steyn, eg Sutherland and then make 1st contest physical appearance, begin in the fresh backline, that have Huw Jones and you may Darcy Graham shedding on the bench. Ewan Ashman, Sam Skinner and George Horne also come into the suits-date 23.

They will want a massive win over a Tonga front you to definitely shed 59-sixteen against a widespread Ireland inside Nantes almost a week later – brand new match where Johnny Sexton became a respected items scorer inside the Irish global football record.

Mentor Toutai Kefu enjoys caught with the exact same starting XV having it match, with four former Most of the Blacks in full-straight back Salesi Piutau, center Malakai Fekitoa, scrum-half of Augustine Pulu and you may matter seven Vaea Fifita. But they have generated several transform on the counter: adding Pat Pellegrini, and ex lover-Australian continent around the globe Adam Coleman, who can make their Tongan debut.

Installation Background

This is only the 6th day these particular a couple corners provides played each other. Scotland keeps won four of your own five fits up until now.

Splendid Matches

Despite having around three players sin-binned in the event the a couple edges fulfilled at Pittodrie, Tonga filed their first, also to day merely, win over Scotland for the , by way of seeks away from Lua Lokotui and Fetu’u Vainikolo, including 11 activities throughout the boot away from Fangatapu Apikotoa. Scotland mustered four Greig Laidlaw punishment within the reply – therefore the fits finished 21-15.

Trick Talking Point

Tonga’s users and valentime chat you will employees may be the earliest so you’re able to accept that they did not bring good membership out of by themselves within their opening meets facing Ireland for the Nantes. And they will feel computed to put on a better overall performance here – nonetheless deal with good Scotland front that really needs a victory to help you stay in touch having Pond B’s better two, new Irish as well as the Springboks. This might be vital-profit getting Gregor Townsend’s front side – nonetheless should expect stern resistance.

Member Head-TO-Head

Rory Sutherland v Ben Tameifuna. Scotland’s reduce-direct, for the their Globe Glass debut, and just their second initiate into the federal side into the 19 weeks, happens face-to-face having Tonga’s head and you may a guy hill from a tight-direct. That region of the scrum promises to getting a battle regal.

STATS-Incredible

Chris Paterson ‘s the only Scotland athlete having pulled region during the five Football Community Servings. The past of their national list fifteen event looks, against The united kingdomt from inside the Auckland in 2011, has also been their finally sample.

REF See

Karl Dickson (England). Previous elite scrum-half of Dickson started understanding getting their refereeing certification when you are however an excellent user – and then make their introduction given that a central matches authoritative when you look at the a title match when you look at the , 3 days prior to he had been toward workbench on English Premiership fits ranging from Harlequins and you will Gloucester at Twickenham.

Teams

SCOTLAND Blair Kinghorn; Kyle Steyn, Chris Harris, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell, Ben White; Rory Sutherland, George Turner, Zander Fagerson; Richie Grey, Scott Cummings; Jamie Ritchie (captain), Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey

TONGA Salesi Piutau; Solomone Kata, Malakai Fekitoa, Pita Ahki, Afusipa Taumoepeau; William Havili, o, Ben Tameifuna (captain); Halaleva Fifita, Sam Lousi; Tanginoa Halaifonua, Sione Talitui, Vaea Fifita