OSAKA, 25 Sep – Tonga’s depleted squad were going 10-pin bowling in Osaka on Wednesday, hoping that on Saturday the strikes will flow thick and fast against Argentina.
Rugby World Cup 2019 has not gone well for the Pacific Islanders so far. Not only did they lose 35-3 against England in Sapporo on Sunday, but fly-half Kurt Morath and centre Nafi Tuitavake – "two of our better players" according to assistant coach Richard Watt (NZL) - were both ruled out of the tournament.
Tuitavake broke his left arm in the final play of the game – the closest Tonga came to scoring a try – but the more serious concern afterwards was for Morath, who was kept in hospital for three nights with a serious throat injury sustained when Manu Tuilagi’s boot accidentally caught him in a tackle.
The good news to come out of that on Wednesday morning was that the 34-year-old Doncaster Knights player was due to be released during the day and did not need surgery.
Tonga have still to hear whether Tasman in New Zealand will release Fetuli Paea to replace Tuitavake, but the experienced Latiume Fositaa, who played in the recent Pacific Nations Cup and just missed out on World Cup selection, was flying in for Morath and could well be named on the bench for the Argentina match in Hanazono.
The Pumas also lost their opening game of RWC 2019, but it was a close-run thing - 23-21 against France - after full-back Emiliano Boffelli missed a long-range penalty attempt in the final seconds.
Argentina, semi-finalists four years ago after beating Tonga 45-16 in the pool stage, have slipped to 11th in the world rankings since but Watt is not about to suggest they are there for the taking this weekend.
"I don’t read too much into the world rankings," he said. "They are a Tier 1 nation and although they have lost some games in the Rugby Championship they were pretty close losses. They could have beaten the All Blacks and they gave South Africa a hard game.
"I know a lot about them through the Jaguares in Super Rugby. Those guys are used to winning."
Fighting broke out at the end of the France match, above, and Watt added: "They have Latino blood and they get fired up. It’s footy.
"Argentina pose a similar physical challenge to England and their defeat against France means this is a must-win game for them.
"We’ve got to make sure our bodies and minds are fresh. It is a pretty quick turnaround for us."
Flanker Sione Kalamafoni is one of the survivors from the RWC 2015 defeat by the Pumas.
"I don’t remember much, but I remember this," he said, pointing to a scar on his right knee. "It’s from that game.
"We are here to complete the task of competing on a world stage. When we got into the England 22 we didn’t throw a punch.
"Now we’re hoping to fix those little mistakes. Argentina are a good team, though, and we have to give them respect."
RNS mg/dh/rl/ajr