OSAKA, 27 Sep – A preview of the Pool C match between Argentina and Tonga, which kicks off at 13:45 on Saturday at Hanazono Rugby Stadium.

The Big Picture

Coach Mario Ledesma needs no reminding of the pressure on Argentina – semi-finalists at Rugby World Cup 2015 – when they face Tonga in their second Pool C match in Hanazono on Saturday.

After full-back Emiliano Boffelli's late penalty kick to win the match against France sailed wide of the posts on Saturday, the Pumas know they have their work cut out to progress from the group at RWC 2019.

They cannot afford any slip-ups against Tonga, who were themselves beaten 35-3 by England in their first game.

The Pumas made that RWC 2015 semi-final despite losing their opening match, but Japan is a very different situation.

A 26-16 defeat by champions New Zealand in front of more than 89,000 fans at Wembley Stadium – after having led 16-12 in the second-half – did not shake Argentina's belief that they could go deep into the tournament, especially with "only" Georgia, Tonga and Namibia immediately ahead of them.

Now, however, they still have pool favourites England to play and with Eddie Jones's side taking maximum points from two games Ledesma knows the table does not make happy reading.

On what they have to get right against the Pacific Islanders the coach, who won 84 caps and played in four RWCs between 1999 and 2011, said: "Our mindset. It's very ambitious perhaps, but we must do what we set out to do.

"Against France we didn't (get it right) in the first 40 minutes (they trailed 20-3 at the break before losing 23-21), so this time we must remain focused and overcome our mistakes.

"The most dangerous teams are the ones who aren't afraid to make mistakes."

Ledesma has made four changes to the starting XV, dropping former captain Agustin Creevy and record points-scorer Nicolas Sanchez to the bench.

"Nobody can take it (selection) for granted," said Ledesma. "Everyone who has worn the shirt knows it – that's the name of the game. And what we see today as suiting our needs may not be so in the next match (against England in Tokyo on Saturday, 5 October)."

Argentina beat Tonga 45-16 in RWC 2015, a match, pictured above, in which Sanchez scored 25 points, but is perhaps best remembered for Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona dancing and singing with the players in the dressing room afterwards. 

Ledesma is not about to underestimate "Ikale Tahi" – the Sea Eagles – on the evidence of their heavy defeat against England.  

"They set the tone from the first ball when they stopped Billy Vunipola dead in his tracks off a 20m run. It's a side true to their style, much tidier and better in keeping the ball, with many players in European clubs."

Tonga, who have lost fly-half Kurt Morath (throat injury) and centre Nafi Tuitavake (broken arm) for the tournament, also make four changes.

Fit-again hooker Paula Ngauamo is the only switch in the pack, while James Faiva replaces Morath, Telusa Veainu is in at full-back and Malietoa Hingano starts at centre.

Tonga's lack of attacking threat was the most worrying feature of last week, but coach Toutai Kefu believes Veainu's return from injury could make a big difference.

"We don’t have many players like Telusa," said Australian World Cup winner Kefu. "He is high quality and has a lot of X-factor.

"He is critical for us. That’s why we've thrown him straight in – he is an integral part of the team.

"He possibly could have played last week, but we just wanted to give him an extra week. I think he will give us spark in attack – he can make something out of nothing."

Form guide (most recent matches first)

Argentina: LLLLL

Tonga: LLWLL

Head-to-head:

Played 1 – Argentina 1W Tonga 1L

In the spotlight

Both sides pride themselves on forward strength, Tonga having the heaviest player in the tournament in 151kg prop Ben Tameifuna, but there is plenty of talent behind the packs as well.

The two teams started the tournament with their two record points-scorers at fly-half, but Argentina’s Nicolas Sanchez has been dropped to the bench after the 23-21 defeat against France, while Tonga’s Kurt Morath is out of RWC 2019 after three days in hospital, his throat having been accidentally stood on by Manu Tuilagi in the 35-3 defeat against England.

Tonga are looking to full-back Telusa Veainu, a star of the Leicester Tigers team before he suffered a foot injury and missed most of last season, to provide a spark. Argentina have Benjamin Urdapilleta wearing the number 10 jersey.

Team news

Both teams make four changes to their starting XVs from the opening games.

Argentina bring in fly-half Benjamin Urdapilleta, wing Santiago Carreras, hooker Julian Montoya and number eight Tomas Lezana. Nicolas Sanchez, Agustin Creevy and Javier Ortego Desio are on the bench and Ramiro Moyano is out of the match-day 23.

For Tonga, hooker Paula Ngauamo, full-back Telusa Veainu and centre Malietoa Hingano return from injury, while James Favia replaces the injured Kurt Morath at fly-half. Latiume Fosita, who arrived from New Zealand late on Wednesday as Morath's replacement in the squad, is on the bench.

Stats and trivia

The teams have met only once in the Rugby World Cup, in 2015, with Argentina winning 45-16 at Leicester.

Nicolas Sanchez's 25 points that day was his second-best haul in international rugby. He scored 29 against Japan in 2015.

Tonga have twice beaten Tier 1 opponents in 17 attempts at the Rugby World Cup. In 1999 they defeated Italy and in 2011 France.

Only two teams – Fiji (1987) and France (2011) – have managed to survive a RWC pool phase after having two defeats in it.

Argentina finished fourth at RWC 2015. Only one team in RWC history finished in the top four at one World Cup and then failed to survive the pool phase in the next. Wales came third in 1987 and made a pool-phase exit in 1991.

Quotes

"We have seen there is a chance there. Once the stars are aligned there’s a wonderful opportunity for us." – Tonga captain Siale Piutau, hoping his side can upset the odds just as Uruguay did against Fiji, below.

"In order to achieve our main goal – making it to the quarter-finals – we must win all three matches. Our loss at the weekend was tough, but our mission remains the same. It was key to turn over a new page as soon as possible." – Argentina captain Pablo Matera.

"The message hasn't changed, not just from this staff, but from any Puma we have ever had. Nobody can take it for granted - everyone who's worn this shirt knows it. That's the name of the game.” – Argentina coach Mario Ledesma.

"Argentina and France are both better teams than they showed last week. We are under no illusions – they are world-class." – Toutai Kefu (AUS), Tonga head coach.

RNS mg/dh/lm