Rugby Business Glass 2023 Meets Preview: Scotland v Tonga

Fourteen days after they was in fact outmuscled and outpaced by the safeguarding champions Southern Africa in Marseille, Scotland will want to kickstart its Football Industry Glass complications facing Tonga, inside Sweet – two hours next east together France’s Mediterranean coastline.

Head coach Gregor Townsend made four change so you’re able to their undertaking side. Prop Rory Sutherland – with the their Rugby Business Glass first at the age of 30 – and next-line Scott Cummings have been in the new pack getting Pierre Schoeman and you can Offer Gilchrist correspondingly, when you’re heart Chris Harris and you may side Kyle Steyn, such as Sutherland and work out his first event physical appearance, begin in this new backline, with Huw Jones and Darcy Graham dropping into table. Ewan Ashman, Sam Skinner and you may George Horne come on meets-go out 23.

They’re going to need a huge conquer a good Tonga side you to lost 59-sixteen against a widespread Ireland when you look at the Nantes nearly a week later – the meets where Johnny Sexton turned into a number one items scorer within the Irish internationally rugby background.

Coach Toutai Kefu provides caught with similar carrying out XV to own this match, that have five previous All Blacks entirely-back Salesi Piutau, centre Malakai Fekitoa, scrum-half Augustine Pulu and you will number eight Vaea Fifita. But they have generated a few change on table: launching Pat Pellegrini, and you may ex-Australia internationally Adam Coleman, just who will make his Tongan first.

Installation Record

This is exactly precisely the sixth time these particular a few edges features played one another. Scotland has actually obtained four of your own four matches at this point.

Memorable Meets

Despite three members sin-binned when the several edges fulfilled at Pittodrie, Tonga filed its first, and day merely, make an impression on Scotland into the , courtesy tries out-of Lua Lokotui and Fetu’u Vainikolo, as well as 11 products from the footwear out of Fangatapu Apikotoa. Scotland mustered four Greig Laidlaw charges in answer – and meets concluded 21-fifteen.

Secret Talking Point

Tonga’s people and team may be the earliest to admit you to definitely they failed to provide an excellent membership from themselves within starting matches against Ireland within the Nantes. And they’ll getting computed to put on a better performance here – nonetheless they face a great Scotland side that really needs a profit in order to keep in touch having Pool B’s greatest a few, the fresh Irish plus the Springboks. This might be a must-winnings to have Gregor Townsend’s side – nonetheless they can get strict opposition.

Athlete Lead-TO-Direct

Rory Sutherland v Ben Tameifuna. hot kazakh girl Scotland’s shed-head, toward his World Glass first, and simply their second start to your national side inside the 19 days, goes one on one with Tonga’s master and you will one slope off a rigorous-direct. You to definitely area of the scrum promises to end up being a fight royal.

STATS-Unbelievable

Chris Paterson ‘s the just Scotland user to own removed area during the four Football Industry Servings. The past out of his national listing fifteen competition looks, up against The united kingdomt inside the Auckland last year, has also been his latest attempt.

REF View

Karl Dickson (England). Former elite scrum-half Dickson come learning for his refereeing certification if you’re still a player – and make their first while the a main fits authoritative during the a title fits in the , 3 days prior to he was into the counter on the English Premiership match between Harlequins and you can Gloucester at Twickenham.

Communities

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