Preview: England v Tonga

It is a 'fight to the death'! It is a 'do-or-die battle'! Pick your cliché, it will fit in nicely here. The scenario for England and Tonga is simple - the winner moves on to the World Cup quarter-finals and the loser goes home.
But wait, there is a twist! What happens if there is a draw?
England will go home and Tonga move into the play-offs, since Tonga have a slightly better (+9 against +4) points differential.
The only other way to separate them is if one team scores four tries and the other doesn't - which means the bonus point will put them through.
Not surprising, then, to hear both teams talk this week of their biggest game since 2003 for England, and the most momentous encounter in Tonga's history.
It may sound like Hollywood-style hype and an overuse of platitudes, but it really is a case of winner takes all.
As England's superstar fly-half Jonny Wilkinson said this week, it will be the team that wants it most and the side with the most commitment that will go on to meet Australia in the World Cup quarter-final at Stade Velodrome, Marseille, on October 6.
England have lost 25 of the 43 Test matches since Martin Johnson held aloft the Webb Ellis Cup in Sydney four years ago (a strike rate of just 58 per cent), compared to 42 wins from 47 (89 per cent) of the previous four years (1999 to 2003).
And a 26th defeat would officially make them the worst reigning World Cup champions in history, given that every previous title holder at least made the quarter-finals.
But the Tongans, having pushed Pool A winners South Africa to the limit last Saturday, are chasing the unique achievement of appearing in their first-ever World Cup play-offs - which would earn them a place in Rugby Union folklore and the history books.
England know this will not be a 'just arrive to win' scenario. The Pacific islanders will literally throw everything but the kitchen sink at the English.
"We've already seen huge performances from Tonga, who showed against South Africa you have to go out there with everything," Wilkinson said.
"You can't hold anything back against these guys. You need to go out there and be enormously committed to a cup-final mentality.
"Tonga are a hugely-organised side, as well as having that fantastic flair and physical ability that makes them enormously dangerous and threatening. There is a fantastic balance."
The Tongans have made no secret of how important the game is for the psyche of the nation.
"It's the biggest game in our history," said Tonga captain Nili Latu.
"We have a great chance of getting into the quarter-finals.
"We have had three great weeks - but we don't want to lose now. We have set a benchmark for ourselves, and I expect the boys to step up.
"We don't want to be going home next week. Our destiny is in our own hands.
"England is a one-off match, and the losers won't get another chance to put it right. We need to stand up and be counted, or we will get left behind."
While the adrenaline-induced action will certainly dominate the early exchanges - those big collision points that can shape the game - at some stage the teams will have to fall back on their skills and experience.
The one aspect of the game where England could have a distinct advantage - and where they have looked impressive - is the set-pieces.
England's vulnerability under pressure came to the fore against South Africa, when their pack did not have it all their own way. Against Samoa England's forwards were in control for most of the game.
However, the Tongan set-piece game is certainly not a weakness England can expect some pressure in this department.
"We know Tonga have got a huge amount of physicality, and we've got to step up and bring our own physicality," Wilkinson said.
But they will need to keep it up for the entire game and not allow those lapses that saw Samoa come back from being down 9-26 to narrow the gap to just one score - before a late English rally sealed the game.
The Tongans are geared to push England all the way.
"We have been training for a long time to make ourselves an 80-minute team," Latu said.
"We are strong; we are calm under pressure and we will continue to play the way we've been playing. We will get opportunities to score, so it's in our own hands to take them.
"We haven't got the greatest facilities or equipment in Tonga - but we've shown here that you don't always need that.
"We are a tight group and we respect each other, and we are not playing just for us - we're playing for the people of Tonga.
"People under-estimated us, but we believed we were good enough to get to the quarter-finals. We are one step away from that now."
Ones to watch:
For England: He showed against Samoa last week his true value to the English cause and fly-half Jonny Wilkinson will again be a key player. There is also young Matt Stevens, who is keeping England's World Cup captain on the bench and he will need to show that he deserves that elevated status.
For Tonga: Number eight Finau Maka is easily the most recognisable of the Tongan players because of his huge afro hairdo, but along with flankers Nili Latu (the captain) and Hale T Pole they are a vital component of the Tongan defensive and attacking units.
Head to head: This is a showdown of two classic fly-halves - Jonny Wilkinson (England) versus Pierre Hola (Tonga). Wilkinson's ability and World Cup-winning exploits are well documented, but Hola has proved himself to be an equally astute number 10 on the world stage. It just so happens they will also be controlling the destinies of their respective countries.
Previous result:
1999: England won 101-10, Twickenham (RWC)
1979: England win 37-17, Nuku'alofa (unofficial)
Prediction: When you look past all the hype and sentiments that go with Tonga's elevated World Cup status, you will find that across the park England just appear to be a bit too skilful and classy for the islanders. Expect England to work hard, but secure a deserved win - by 10 to 15 points.
The teams:
England: 15 Josh Lewsey, 14 Paul Sackey, 13 Mathew Tait, 12 Olly Barkley, 11 Mark Cueto, 10 Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Andy Gomarsall, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Lewis Moody, 6 Martin Corry (c), 5 Ben Kay, 4 Steve Borthwick, 3 Matt Stevens, 2 George Chuter, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements: 16 Lee Mears, 17 Phil Vickery, 18 Lawrence Dallaglio, 19 Joe Worsley, 20 Peter Richards, 21 Andy Farrell, 22 Dan Hipkiss.
Tonga: 15 Vungakoto Lilo, 14 Tevita Tu'ifua, 13 Sukanaivalu Hufanga, 12 Epeli Taione, 11 Joseph Vaka, 10 Pierre Hola, 9 Sione Tu'ipulotu, 8 Finau Maka, 7 Nili Latu (c), 6 Hale T Pole, 5 Lisiate Fa'aoso, 4 Viliami Vaki, 3 Kisi Pulu, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: 16 Ephraim Taukafa, 17 Taufa'ao Filise, 18 Maama Molitika, 19 Inoke Afeaki, 20 Soane Havea, 21 Hudson Tonga'uiha, 22 Aisea Havili.
Date: Friday, September 28
Kick-off: 21:00 (20:00 BST; 19:00 GMT)
Venue: Parc des Princes, Paris
Conditions: Light rain - high 13°C, low 12°C
Referee: Alain Rolland
Touch judges: Craig Joubert, Christophe Berdos
Television match official: Mark Lawrence
Assessor: Bob Francis

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