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Former Wallaby reinstated on wing for Tonga's All Blacks challenge
By Online Editors
Well-travelled former Wallaby Cooper Vuna has been restored to Tonga's wing for their final Rugby World Cup warmup Test against the All Blacks in Hamilton.
Vuna shifts from inside centre to the right wing in one of six personnel or positional changes to the Tongan starting side who lost 29-19 to Fiji in Auckland last week.
The 32-year-old is used to switches, having jumped codes and teams routinely since his professional debut with the Warriors NRL club 15 years ago.
An explosive runner, Vuna scored 36 tries from 59 NRL games for the Warriors and Newcastle Knights, and also represented Tonga at the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.
Continued below...
His first rugby union contract was for three seasons with the Melbourne Rebels and he played in two victorious Tests for Australia against Wales in 2012.
Club stints in the English top-flight coincided with a return to Tongan Test eligibility three years ago.
Captain Siale Piutau shifts to the No.12 jersey, playing outside five-eighth Kurth Morath, who came off the bench against Fiji.
England-based Morath, 34, is Tonga's all-time leading point-scorer with 340 from 36 Tests.
Coach Toutai Kefu, the former Wallabies No.8, has handed a first cap to starting hooker Siua Maile.
Fifteenth-ranked Tonga have had a mixed World Cup building, suffering losses to Samoa, Japan and Fiji but beating Canada and the Western Force.
They are in a treacherous pool that includes England, France and Argentina.
Tonga: David Halaifonua, Cooper Vuna, Malietoa Hingano, Siale Piutau (capt), Viliame Lolohea, Kurt Morath, Sonatane Takalua, Maama Vaipulu, Fotu Lokotui, Sione Kalamafoni, Leva Fifita, Sam Lousi, Siua Halanukonuka, Siua Maile, Siegfried Fisi'ihoi. Res: Sione Anga'aelangi, Vunipola Fifita, Ma'afu Fia, Dan Faleafa, Zane Kapeli, Leon Fukofuka, James Faiva, Atieli Pakalani.
- AAP
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Latest Comments
Don't think you've watched enough. I'll take him over anything I's seen so far. But let's see how the future pans out. I'm quietly confident we have a row of 10's lined uo who would each start in many really good teams.
Go to commentsHopefully Joe stays where he is. That would mean Les, McKellar, larkham and Cron should as well. It’s the stability we need in the state programs. But, if Joe goes, RA with its current financial situation will be forced into promoting from within. And this will likely destabilise other areas.
To better understand some of the entrenched bitterness of those outside of NZ and NSW (as an example 😂), Nic, there is probably a comparison to the old hard heads of welsh rugby who are still stuck in the 1970s. Before the days where clubs merged, professionalism started, and the many sharp knives were put into the backs of those who loved the game more than everyone else. I’m sure you know a few... But given your comparison of rugby in both wales and Australia, there are a few north of the tweed that will never trust a kiwi or NSWelshman because of historical events and issues over the history of the game. It is what it is. For some, time does not heal all wounds. And it is still festering away in some people. Happy holidays to you. All the best in 2025.
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