Samoa ring the changes for crunch Pacific Nations Cup match vs Tonga

Head coach Mahonri Schwalger has made six personnel changes and one positional to last weekend's starting XV as Samoa look to sign off their centennial celebrations as a test-playing nation with a victory against Tonga.

Samoa, who are defending a 44-year unbeaten record against Tonga at Apia Park, need to win to keep their Pacific Nations Cup title hopes alive after they were beaten 42-16 by Fiji in the competition's curtain raiser.

The four changes to the pack include a first Test start for New Zealand club player, No.8 Iakopo Petelo Mapu.

Hooker Sama Malolo and tight-head Tietie Tuimauga are the new additions to the front row and Izaiha Moore-Aiono comes into the XV at openside.

In the backs, Afa Moleli is promoted from the bench to play full-back, which results in Tomasi Alosio shifting to the left wing, while the other change comes at outside-centre, where Stacey Ili is preferred to last week's debutant, Lalomilo Lalomilo. Lalomilo has to settle for a place on the bench.

Former Brumbies fly-half, Rodney Iona, now with NOLA Gold in the MLR, returns to test rugby nearly two years after his last appearance, a 49-17 defeat to Italy in November 2022.

The recently-turned 33-year-old will win just his eighth cap if he comes on, having made his debut in 2018.

SAMOA:

1. Aki Seiuli

2. Sama Malolo

3. Tietie Tuimauga

4. Benjamin Petaia Nee-Nee

5. Samuel Slade

6. Theo McFarland (capt)

7. Izaiha Moore-Aiono

8. Iakopo Petelo Mapu

9. Melani Matavao

10. Alai D'Angelo Leuila

11. Tomasi Alosio

12. Alapati Leiua

13. Stacey Ili

14. Tuna Tuitama

15. Afa Moleli

Replacements:

16. Luteru Tolai

17. Andrew Tuala

18. Brook Toomalatai

19. Michael Curry

20. Jonah Mau'u

21. Danny Tusitala

22. Rodney Iona

23. Lalomilo Lalomilo