Tonga bring in the heavyweights as nine changes made for England

Tonga have reinforced their team for Saturday’s Autumn Nations Series clash with England by calling up players from the Gallagher Premiership and Top 14. The Pacific Islanders were overrun 60-14 by Scotland at Murrayfield but as that match fell outside the international window, they were unable to pick some of their more established names.

Having announced nine chances to the Tonga XV that will start at Twickenham, French clubs are most heavily represented in the pack where starts are given to Bordeaux prop Ben Tameifuna, Toulon flanker Lopeti Timani, Grenoble lock Tanginoa Halaifonua, Agen hooker Paula Ngauamo and Pau prop Sigfried Fisi’ihoi.

In the backs, Stade Francais full-back Telusa Veainu, Toulon scrum-half Sonatane Takulua and Bayonne centre Mailetoa Hingano are picked to take on Eddie Jones’ men. Takulua captains the side while Worcester No8 Sione Vailanu is also present.

TONGA (vs England): T Veainu; W Fifita, M Hingano, A Taumoepeau, S Kata; Kurt Morath, S Takulua (capt); S Fisi’ihoi, P Ngauamo, B Tameifuna, H Fifita, T Halaifonua, L Timani, M Kafatolu, S Vailanu. Reps: S Maile, L Uhila, M Fia, S Funaki, O Havili, L Fukofuka, J Faiva, V Fine.