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Israel Folau, Charles Piutau and Malakai Fekitoa named for test rugby returns
Israel Folau will return to test rugby for the first time since 2019 when Tonga take on Fiji in the Pacific Nations Cup on Saturday – and he’ll be joined by former All Blacks Salesi ‘Charles’ Piutau and Malakai Fekitoa.
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33-year-old Folau scored 37 tries for Australia in 73 internationals between 2013 and 2019, has been named on the right wing for the match in Suva, with Piutau handed the fullback jersey and Fekitoa set for a run in the midfield.
The three former test stars will accompany nine other debutants in Tonga’s match-day 23.
In the front row, hooker Samiuela Moli will be sandwiched by props Siegfried Fisiihoi and Siate Tokolahi while Halaleva Fifita and debutant Veikoso Poloniati form a strong combination in the locks.
In the loose forwards, Grenoble’s Tanginoa Halaifonua will be joined by the Moana Pasifika pairing of Solomone Funaki and Sione Tu’ipulotu.
Sonatane Takulua will captain the side from halfback while William Havili has been handed the No 10 jersey for his first-ever test match, despite spending the bulk of the Super Rugby Pacific season at fullback for Moana Pasifika.
Anzelo Tuitavuki – the sixth Moana Pasifika representative in the starting line-up – will run out on the left wing to combine with Folau and Piutau while Perpignan’s Afusipa Taumoepeau will partner Fekitoa in the centres after earning his test debut against England last year.
There are six further possible debutants on the bench in the forms of props David Lolohea and Sosefo ‘Joe’ ‘Apikotoa, loose forwards Sione Havili Talitui and Lotu Inise, halfback Manu Paea and outside back Tima Fainga’anuku. They’ll be joined by the experienced Siua Maile and James Faiva.
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Having become a pariah in Australian sport after some poorly received social media posts, former Kangaroos representative Folau returned to rugby league in France in 2020.
He tried to revive his career in the sport in Australia but was blocked by local officials before switching back to rugby union last year, taking up a contract with Japan’s Shining Arcs.
“It’s been awesome to be able to come back and have the opportunity to connect with the boys, and with the culture as well,” Folau said in a video message this week. “A big part of that is our faith in God as well.”
Piutau last featured for the All Blacks in 2015 while Fekitoa departed New Zealand following the 2017 Super Rugby season.
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The ‘Ikale Tahi will take on Fiji at Suva’s ANZ Stadium at 3:30pm FJT on Saturday afternoon after Samoa do battle with Australia A.
Tonga: Salesi Piutau, Isileli Folau, Afusipa Taumoepeau, Malakai Fekitoa, Anzelo Tuitavuki, William Havili, Sonatane Takulua, Sione Tu’ipulotu, Solomone Funaki, Tanginoa Halaifonua, Veikoso Poloniati, Halaleva Fifita, Siate Tokolahi, Samiuela Moli, Siegfried Fisiihoi. Reserves: Siua Maile, David Lolohea, Sosefo ‘Apikotoa, Sione Havili Talitui, Lotu Inise, Manu Paea, James Faiva, Tima Fainga’anuku.
Comments on RugbyPass
Should've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to comments