Rugby World Cup 2015

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EWCASTLE, 7 Oct - Tonga head coach Mana 'Otai has named his team to face New Zealand in Pool C on Friday at St James' Park.

Tonga have made only one change to the starting line-up that lost to Argentina on 4 October. Latiume Fosita replaces Sione Piukala at inside-centre.

This is the fewest changes Tonga have made between successive Rugby World Cup matches since 2003. In that year, they made no changes to the side that lost to Wales and then faced the All Blacks. New Zealand won that match 91-7.

This Tonga starting line-up has 360 test matches worth of experience. This improves the RWC team record of 349 that was set against Argentina on 4 October.

At an average of 30 years and 235 days of age, this starting line-up is slightly younger than the one that set a record for the World Cup's oldest ever (31 - 038), the one that faced Argentina on 4 October.

Six Tonga players will make a fourth start at RWC 2015 - Sione Kalamafoni, Viliami Ma'afu, Sonatane Takulua, Siale Piutau, Telusa Veainu and Vungakoto Lilo.