18 Aug 2011

Sport: Tonga rugby coach says changes more about rotation

11:19 am on 18 August 2011

The Tonga rugby coach says five changes in his forward pack is more about rotation of players than a reaction to a loss.

Isitolo Maka is preparing his squad for the second of its two tests against Fiji to be played tomorrow in Lautoka.

It will Tonga's last warm up game before it features in the World Cup opener against the All Blacks on September 9.

After the first up 27-12 defeat to Fiji Maka says rejigging the forward pack isn't a sign of panic.

"We know what we are capable of doing and it doesn't mean just because we lost the game last week that we have to make five changes in the forwards. Some guys play a lot of games in the ITM Cup and some guys didn't. So that's probably why we had to make sure everyone get a run out of the squad."