The Fijian team beat Australia last month. Photo: Pauline Ballet - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images
The Flying Fijians and the Tongan 'Ikale Tahi have both made changes to their teams for the final pool matches at the Rugby World Cup in France this weekend.
Fiji head coach Simon Raiwalui has named his team to face Portugal in Toulouse on Sunday, with Vilimoni Botitu starting at 10 for only the second time for Fiji.
This is one of six changes to the starting line-up from Fiji's last game against Georgia.
Botitu is an injury replacement for Fiji and will make his first start at the event.
Tonga coach Toutai Kefu has given their most-capped player, Sonatane Takulua, his first start at this edition of the World Cup at scrum-half, returning to captain the team as well.
Takulua came off the bench in the team's earlier three pool matches.
Speaking to the media in Lilles, Takulua was looking forward to breaking new ground in the next game.
"Playing all the matches. Getting to lead out my team on Sunday, first time in a World Cup, will be special for me and my family," he said
Romania would not be an easy team to beat, but Tonga had prepared well for the clash, Takulua said.
"We were disappointed with the losses in our last three games, but there were some positives that we took to build into the last game against Romania," he said.
"We have been working really hard this week and hopefully we'll go out there and deliver."
Tonga hopes to fare better in its next game than it did against South Africa. Photo: AFP / Christophe Simon
Coach Kefu, who has indicated the match will be his last as coach of the 'Ikale Tahi, said Tonga's team had improved as the tournament progressed - and a win against Romania would be icing on the cake for them and their fans.
"We should win this game. We don't want to be complacent. We still need the same mindset and the same approach of the first three games," Kefu said.
"We wanted to give all players a run. Even if this game was crucial for us to go through to the pool stages, we still would have done the same.
"Now that we have no chance of the quarter-finals, if we could do it without compromising our ability to win the game, why not?"
George Moala will come back after his suspension.
"He definitely deserves to play. He is raring to go.
"Malakai [Fekitoa] has been enormous for us. I thought his last game was his best game.
"Those players who miss out understood those players [coming in] should get Rugby World Cup experience as well," Kefu said.
Tonga expects Romania to be tough
He said Romania is going through the same thing they have been going through.
"They're in the same shoes we are, playing the first three top teams first. If there was a team for them to target, this is the game," Kefu said.
"Last time we played them two or three years ago we lost, and the time before that we only just won, so it's not going to be easy.
"If we can bring that same energy and aggression and commitment that we did for the last couple of games, we should get a good result."
He believes the more time the players have spent together has helped the team.
Former All Black George Moala will make a belated Rugby World Cup debut at the age of 32 after serving a five-match suspension, replacing another ex-All Black, Malakai Fekitoa, at centre.
Inside centre Ahki and full-back Salesi Piutau are the only players for Tonga at this Rugby World Cup to have played in all 240 minutes of their matches to date.
Former Wallaby Adam Coleman makes his first start of RWC 2023 after two bench appearances.
The two teams clash on Monday morning at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lilles.
The Tongan match-day 23:1 Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, 2. Paula Ngauamo, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 4 Halaleva Fifita, 5 Adam Coleman, 6 Semisi Paea, 7 Sione Talitui , Sione Vailanu, 9 Sonatane Takulua (c), 10 William Havili , 11. Afusipa Taumoepeau, 12 Pita Ahki , 13 George Moala, 14 Solomone Kata, 15 Salesi Piutau; Replacements: 16 Sione Anga'aelangi, 17 Paula Latu, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Sitiveni Mafi, 20 Penitoa Finau, 21 Manusiu Paea, 22 Patrick Pellegrini, 23 Kyren Taumoefolau.
Botitu starts for Fiji in changed lineup
Meanwhile, France-based Botitu makes his first start at the world event taking over from Teti Tela at flyhalf for the Flying Fijians.
Fiji has made six changes to the starting XV that defeated Georgia, with two in the forward pack and four in the backs.
Coach Raiwalui says they have prepared well and have made changes, some due to injuries.
Semi Radradra and Iliesa Droasese are the notable absentees from the match-day 23 named.
Josua Tuisova, whose son Tito died in Fiji last weekend after a long illness, has been named at inside centre.
"We've had some outstanding training, the guys have put their hands up," Raiwalui said in Toulouse on Friday.
"There have been some bangs and bruises from the last match and a couple of others who have really earned their spots.
"We had a few things to work on after the Georgia game, they tested us in certain areas, especially in the first half. The boys, to their credit, answered those questions. We went back to basics this week."
He expects Portugal to come out strongly against them.
"I've watched them since we knew we would be playing them and they play a great brand of rugby, with a good spirit under (head coach) Patrice Lagisquet," he said.
"We know it will be a really tough match. We really want to perform to the best of our ability and if we do that, the result will take care of itself."
Players say they are ready
Captain Waisea Nayacalevu they need to win so they can secure their quarterfinal spot from Pool C.
"It's a special day for us, it's our final this weekend. If we win, we qualify. The boys are ready," Nayacalevu said.
"We're representing the people at home. The struggle they go through to watch us, for that I ask the players to go out and play their hearts out."
Tough forward Temo Mayanavanua says he looks forward to the lineout battles.
"Firstly, all due respect to Portugal, they've been really good in the lineout and we've come with a strategy," he said.
"We know if we do our basics well and to the best of our ability, then it should be a good day in the office.es, they love to play, they are a very passionate team, we're not taking Portugal lightly this week - this is another final for us and I know that when I don the white jersey on Sunday, I will tune in with our winning mindset to get the result."
Tough number eight Viliame Mata says they have their own game plan to counter Portugal.
"We've got our strategy to play against Portugal. We know they want to play as well but it's the only team that stand in our way to qualify for the play-offs," he said.
"We've got to match them if we don't want to go home."
Fyhalf Botitu, who will be in charge of unleashing the speedy Fijian backline, says t's a critical game for them.
"We will take Portugal seriously, take this game as our final," Botitu said.
"If we play together as a team, the result will take care of itself. As coach said, we won't look beyond Portugal and continue from there."
Fijian Drua cap Meli Derenalagi will make his Rugby World Cup debut after making his test debut earlier this year against Samoa.
Full back Sireli Maqala has played just five minutes at RWC 2023, and will earn his first start at this tournament.
Captain Waisea Nayacalevu and Teti Tela are the only two Flying Fijians to have played every minute of RWC 2023 so far.
Veteran flanker Levani Botia is the only survivor from the last time Fiji played Portugal in 2013.
The Flying Fijians match-day 23: 1 Eroni Mawi, 2 Samuel Matavesi, 3 Luke Tagi, 4 Isoa Nasilasila,5 Temo Mayanavanua, 6 Meli Derenalagi, 7 Levani Botia, 8 Viliame Mata, 9 Frank Lomani, 10 Vilimoni Botitu, 11 Vinaya Habosi, 12 Josua Tuisova, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu (c), 14 Selesitino Ravutaumada,15 Sireli Maqala; Replacements: 16 Tevita Ikanivere, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Mesake Doge, 19 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 20 Albert Tuisue, 21 Peni Matawalu, 22 Teti Tela, 23 Iosefo Masi.
