Argentina vs Tonga: Rugby World Cup final score, highlights

Argentina and Tonga will try and get their World Cups back on track after first game losses. While the shadow of high tackles, citing commissioners and red cards might be hanging around this should be a great clash with real stakes – Argentina could write off their World Cup hopes with a loss in this game. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of what promises to be a thrilling match starting from 2:45pm AEST on Saturday.

The Pumas are a curious team. They have talent, stability, Super Rugby success and pedigree at World Cups to lead you to believe that they should be flying through the group stages.

However behind these descriptions is a harsh reality that shows that the Argentinians are in a real form slump. They have won’t won a test in their last 10 outings now and are struggling to turn potential into victories.

Mario Ledesma has made a couple of big changes in the search for a win with the highly experienced Agustin Creevy and Nicolas Sanchez starting on the bench and Julian Montoya and Benjamin Urdapilleta taking their places respectively.

While there is a new man in the back row too in Tomas Lezana, there will still be a big expectation on the established players to lead the way in this game. Pablo Matera especially will be right at the front as he looks to lead his team to victory.

Tonga too have made some changes but mainly down to injuries picked up against England. James Faiva steps in at fly half and will have big boots to fill as the injured first choice #10 Kurt Morath is Tonga’s all time leading test match points scorer.

Telusa Veainu joins at full back and he’s expected to bring some real attacking flair to the Tongans’ typical power game.

Prediction
Argentina might well be on a terrible run of form but that should end in this game. They are the better side by a fair way and have the power and control to dominate Tonga up front and then the creativity to unlock their defence.

Of course, that’s what we said about Fiji wasn’t it – and Uruguay showed everyone how much that prediction meant!

Argentina by 20.

Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of what promises to be a thrilling match starting from 2:45pm AEST on Saturday.

Where: Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashiosaka City
Date: Saturday September 28
Kick-off: 2:45pm
TV: Fox Sports
Betting: Argentina $1.03, Tonga $13

Argentina
15 Emiliano Boffelli
14 Matas Moroni
13 Matias Orlando
12 Jeronimo De La Fuente
11 Santiago Carreras
10 Benjamin Urdapilleta
9 Tomas Cubelli
8 Tomas Lezana
7 Marcos Kremer
6 Pablo Matera (c)
5 Tomas Lavanini
4 Guido Petti
3 Juan Figallo
2 Julian Montoya
1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro

Replacements
16 Agustin Creevy
17 Mayco Vivas
18 Santiago Medrano
19 Matias Alemanno
20 Javier Ortega Desio
21 Felipe Ezcurra
22 Nicolas Sanchez
23 Bautista Delguy

Tonga
15 Telusa Veainu
14 Viliami Lolohea
13 Malietoa Hingano
12 Siale Piutau
11 David Halaifonua
10 James Faiva
9 Sonatane Takulua
8 Maama Vaipulu
7 Zane Kapeli
6 Sione Kalamafoni
5 Halaleva Fifita
4 Sam Lousi
3 Ben Tameifuna
2 Paul Ngauamo
1 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi

Replacements
16 Sosefo Sakalia
17 Vunipola Fifita
18 Ma’afu Fia
19 Sitiveni Mafi
20 Nasi Manu
21 Leon Fukofuka
22 Latiume Fosita
23 Cooper Vuna

Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe, Brendon Pickerill
TMO: Rowan Kitt

2019 World Cup Form
Argentina – L
Tonga – L

All time
Played 1
Argentina won 1
Tonga won 0

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