Preview: Tonga v Namibia

In stark contract the southern Africans will simply be after a first-ever win.

Tonga went down to a shock 10-17 defeat by Georgia in their opening match, throwing the scrap for third place wide open – behind heavyweights New Zealand and Argentina.

While Tonga mathematically remain in the hunt for second place, they have still to play the All Blacks and the Pumas, who finish up their pool campaign against Namibia.

Namibia have made eight changes to the starting line-up that lost 14-58 to New Zealand last week.

Indefatigable Saracens flank Jacques Burger will captain the side coached by Welshman Phil Davies to make his 10th World Cup appearance, which leaves him one shy of the team record of 11 held by Hugo Horn.

Tonga, an ever-present at the World Cup bar one absence in 1991, have nine changes, coach Mana Otai explaining that decision by pointing to the short timespan between the next games.

"There's always been a plan about how we take on these four games and take into consideration the two four-day turnarounds in the upcoming two games, but having said that, we also take into consideration now the situation that we're in," Otai said.

"We haven't had success in the last game against Georgia, so we're making sure that we address this game first and foremost, hence the changes. This is the team that we believe is going to do the job in the game coming up against Namibia.

"On the day we've got to be prepared, regardless of who we're playing and I think we learned our lessons from Georgia."

Otai warned that their favourites' tag would count for nothing following England's 25-28 defeat by Wales.

"It could have been either one's game, but if you look at the build-up to it, I think the favourites were England – we're in the same dilemma [being favourites]. It highlighted that at the World Cup anything could happen."

Namibia coach Davies warned that his team faced a tough test against the South Sea islanders.

"The Tongans have had a good rest. There will be a lot of emotion flying around their team and they will be very physical," the former Llanelli and Wales forward said.

"They are No.11 in the world and we are No.20. That's a huge difference, so it will be a massive, massive challenge for us."

Davies said many positives could be taken from their defeat by champions New Zealand.

"There was inevitable excitement about our performance but this is a level-headed group," Davies said.

"I was pleased with the performance but a bit disappointed that we didn't impose ourselves a bit earlier."

Players to watch:

For Tonga: With all of the players in the matchday squad plying their trade abroad, there won't be a shortage of experience. Co-captains Siale Piutau (Japan) and Viliami Ma'afu (France) will be tasked with keeping this 'foreign legion' together. The halfbacks – flyhalf Latiume Fosita and scrumhalf Sonatane Takulua – are the babies of the team, both just 23. The next 'youngest' player is 27, while the co-captains are 29 (Piutau) and 33 (Ma'afu). Lock Hale T Pole (33) and hooker Aleki Lutui (37) help drag the team's average age closer 30.

For Namibia: Namibia also have a number of players who ply their trade abroad, or at least outside the borders of their country, but not as many as Tonga. Top of that list is their Saracens-based captain Jacques Burger – while Renaldo Bothma, Rohan Kitshoff and Torsten van Jaarsveld are regulars in domestic competitions in South Africa. Apart from Burger, other players based in Europe include flyhalf Theuns Kotzé and Chrysander Botha. However, 12 members of the 31-man World Cup squad still play in the Namibian domestic club competition.

Head to head: It could be brutal when No.8s Viliami Ma'afu (Tonga) and Renaldo Bothma (Namibia) 'smash' into each other. The showdown at halfback – Tonga's Latiume Fosita (No.10) and Sonatane Takulua (No.9) against Namibians Theuns Kotze (flyhalf) and Eneill Buitendag (scrumhalf) – will go a long way to determine the outcome of this match.

Previous result:

1997: Tonga won 20-14, Windhoek

Prediction: The bookmakers are offering generous odds on Namibia, if you are a betting man. In fact the Tongan handicap is 26 points. We believe they may have the right winner, Tonga, but the margin will be a lot closer – 10 points or less.

Teams:

Tonga: 15 Vungakoto Lilo, 14 David Halaifonua, 13 Siale Piutau (co-captain), 12 Sione Piukala, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 Latiume Fosita, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Viliami Ma'afu (co-captain), 7 Jack Ram, 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 5 Joseph Tuineau, 4 Hale T Pole, 3 Sila Puafisi, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.           

Replacements: 16 Paula Ngauamo, 17 Tevita Mailau, 18 Halani 'Aulika, 19 Tukulua Lokotui, 20 Opeti Fonua, 21 Samisoni Fisilau, 22 Kurt Morath, 23 Telusa Veainu.

Namibia: 15 Chrysander Botha, 14 Johan Tromp, 13 Danie Van Wyk, 12 Johan Deysel, 11 Russel Van Wyk, 10 Theuns Kotze, 9 Eneill Buitendag, 8 Renaldo Bothma, 7 Rohan Kitshoff, 6 Jacques Burger (captain), 5 Tjiuee Uanivi, 4 Janco Venter, 3 Johannes Coetzee, 2 Torsten Van Jaarsveld, 1 Casper Viviers.

Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Johnny Redelinghuys, 18 AJ De Klerk, 19 Tinus Du Plessis, 20 Pieter-Jan van Lill, 21 Damian Stevens, 22 Darryl De La Harpe, 23 David Philander.

Date: Tuesday, September 29

Venue: Sandy Park, Exeter

Kick-off: 16.45 (15.45 GMT, 04.45 Wednesday, September 30 Tongan time)

Expected weather: Dry, breezy day with patchy cloud and sunny spells. High of 18°C and low of 10°C

Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)    

Assistant referees: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Federico Anselmi (Argentina)   

TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

Agence France-Presse & @rugby365com