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Preview: Argentina v Tonga

With a quarterfinal place still at stake, Tongan centre Siale Piutau expects a full-blooded match.

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"We have got this wolf-pack mentality that is going to take on the Pumas and that is how we are going into this game. It's going to be an all-out battle, all-out war. We are just dying to get out on the field and get our howling on," he Piutau said.

Tonga coach Mana Otai and his Argentine counterpart Daniel Hourcade have made radically different team choices for the game however.

Tonga will send out their oldest World Cup team ever, with an average age of 31 years and 38 days.

In six changes from the team that beat Namibia 35-21, Tonga captain and most-capped player, Nili Latu, returns in place of Jack Ram who scored two tries in the match. Tonga's leading points scorer Kurt Morath and top try scorer Fetu'u Vainikoloalso also come back.

Argentina make seven changes from the XV that beat Georgia 54-9. Hourcade will field the youngest Puma side since they lost to France in the 1999 quarterfinal, at 26 years and 236 days.

"It's just numbers," said Latu, shrugging off the age gap.

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With defending champions New Zealand virtually certain to top the group, Tonga are holding out hopes of beating the Pumas in a bid to sneak into second place and reach the quarterfinals for the first time.

Tonga are currently second behind the All Blacks with six points but their most difficult matches are still to come as they face Argentina and then New Zealand.

"If we win, with a bonus point, it could take us somewhere we have never been before. We could make history here. This is going to be our 'final' for this World Cup," Latu added.

Argentina may be favourites to go through to the last eight with the All Blacks but they are taking nothing for granted. Hourcade has brought back his favourite front row of Marcos Ayerza, Agustin Creevy and Ramiro Herrera.

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The trio have started eight of Argentina's recent matches and lost each one, but all eight were against the likes of Australia, New Zealand or South Africa – the last was the 9-34 defeat by Australia in this year's southern hemisphere Rugby Championship.

"Tonga will be similar to Georgia. They have a physical game which could surprise us in the first half as Georgia did. We must not wait 40 minutes to get going as we did in the last meeting. We must impose our game from the first minute and get the ball," Argentina's flyhalf Martin Landajo said.

Argentina wing Juan Imhoff needs one try to break the Puma World Cup record of four which he shares with four other players.

Players to watch:

For Argentina: They will field a new centre partnership, in the mould of Matias Moroni and Jerónimo De La Fuente while wing Juan Imhoff is close to being a record-holder. The 'favourite' front row have new won a match they have started together and will look to rectify that when they take to the field while Santiago Cordero has been in great form recently.

For Tonga: All time Tongan leading point scorer flyhalf Kurt Morath will look to stretch his record while leading Tongan try-scorer, wing Fetu'u Vainikolo, would be looking to improve his. Tonga's second most capped player, fullback Vungakoto Lilo, will have to rely on all of his experience to grab valuable points for his side.

Head to head: The battle of the fullbacks between Joaquin Tuculet and Vungakoto Lilo will be a tough old battle but they will only be able to truly fire if their halfbacks can get them front foot ball. For that to happen, they will need their forwards to secure the ball and there is no better contest to keep your eye on than the one at scrum time.

Recent results: The teams have not met before.

Prediction: Tonga will be highly physical and competitive all over the park. Argentina have had some good form recently and should walk away with a 12-point victory.

Teams:

Argentina: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Jerónimo De La Fuente, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Agustin Creevy (captain), 1 Marcos Ayerza.

Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Lucas Noguera, 18 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23 Horacio Agulla.

Tonga: 15 Vungakoto Lilo, 14 Telusa Veainu, 13 Siale Piutau, 12 Sione Piukala, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 Kurt Morath, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Viliami Ma'afu, 7 Nili Latu (captain), 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 5 Joseph Tuineau, 4 Tukulua Lokotui, 3 Halani 'Aulika, 2 Elvis Taione, 1 Soane Tonga'uiha.

Replacements: 16 Aleki Lutui, 17 Sona Taumalolo, 18 Sila Puafisi, 19 Sitiveni Mafi, 20 Opeti Fonua, 21 Samisoni Fisilau, 22 Latiume Fosita, 23 David Halaifonua.

Date: Sunday, October 4

Venue: Leicester City Stadium, Leicester.

Kick-off: 14.30 (13.30 GMT; 10.30 ART; Monday, October 5, 02.30 Tonga Time)

Expected weather: Cloudy, near wind-less day with a high of 15.

Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)

TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)

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