Captain Takulua returns at scrum-half - Tonga name team to play Romania

Tonga head coach Toutai Kefu has announced his squad to face Romania in Lille on Sunday, with most-capped player Sonatane Takulua (pictured) returning at scrum-half to captain the team.

1 Siegfried Fisi'ihoi
2 Paula Ngauamo 
3 Ben Tameifuna 
4 Halaleva Fifita 
5 Adam Coleman 
6 Semisi Paea 
7 Sione Talitui 
8 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

•    Former All Black George Moala is set to make a belated Rugby World Cup debut at the age of 32 after serving a five-match suspension in a starting XV showing six changes of personnel and one positional switch. Moala replaces another ex-All Black, Malakai Fekitoa, at centre.
•    Ahki and full-back Salesi Piutau are the only ever-presents for Tonga at this Rugby World Cup, having 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 day after his 32nd birthday, in the only change to the front-five of the pack.
•    Tonga’s most-capped player, Sonatane Takulua is handed his first start of the tournament at scrum-half, partnering William Havili and captaining the team.
•    Tight-head Ben Tameifuna, who relinquishes the captaincy, is the only prop to have scored two tries in this year’s Rugby World Cup and has made more carries (10.7) and beaten more defenders (2.7) per 80 minutes than any other prop in the competition (for a minimum of 160 minutes played).
•    Openside Sione Havili Talitui has made at least eight more tackles than any other player in this year’s Rugby World Cup (60).