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Tonga and the USA go head to head in their final game of the Rugby World Cup , with both teams eager to avoid landing the wooden spoon in Pool C.
The match has been given the green light to go ahead, after three games in total were cancelled over the weekend following the treacherous weather conditions generated by Typhoon Hagibis on Saturday.
USA will equal their World Cup record of 10 straight defeats if they fail against Tonga - and after a four-day turnaround, having lost 47-17 to Argentina on Wednesday, the odds are against them.
USA coach Gary Gold has made just three changes to the starting XV that ran out against the Pumas.
Tonga captain Siale Piutau, who turns 34 on Sunday, has announced this will be his last international game, as has flanker Sione Kalamafoni.
Show all 16 1 /16Rugby World Cup team of round three Rugby World Cup team of round three Team of round three From Scotland's demolition of Samoa to France's narrow escape against Tonga, who makes the team of round three?
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Rugby World Cup team of round three 1. James Slipper (Australia) Ninety-three Tests had come and gone for the Wallabies loosehead, but it was 94th-time lucky for the Queensland-born prop as he finally scored his first international try in Australia’s 45-10 victory over Uruguay.
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Rugby World Cup team of round three 2. Mbongeni Mbonambi (South Africa) Mbonambi was excellent at the lineout, finding his jumper on every occasion, but it was his work around the pitch that really stood out in the win over Italy as he bagged himself a try in the process.
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Rugby World Cup team of round three 3. Angus Ta’avao (New Zealand) The rookie All Blacks prop was thrust into the contest against Namibia early when his team were struggling to break down the African side following Nepo Laulala’s yellow card, but not only did he settle straight into the match, he immediately bagged himself a try that convinced Steve Hansen to leave him on for the rest of the match.
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Rugby World Cup team of round three 4. Wimpie van der Walt (Japan) The uniquely-named lock led Japan’s defensive charge against Samoa and was dominant in the aerial battle with a 100 per cent lineout effort alongside James Moore, which was made all the more impressive as he didn’t start either of their opening matches.
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Rugby World Cup team of round three 5. Sam Whitelock (New Zealand) Captained New Zealand in the absence of Kieran Read and led by example. Whitelock bagged a try himself, didn’t panic when New Zealand were clawed back in the first half and contributed well with the ball in hand. His aggression in kicking for the corner early on paid off with a 71-point return.
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Rugby World Cup team of round three 6. Rhys Ruddock (Ireland) Ireland may have been criticised for a drab performance in their victory over Russia, but Ruddock proved the silver lining with a man-of-the-match display that could thrust him into the side for the big contests.
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Rugby World Cup team of round three 7. Sam Underhill (England) Another flanker named man of the match, Underhill was England’s defensive heartbeat against Argentina, but also an emphatic carrier who helped set up George Ford’s bonus point-clinching try.
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Rugby World Cup team of round three 8. Kazuki Himeno (Japan) The Japanese No 8 was one of their top performers against Samoa, carrying well and showing a deft touch with his ability to offload from the tackle. Earmarked as a real star of Japanese rugby, he looks to have real captaincy potential.
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Rugby World Cup team of round three 9. Frank Lomani (Fiji) A livewire showing as the beating heart of a Flying Fijian side back at full strength and firing on all cylinders. Scored a try himself and delivered the quick ball that the Pacific Islanders crave to play their unique brand of rugby.
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Rugby World Cup team of round three 10. Jordie Barrett (New Zealand) Stepped out of the shadow of older brother Beauden to play a starring role in the demolition of Namibia. Scored a try himself but it was the in which he created Anton Lienert-Brown’s score that really stood out, combining power, vision, passing ability and athletic determination to send the centre over.
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Rugby World Cup team of round three 11. Semi Radradra (Fiji) The star of the side this week. When Radradra is playing his best rugby he is simply unstoppable, and so he proved last week. The Bordeaux back scored twice against Georgia and led pretty much every attacking stats list as the European side failed to shackle is delightful talent.
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Rugby World Cup team of round three 12. Anton Lienert-Brown (New Zealand) His form is keeping Sonny Bill Williams out of the Test side when New Zealand play their crunch fixtures, but on the weekend’s evidence it was easy to see why. Two tries, the first an eye-catching mazy run from halfway, secures him the No 12 shirt this week, and probably for the All Blacks in the quarter-finals.
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Rugby World Cup team of round three 13. Timothy Lafaele (Japan) Kicked off the performance against Samoa with their first try, starring with teammate Kotaro Matsushima to tear the Pacific Islanders apart early on and pave the way to their bonus-point victory.
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Rugby World Cup team of round three 14. Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa) How do you stop him? The answer is yet to be found, with Kolbe’s low centre of gravity, stunning footwork and Habana-like pace leaving team after team in knots – this time Italy – with two tries to kick-start his tally at this World Cup.
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Rugby World Cup team of round three 15. Elliot Daly (England) Possibly his best performance for England in the No 15 shirt to date, Daly linked up superbly with Jonny May – who is hard done by not to make the side this week – and Anthony Watson in what was a scintillating first half for the English back three.
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Where to watch it? USA vs Tonga kicks off at 6.45am BST (2.45pm Japan Standard Time) on Sunday 13 October.
Where can I watch it? ITV will be broadcasting the match. Alternatively, you can live stream it via the ITV Hub on your laptop, smartphone or tablet.
Teams USA: Will Hooley; Blaine Scully (capt), Bryce Campbell, Paul Lasike, Marcel Brache; AJ MacGinty, Ruben de Haas; Eric Fry, Joe Taufete’e, Titi Lamositele, Greg Peterson, Nick Civetta, Tony Lamborn, Malon Al-Jiboori, Cam Dolan.
Replacements: 16 James Hilterbrand, 17 Olive Kilifi, 18 Paul Mullen, 19 Ben Landry, 20 Hanco Germishuys, 21 Ben Pinkelman, 22 Nate Augspurger, 23 Mike Te’o.
Tonga: Telusa Veainu; ‘Atieli Pakalani, Malietoa Hingano, Siale Piutau (capt), Viliami Lolohea; James Faiva, Sonatane Takulua; Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, Paula Ngauamo, Siua Halanukonuka, Sam Lousi, Halaleva Fifita, Sione Kalamafoni, Zane Kapeli, Maama Vaipulu.
Replacements: 16 Siua Maile, 17 Vunipola Fifita, 18 Ma’afu Fia, 19 Dan Faleafa, 20 Nasi Manu, 21 Leon Fukofuka, 22 Latiume Fosita, 23 David Halaifonua.
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