26 Sep 2007

Tonga rugby side fancies its chances against England

10:45 am on 26 September 2007

Despite losing first-choice lock forward Paino Hehea to injury, Tonga remain confident they can ruin England's World Cup party when they meet in a winner-take-all encounter at Parc des Princes, Paris, on Friday.

Hehea has been ruled out of action for four weeks with a small fracture in his shoulder.

This brings to an end his part in Tonga's successful run - which includes victories over the United State and Samoa, as well as a narrow five-point (25-30) loss to the tournament's second favourites South Africa.

The Tongans have called up Ma'ama Molitika as his replacement.

The winner of Friday's match will qualify second in Pool A and book themselves a quarter-final showdown against Australia in Marseilles on 6 October.