New Zealand vs. Tonga: Preview, Live Stream, TV Info for Rugby World Cup Game
New Zealand's place in the final eight of the Rugby World Cup 2015 is already assured, but the All Blacks need to clinch a point against Tonga on Friday to make Pool C's top place theirs.
Steve Hansen's men have taken 14 points from a possible 15 so far and are looking to end the first phase of the tournament by beating a team that conceded 45 points to Argentina last time out.
Captain Richie McCaw will be absent from Friday's squad as Chiefs flanker Sam Cane takes his place in the XV, while No. 8 Kieran Read takes the captain's armband to lead a strong New Zealand lineup.
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Tonga have made just one alteration from the team that failed against the Pumas and know that a win is needed if they're to have any hopes of a quarter-final place, or beating Georgia to third spot.
Read on for all the viewing information needed to make sure you don't miss a second of Friday's fixture, complete with form guides, match preview and betting odds.
Date: Friday, October 9
Time: 8 p.m. BST/3 p.m. ET/(Saturday, Oct. 10)5 a.m. AEST/8 a.m. NZDT
Venue: St James' Park, Newcastle
Live Stream: ITV Player (UK), Universal Sports (U.S.), Fox Sports (AUS), Sky Go (NZ), SuperSport (SA)
TV Info: ITV (UK), Fox Sports 2 (AUS), Sky Sport 1 (NZ), SuperSport 1 (SA)
Team Lineups
New Zealand: 15. Ben Smith, 14. Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13. Conrad Smith, 12. Ma'a Nonu, 11. Waisake Naholo, 10. Daniel Carter, 9. Aaron Smith, 8. Kieran Read (C), 7. Sam Cane, 6. Jerome Kaino, 5. Sam Whitelock, 4. Luke Romano, 3. Owen Franks, 2. Dane Coles, 1. Tony Woodcock
Tonga: 15. Vungakoto Lilo, 14. Telusa Veainu, 13. Siale Piutau, 12. Latiume Fosita, 11. Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10. Kurt Morath, 9. Sonatane Takulua, 8. Viliami Ma'afu, 7. Nili Latu (C), 6. Sione Kalamafoni, 5. Joseph Tuineau, 4. Tukulua Lokotui, 3. Halani Aulika, 2. Elvis Taione, 1. Soane Tonga'uiha
| October 2, 2015 | Georgia 10-43 New Zealand |
| September 24, 2015 | Namibia 14-58 New Zealand |
| September 20, 2015 | Argentina 16-26 New Zealand |
| August 15, 2015 | New Zealand 41-13 Australia |
| August 8, 2015 | Australia 27-19 New Zealand |
| October 4, 2015 | Argentina 45-16 Tonga |
| September 29, 2015 | Namibia 21-35 Tonga |
| September 19, 2015 | Georgia 17-10 Tonga |
| September 5, 2015 | Romania 16-21 Tonga |
| August 3, 2015 | Japan 20-31 Tonga |
Players to Watch
Sam Cane
McCaw's hip injury has led to Cane once again replacing New Zealand's evergreen leader in the back row, a place he's long been tipped to occupy once the elder finally takes his leave of international rugby.
Cane is gradually getting to grips with the responsibility, too, after captaining the team to a 58-14 win over Namibia in Week 2 of the Rugby World Cup, where he was left to admit improvements were needed:
Having only featured as a 20-minute cameo in the victory over Georgia, this will be the 23-year-old's second start of the tournament and another opportunity to justify the McCaw comparisons by which he's been inundated.
And like his flanker mentor, Cane may be coming upon a habit of toeing the line of the law after the Telegraph's Brendan Gallagher pointed out he perhaps deserved a citing for a high tackle against Georgia:
As it stands, though, coach Hansen has his prodigious back-rower available and will make full use of Cane's talent in an effort to seal off the pool stage with a spotless record intact.
Tonga have looked at least slightly threatening attacking in each of their three pool games so far, and Cane is likely to be kept busy in an effort to maintain his usual double-digit standards in tackle count.
| New Zealand Win | 1-500 |
| Draw | 66-1 |
| Tonga Win | 50-1 |
| New Zealand Win to Nil | 11-2 |
Siale Piutau
In another lifetime, Tonga centre Siale Piutau may have been going up against younger brother Charles this Friday, but the latter of the two siblings failed to make the final All Blacks World Cup squad.
Nevertheless, one of Mana Otai's more seasoned back-line figures is seeking to make an impression against the world's No. 1 team, with the considerable combination of Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith blocking his path.
Piutau and Co. need swift improvement upon their most recent outing, too, after missing 35 of their 80 tackles in the 45-16 defeat to Argentina, completing just 56 per cent of all attempted.
The Pumas have proved themselves to be devastating carriers themselves this tournament, particularly in the backs, but one can rest assured whatever they had to throw at Tonga, New Zealand boast an even greater threat.
Piutau will need to play the game of his life if his side are to complete what would be a grand World Cup upset and claim a result on Friday, with the midfielder stood in the firing line of a most intimidating back-line force.
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