TONGA

TONGA have been strangled by a Pool stage hoodoo since making their World Cup debut 32 years ago and the rugby gods failed to come to their aid again when the 2019 draw handed the Ikale Tahi another mission impossible.
Back-to-back matches against the heavyweight forces of England, Argentina and France are likely to pour cold water on their knockout stage dreams.
But whatever happens in Japan, the real victory for Tonga won’t be making the quarterfinals for the first time in eight attempts, it will be whether they can inspire a new wave of star players with Tongan heritage to ...