World Ranking: 14.

COACH: Plutele Tu'ihalamaka. Helped by New Zealand-born, former South African technical assistant at last World Cup David Waterston, Tu'ihalamaka has definitely ingrained a greater willingness on behalf of Tonga's finest youngsters to remain within the fold after a disastrous '95 campaign. Had they kept all their best players over the years, their squad might today include Ofahengaue, Kefu, Finau. Manu, Make Reichelmann, Hoeft, Alatini and Jonah Lomu.

TACTICAL TURN: Better prepared than ever before, as 23 of their squad have carved pro careers in the southern hemisphere, Japan or Wales. They've largely foregone remuneration to play in the finals and sponsorship has tided them through six-week training camp in South Africa. Good Epson Cup form was augmented by stunning home win over France. Proud, enthusiastic, fearless, big-hitting and unpredictable.

STAR TURN: Siua Taumalolo. Man of the Match for Ebbw Vale in last season's SWALEC Cup final, the 22-year-old centre cum full-back scored 24 tries in 20 internationals, including hat-tricks in World Cup qualifiers against the Cook Islands and Georgia. Inventive, tricky runner who will surely have to be accommodated along with prolific full-back Seteki Tu'ipulotu.

VERDICT: Realistically again just there to make up the numbers. However, save for Aussie walloping in qualifying, they've never been heavily beaten in previous finals and may even cause a minor sensation against Italy in their second game. But four sending-offs in last year and Keiji Hirose's world record nine penalties in Epson Cup highlights discipline problem. Will leave their mark.

FINAL THOUGHTS: "Qualifying was a unique and wonderful experience. Now we can look forward to October, a tight pitch at Bristol and 20,000 English fans cheering us on as we run out against the All Blacks. Tonga have become the team everybody wants to watch but nobody wants to play. We want to be their worst nightmare."

- Dave Waterston (Tonga technical coach).