Improvement is name of game for rival teams

Tonga and the New Zealand Divisional XV are both hoping to improve their games when they meet at Napier today.

Both were beaten in the opening games of their brief tours last weekend, Tonga 47-12 by New Zealand Maori at North Harbour and the Divisional XV in the last minute 30-27 by Samoa at Pukekohe.

Divisional coach Glenn Moore has made just one change - on his reserve bench.

He said the team made up of players selected from the second and third division were determined to make up for a game they believe slipped from their grasp.

"The guys on the park last week only lost the game in the last second, we were pretty happy with what we saw out there," Moore said.

Nelson Bays fullback/winger Steve Duff comes onto the bench for wing specialist Joe Fa'aiu.

The team includes seven of last year's Hawkes Bay team - fullback Tim Manawatu, winger Ray Karauria, centre Sam Leung-Wai, captain and No 8 Mutu Ngarimu, flanker Michael Johnson, vice-captain and halfback Donovan Hall, prop Peter Bielski.

Moore expected Tonga, who are in the All Blacks World Cup group, to have a more confrontational style than Samoa and maintaining possession would be crucial.

"We're conscious of the fact we controlled a good deal of the first half and then came out and had a 10-minute period where we let Samoa dominate the game and they scored points," he said. "It's just bettering our option-taking and limiting mistakes."

Tongan captain Inoke Afeaki was more blunt about where his team needed to improve.

Their sieve-like backline defence allowed the Maori team to slice through at will out wide and left Afeaki in a "grumpy" mood.

"We got a lesson in the backs on how to defend," he said.

"And with the ball we actually had good go-forward ... but we seemed to keep dropping passes. That's really frustrating as a forward. I lost my voice.

"The boys at the back have to step up and start playing some good rugby."

He said his backs would look to employ more of a sevens-style defence, where the defender targets the outside shoulder of the ball-runner and allowed the inside cut to be collected by defenders on the inside.

The Tongans were on the receiving end of the penalty count against the Maori and lock forward Afeaki hoped that could be turned around and that his side could produce a more flowing performance.

"Our game is quite forward-based and we can muscle it up with the best of them. We made headways there but what we did with the ball after that is the big question mark."

Divisional XV: Tim Manawatu, Ray Karauria, Sam Leung-Wai, Jamie Stewart-McDonald, Pila Fifita, Eddie Hekenui, Donovan Hall, Mutu Ngarimu (capt), Germaine Anaha, Michael Johnson, Hayden Triggs, Andrew Milne, Nigel Hall, Mark Stewart, Peter Bielski. Res: Grant Henson, Clint Newland, Daniel Alofa, Eric Smith, Charlie Beetham, Simon Porter, Steve Dunn.

Tonga: Gus Leger, Taniela Tulia, Pierra Hola, Simana Mafileo, John Payne, Tony Alatini, David Palu, Benhur Kivalu, Stanley Afeaki, Nisifolo Naufau, Milton Ngauamo, Inoke Afeaki (capt), Heamani Lavaka, Viliami Ma'asi, Tonga Lea'aetoa. Res: John Pale, Ephram Taukafa, Viliami Vaki, Johnny Taumoeloa, Willie Gibbons, Tevita Tui'fua, Johnny Ngauamo.

* TV: Live on Sky Sport 1, 2.35pm today. NZPA