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MONTPELLIER - Tonga has had a setback in the buildup to their winner-take-all game with England, losing lock Paino Hehea to a shoulder injury.
The French-based backrower suffered a small fracture in a shoulder and was ruled out for a month.
The Tongans, who pushed South Africa all the way in going down 30-25 in Lens on Sunday, have called up Ma'ama Molitika as his replacement.
"He can play any position in the back row. Lock is his specialist position. He's a good player, very mobile, good in defence," said coach Quddus Fielea.
The Tongans were still coming to terms with how close they came to bringing off one of the upsets of the tournament against the Springboks.
"We had a bad feeling because we could have won the game," Fielea said.
"We made some mistakes and could have scored tries at crucial times. But other than that it was an awesome feeling.
"It is a good thing. Teams are starting to realise that South Africa can be beaten. It has given everyone hope."
Of the possibility that Tonga would reach the quarter-finals at the expense of holders England, Fielea said: "I think it would make the World Cup even more interesting ... at our first press conference, I said we were looking to get to the quarter-finals.
"I could see people looking at me thinking I was crazy. Now we are one game away from getting there."
Prop Soane Tonga'uiha said Tonga have received so much praise for their game performance that it was akin to beating the tournament heavyweights.
Looking ahead to the showdown with England, the Northampton Saints frontrower said: "It will be quite weird I suppose. I play these players every week. I know them."
AFP
