KEY POINTS:
AIX EN PORVENCE - Riding a wave of support from the other side of the globe, Tonga hope they can push rugby World Cup pool heavyweights South Africa in Lens on Saturday (midnight, NZ time).
Captain Nili Latu's men have been on a high since their unexpected 19-15
defeat of Samoa last weekend in Montpellier.
Afterwards they gathered around the team bus parked next to Stade de la Mosson and, much to the delight of locals, broke into song.
It represented not only the joy of beating their near neighbours but also the togetherness that has them on the brink of qualifying for the quarterfinals.
"Where there's life there's hope. This team is still alive and well," Latu said.
"I'm just so proud of the boys. We don't have much but we have each other."
The Springboks share the same two-from-two winning record but realistically may be a bridge too far for this Tongan team, which Samoan coach Michael Jones described as the best he had seen.
A more realistic path to the playoffs is by beating England in the pool's final match in Paris on September 28.
That would render redundant the result of the England-Samoa match in Nantes on Sunday (2am).
Tonga scored another hit on the Samoans today when they moved ahead of them on the International Rugby Board world rankings for the first time.
Tonga have climbed two places to equal their best-ever position of 12th, one ahead of Samoa, much to the delight of lock and former captain Inoke Afeaki.
"One of our goals is to break into the top 10 ranked teams in the world. That was probably our number one target. A draw or a win against South Africa would crack it," he said.
"Just by turning up you have a chance.
"It's good to see the boys with smiles on their faces. Having fun and enjoying yourself is key. It enables you to do so much more."
Afeaki was bearing a smile at the amount of support they have received from New Zealand and the Pacific.
The players received a messages of goodwill from Tonga's High Commissioner to Britain and ambassador to the European Union.
"For players who are new to the scene, it's mind blowing to receive a letter like that," Afeaki explained.
Both teams were to be named tonight, with Southland-based flanker Hale T-Pole's name to be missing. He is serving a one-game suspension after being sent off for striking a Samoan opponent last week.
One of Samoa's two yellow card recipients from the same game was burly flanker-turned-midfield back Epeli Taione.
Sale kicked Taione out of the English club game after he was banned for 18 weeks for biting Irish international Denis Leamy in a club match.
Taione caused even more sensation when he changed his name by deed poll to Paddy Power - the name of an Irish bookmaker. The five-figure sponsorship deal was an attempt to raise money for his team.
The bookmaker's agreement was that the 28-year-ol be called Paddy Power throughout the World Cup but the International Rugby Board voiced its disapproval and the new name hasn't appeared in any media guides, programmes or match reports.
Japan-based Taione tried to revive interest in the name when describing his matchwinning try against Samoa.
"That's the luck of the Irish for you," he laughed.
Latu said Taione had developed into an important leader within the side.
"The way he looks, he scares most people but he's got a good heart," Latu said.
"He's a friendly guy and he keeps us together, we're a young group."
- NZPA
