Tonga were forced into a late halves change for their World Cup clash against Lebanon after Isaiya Katoa was ruled out with a minor ankle injury.
Latu Fainu has replaced Katoa in the Tonga lineup, giving the Pacific side a different look as they prepare for another important match in the tournament.
What led into the matchup
Tonga arrived with strong momentum after a classy 30-12 win over England, a result that helped them make the semi finals. That performance underlined the quality in their squad, and it also set the tone for a match where expectations remain high.
Lebanon, meanwhile, came into the clash after a 42-18 defeat to Papua New Guinea in their opener. That game was close at halftime before Papua New Guinea pulled away in the second half, so Lebanon still had some positives to take even with the final margin.
What the change means
For Tonga, the absence of Isaiya Katoa is the main talking point. A minor ankle injury is enough to keep him out, and it means the team must adjust its halves combination at a key moment in the World Cup.
Still, Tonga have already shown they can handle pressure in this tournament. With Latu Fainu stepping in, the challenge is less about whether Tonga can stay competitive and more about how smoothly they adapt to the new pairing against Lebanon.
The matchup now carries an added layer of intrigue, with Tonga trying to maintain their momentum and Lebanon looking to respond after a difficult first outing.
