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7 English-based Tongans to face England at RWC

Tokyo - Record-breaking flyhalf Kurt Morath will shoulder Tonga's hopes against England after coach Toutai Kefu announced a team stacked with English-based players for their Rugby World Cup opener.

Doncaster Knight's Morath, Tonga's all-time leading scorer with 340 Test points, is one of seven players attached to English sides, also including captain Siale Piutau who is at Bristol.

Morath, Piutau, Sanatane Takulua and Sione Kalamafoni are the only survivors of Tonga's last Rugby World Cup match against New Zealand four years ago.

The Polynesian kingdom are heavy underdogs against 2003 champions England in Sapporo as they attempt to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in eight World Cup campaigns.

Teams:

England

15 Elliot Daly, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Owen Farrell (captain), 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Tom Curry, 5 Maro Itoje, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Jamie George, 1 Joe Marler

Substitutes: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Dan Cole, 19 George Kruis, 20 Lewis Ludlam, 21 Willi Heinz, 22 Henry Slade, 23 Jonathan Joseph

Tonga

15 David Halaifonua, 14 Atieli Pakalani, 13 Siale Piutau (captain), 12 Cooper Vuna, 11 Viliami Lolohea, 10 Kurt Morath, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Maama Vaipulu, 7 Zane Kapeli, 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 5 Halaleva Fifita, 4 Sam Lousi, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Sosefo Sakalia, 1 Siegfried Fisi'ihoi

Substitutes: 16 Siua Maile, 17 Latu Talakai, 18 Ma'afu Fia, 19 Dan Faleafa, 20 Nasi Manu, 21 Leon Fukofuka, 22 James Faiva, 23 Nafi Tu'itavake

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