Full strength Tonga good says Burgess

Great Britain’s Tom Burgess says he’s relieved the Lions will be playing Tonga’s strongest possible team in Hamilton on Saturday.

A boycott of Tonga’s top players for their upcoming tests in New Zealand over the sacking of Kristan Woolf as the coach has been averted, although the team is now officially called the Tonga Invitational XIII.

The official Tongan team that would have been coached by Frank Endacott and featured Israel Folau had been told it was no longer invited to take part in this weekend’s test against the Lions and then face the Kangaroos at Eden Park the following Saturday.

So the army of Tongan fans in New Zealand will get to see their heroes play and that’s good news for everyone.

‘‘I knew it would work itself out,’’ Burgess told Stuff yesterday after the team’s hitout at the Blues’ training ground at Alexandra Park.

‘‘There were a few political issues there with the team, but it’s all good now and it’s good to see the players wanting to represent their nation.

‘‘Tonga have become one of the top nations now with the players they’ve got and if they can keep that going it will be great for the game. We need the international game to be strong.’’

Burgess was part of the England team in 2017 that had a memorable win over Tonga at Mt Smart Stadium in the semifinal of the Rugby League World Cup.

Tonga came back from 20-0 down with seven minutes to go to lose 20-18, with Andrew Fifita having a try ruled out in the final seconds.

‘‘The first thing I remember about it was the fans and seeing them on the coach to the game,’’ Burgess said of that game.

‘‘They were walking from miles away and there was a sea of red and white. You didn’t know whether they were England or Tonga fans, but I think they were mainly Tonga fans.

‘‘There was a great atmosphere and we got off to a great start in the game, but they fought back and the feeling at the end was pretty cool.’’

Coaching the Lions on this tour is Wayne Bennett, who also works with Burgess and his brothers, Sam and George at club level.

Burgess says he’s helped other players in the Britain team learn how the super coach ticks.

‘‘This is the first time I’ve gone from being with him at Souths for a full year and then coming into the Britain set up,’’ Burgess said.

‘‘Myself and my brothers were that link at Souths when he came and I suppose I can be that link now with the new lads coming in, because Wayne is a character and some players don’t know how to take him when he first comes in.

‘‘But he’s a great man and I know the boys all love him. It’s good to see the new boys coming in and being part of the Lions.’’

In a scheduling clash that will do little for ticket sales in Hamilton on Saturday night, the Lions’ game against Tonga kicks off at 8pm, just an hour before the All Blacks take on England in the Rugby World Cup semifinal.

Burgess says he and the rest of the team have been following what’s been going in the other rugby code.

‘‘We caught the end of the game against Australia because we didn’t make the final of the Nines,’’ he said.

‘‘They did a good job against the Aussies and that’s good bragging rights for an English bloke living in Sydney. It will be a good game this week and I’m sure there will be a good buzz around the whole of New Zealand.’’