Minnow Tonga hunts big scalp of Australia

AUCKLAND: Tonga invitational coach Kristian Woolf is adamant the minnow nation is better placed than ever to claim another slice of history and upset Australia.

Woolf’s side will look to become the first tiertwo nation to defeat the Kangaroos when they battle in today’s rugby league tripleheader in Auckland.

Samoa faces Fiji and New Zealand meets Great Britain in the curtainraisers at Eden Park before the feature match between the rising powerhouse and world No 1.

The Tongan side enter the officially sanctioned test after toppling the Lions in Hamilton last week, while Australia flexed its muscles by routing the Kiwis in Wollongong.

Today’s clash pits powerful Tongan big men Andrew Fifita and Jason Taumalolo against Australian backline stars James Tedesco and Cameron Munster.

‘‘The blokes have all done a really good job in terms of how they’ve come in fit. We’ve had a good almost twoandahalf weeks together now,’’ Woolf said.

‘‘And coming off the back of a game and performance that we were really happy with last weekend certainly puts us in the best position we’ve been in.’’

The tripleheader is expected to attract a bumper crowd, primarily made up of Tongan fans, in the 50,000capacity stadium.

The occasion comes after weeks of uncertainty about Tonga’s participation because of the players’ dispute with their nation’s board.

It forced the International Rugby League to suspend the Tongan National Rugby League’s membership, allowing the game to proceed.

‘‘I think it would’ve put us backwards a number of years if it didn’t go ahead and I think it would’ve really hurt international rugby league as well,’’ Woolf said.

‘‘The important thing is that we’re all here.’’

Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga conceded there was always a fear of failure for Australia given their dominance on the international stage.

Its only loss to a team other than New Zealand, England or Great Britain was against France in 1978.

The Kiwis have made two changes from last week, with Kieran Foran in for the axed Shaun Johnson and Joseph Tapine in for Braden HamlinUele.

Australia has included debutant Cameron Murray on the bench for Ben Hunt. — AAP

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES Sharpening his skills . . . Zane Tetevano, of the Kiwis, trains at The Trusts Stadium in Auckland yesterday. The Kiwis take on Great Britain in a test tripleheader in Auckland today.