HARD HITTING VIEW

Gregor Townsend will not be wanting any slip ups against the South Sea islanders, given what happened to the last Scottish coach to lose to them at Pittodrie nine years ago.

Townsend will be hoping that his young and relatively-inexperienced team can step up to the mark.

Tonga may be seen as being possibly the weakest of the three South Pacific island teams.

Samoa and Fiji have a moreformidable reputation at the 15-a-side game, but Tonga have also slain a few giants along the way as well.

Aside from Scotland in 2012, they have defeated France twice – once at home in 1999 and then again in a shock defeat in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

They have also defeated Italy twice, so clearly have enough firepower to cause an upset.

Yet Scotland should not fear them too much.

Townsend has alluded to the fact that the home team should be better prepared and more of a team than the Tongans, who will have been pulled together into a squad from far and wide.

The game could have a similar feel to a group match in a World Cup, where one team fields a group of second-choice players in the hope they’ll step up and do enough to

Great opportunity for the Scottishbased players

win, ideally with a bonus point, and without risking any of their moresenior, experienced players.

With that in mind, it will be a great opportunity for the Scottishbased players to press for further recognition, and perhaps a place in the starting-xv later on in November.

A number of uncapped players have already progressed from the coach’s initial squad to the group selected for the remaining internationals against Australia, South Africa and Japan. So there is all to play for.

There are some areas where the strength-in-depth of the squad may be tested a little.

With a number of second rows nursing injuries, the door has opened for some less well-known locks to press for higher honours.

It is also likely that there will be a new face at fly-half for Scotland, given Finn Russell and Adam Hastings aren’t available and that Jaco van der Walt is injured.

There may also be some youngsters being given first opportunities in the backs.

Rufus Mclean has been particularly impressive as has his Glasgow teammate, Jamie Dobie, showing that in other areas, Scotland are blessed with talent.

The key priority is a victory however. Scotland would do well to re-capture some of the attacking flair that made them such an attractive team to watch.

If they can combine that with their belligerent defence, Townsend won’t have to worry too much about Tonga.