Flying Fijians relishing the great challenge from Tonga

The Vodafone Flying Fijians are relishing the great challenge that Tonga will give at their Pacific Nations Cup match this Saturday.

Tonga, hosting their first test in eight years, made a winning start with a 30‑26 victory over Samoa in Nuku'alofa on Saturday.

The tournament is the qualifier for the 2019 Rugby World Cup with the combined 2016 and 2017 results.

Fiji and Tonga have met 89 times with Fiji winning 60 matches.

Fiji is currently leading the Pacific Nations Cup table with eight points after winning both of their matches last year and are in the driving seat to qualify as "Oceania 1" and join Australia, Wales and Georgia in Pool D at the World Cup.

The country that finishes second, "Oceania 2", will go into the toughest pool in the tournament along with England, France, USA and Argentina.

The third placed Oceania team will go into a playoff against a second tier European team for a spot in Pool A with Ireland, Scotland and hosts Japan.

The Flying Fijians will fly out to Nuku’alofa tomorrow and they will take on Tonga at 2pm Saturday.