Scotland v Tonga LIVE: Rugby World Cup 2023 score and latest updates

Is Scotland vs Tonga on TV? Channel, start time and how to watch Rugby World Cup fixture online

Scotland go in search of their first win of the Rugby World Cup as they face Tonga today.

Gregor Townsend’s side fell to an 18-3 defeat against the defending champions South Africa on the opening weekend but were afforded a bye week last week as they prepare for this weekend’s must-win clash. Scotland will be eyeing up a bonus-point victory and begin to claw back ground on the Springboks and Ireland who sit in the top two positions.

Tonga have also only played one match thus far in the tournament and got their campaign under way with a 59-16 defeat against Ireland. They will be eyeing up a shock victory on Sunday as they look to leapfrog Scotland into third spot in Pool B.

Here’s everything you need to know:

Is Scotland vs Tonga on TV? Channel, start time and how to watch online

Everything you need to know ahead of the Pool B fixture

Gregor Townsend makes four changes to his starting team

Scotland changed two forwards and two backs to the side facing Tonga at the Rugby World Cup on Sunday. The Scots opened with an 18-3 defeat to defending champion South Africa two weeks ago.

On Friday, prop Rory Sutherland and lock Scott Cummings replaced Pierre Schoeman and Grant Gilchrist, while centre Chris Harris — who played in all of Scotland‘s pool games at the 2019 World Cup — and right wing Kyle Steyn pushed Huw Jones and Darcy Graham into the reserves.

“We know this is a really important game for us so we’ve put as strong a team as we can to win it,” coach Gregor Townsend said. “The last 20 minutes are going to be important, so to have players like Darcy Graham, Huw Jones and George Horne coming off the bench will give us something different.”

Tonga will have bad memories of Steyn, who scored four tries in a 60-14 win when the sides last met two years ago. The Scots scored 10 tries that day at Murrayfield. Gilchrist dropped out of the matchday 23 for the game in Nice.

Both teams are playing their second Pool B game, with Tonga dispatched 59-16 by Ireland in its first game.

Scotland: Blair Kinghorn, Kyle Steyn, Chris Harris, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Finn Russell, Ben White; Jack Dempsey, Rory Darge, Jamie Ritchie (captain), Scott Cummings, Richie Gray, Zander Fagerson, George Turner, Rory Sutherland. Reserves: Ewan Ashman, Pierre Schoeman, WP Nel, Sam Skinner, Matt Fagerson, George Horne, Huw Jones, Darcy Graham.

Scotland vs Tonga

Welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of the Pool B fixture between Scotland and Tonga.

Tonga will be looking to regroup after last weekend’s loss to Ireland and put in a physical performance this weekend. Opponents Scotland had a weekend off last weekend and go in search of their first win of this year’s competition after their loss to South Africa in the first round.

Follow all of the action here.

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