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Kurt Morath will start for Tonga in their international against Scotland on Saturday. The 36-year-old flyhalf will win his 39th test cap for the Ikale Tahi, appearing in a third decade having made his test debut in 2009. His most recent match was against England at Rugby World Cup 2019.
Tonga’s all-time leading scorer with 340 points, Morath has looked refreshed since signing for the Austin Gilgronis in 2020. He played in 14 of 16 games for the AG’s in the 2021 Major League Rugby season with appearances both at flyhalf and inside center.
There is a second tenuous MLR link in the Tongan lineup. Replacement lock Dan Faleafa was also meant to join Austin in 2020 but eventually did not arrive, instead taking up a contract as a medical joker with Pro D2 club Rouen Normandie.
TONGA
1 Loni Uhila, 2 Maile Ngauamo, 3 David Lolohea, 4 Leva Fifita, 5 Setefano Funaki, 6 Tanginoa Halaifonua, 7 Fotu Lokotui, 8 Valentino Mapapalangi, 9 Tane Takulua (capt.), 10 Kurt Morath, 11 Walter Fifita, 12 Vaea Vaea, 13 Mali Hingano, 14 Atunaisa Manu, 15 James Faiva
Replacements: 16 Siua Maile, 17 Jehtro Felemi, 18 Toma Taufa, 19 Dan Faleafa, 20 Onehunga Havili, 21 Mateaki Kafatolu, 22 Aisea Halo, 23 Navarre Haisila
