Tonga Briefing: Malakai Fekitoa and assistant coach Dan Cron

Malakai Fekitoa, centre

On having to wait to play first game while other matches happening at Rugby World Cup 2023:

"It's good for us as we can see what's going on and have a feel how the competition is going before we get into our work."

On preparations:

"It's been good. The best few weeks for us, we get things like everyone else now, in a nice hotel, better balls, better food. 

"Now we have to put the work in."

On rugby so far:

"Mixed performances, maybe nerves. A lot of teams did not want to lose so we've not seen them taking risks or things like that. The next round will be different."

On game against Ireland on Saturday:

"We are playing against the best team in the world right now. It will be our toughest game. We will have to match them physically."

On facing Irish players having played for Munster in 2022/23 season:

"It will be pretty weird to play against them, especially the Irish boys. I had a really good connection with those boys, they looked after me when I was there.

"Probably more connected because we won the championship (United Rugby Championship). Those memories will last a lifetime. I will give everything on the pitch, it will be the same for Ireland."

On Tonga's hopes for Rugby World Cup 2023:

"It's probably unrealistic to be in the finals, but it's where we want to be. We want to win games, let's start this week."

Dan Cron, assistant coach

On what is criteria for being Tongan:

"What I love about the Tongan culture is that they are family first: not sometimes, every time. The two most important things in their life is their faith and their mother. That's something I relate heavily to.

"When somebody is not happy, everybody is not happy. It's a real village vibe. That's probably the main cultural difference being a little white kid from Christchurch and luckily enough to be be involved in this Tongan team. 

"They just love hanging out with each other. They can sit in a circle and talk for hours." 

On thoughts about tournament so far:

"With us being on a bye, we've been able to watch every game. The Fiji-Wales game has really lit it up. It's been the most anticipated World Cup in my life-time."

On challenge facing Ireland:

"It doesn't get any bigger. They are the number one ranked team in the world and they showed that against Romania, putting 80 points on them.

"This might be the toughest pool (at a RWC) there's ever been, but that's why we are here. If you're going to a World Cup you might as well make it a cracker.

"A lot has been made about our team on paper, we've got a few more familiar names in there, but that doesn't count much until the performance.

"Rugby is a simple game: forwards win the game, the backs decide by how much."