A fortnight after they were outmuscled and outpaced by defending champions South Africa in Marseille, Scotland will want to kickstart their Rugby World Cup challenge against Tonga, in Nice on Sunday at 17:45.
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has made four changes to his starting side. Prop Rory Sutherland – on his Rugby World Cup debut at the age of 31, and second-row Scott Cummings come into the pack for Pierre Schoeman and Grant Gilchrist respectively, while centre Chris Harris and wing Kyle Steyn, like Sutherland making his first tournament appearance, start in the backline, with Huw Jones and Darcy Graham dropping to the bench. Ewan Ashman, Sam Skinner and George Horne also come into the match-day 23.
They’ll want a big win over a Tonga side that lost 59-16 against a rampant Ireland in Nantes nearly a week later.
Scotland defence coach Steve Tandy said they are not worried that players will be less smart following the two week break: "It was really important to give them a bit of down time. The families came over. They had two or three days to digest and process the South Africa thing and get it out of their system.
"When you come to a World Cup you don't need to sharpen them. These boys are focused. We have been looking at this tournament for such a long time. We don't want it to be over. The boys are ready to play now, to get out there and put back to back performances together."
Tonga coach Toutai Kefu has stuck with the same starting XV for this match, with four former All Blacks in full-back Salesi Piutau, centre Malakai Fekitoa, scrum-half Augustine Pulu and number eight Vaea Fifita. But he has made two changes on the bench, bringing in Pat Pellegrini, and ex-Australia international Adam Coleman, who could make his Tongan debut.
Tonga forwards coach Zane Hilton said they are looking for an improvement after the defeat by Ireland: "We were extremely disappointed with how we played. We put our hands up to that. We built ourselves up to a point where we had full confidence going into that game and we felt we prepared well.
"We just did not meet the mark and achieve our own standards of play. When we reviewed it we lacked territory, lacked possession. We struggled in the set-piece at times, in the lineout. Last week was all about looking forward. The Irish game has gone. How do we look forward to see what we can execute better.
"We had to deal with the reality that we weren't good enough against Ireland. Now against Scotland what can we do to be world class and put them under pressure?"
Teams:
Scotland: 1 Rory Sutherland, 2 George Turner, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Richie Gray, 5 Scott Cummings, 6 Jamie Ritchie (c), 7 Rory Darge, 8 Jack Dempsey, 9 Ben White, 10 Finn Russell, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 13 Chris Harris, 14 Kyle Steyn, 15 Blair Kinghorn. Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 WP Nel, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Matt Fagerson, 21 George Horne, 22 Huw Jones, 23 Darcy Graham.
Tonga: 1 Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, 2 Paula Ngauamo, 3 Ben Tameifuna (c), 4 Halaleva Fifita, 5 Sam Lousi, 6 Tanginoa Halaifonua, 7 Sione Talitui, 8 Vaea Fifita, 9 Augustine Pulu, 10 William Havili, 11 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 12 Pita Ahki, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 14 Solomone Kata, 15 Salesi Piutau. Replacements: 16 Sam Moli, 17 Tau Koloamatangi, 18 Sosefo Apikotoa, 19 Adam Coleman, 20 Semisi Paea, 21 Sione Vailanu, 22 Sonatane Takulua, 23 Patrick Pellegrini.