By Pesi Fonua

The ‘Ikale Tahi team to play the Cook Island’s national rugby team on Saturday at Pukekohe in South Auckland, will be announced tomorrow, Thursday July 22, by coach Toutai Kefu.

Toutai said today that he has to make a number of changes to the team that played three major games in New Zealand (NZ All Blacks on July 3; Manu Samoa on July 10 and 17).

“It is disappointing with some of the injuries,” he said.

Injured players sidelined on Saturday are: Siua Maile, Harrison Mataele, Nasi Manu, Solomone Funaki and Zane Kapeni.

Other valuable players are not available.

“It would also have been great to have those two players who have to go back to work, Maama Vaipulu and Kalione Hala. They are quality players, but that is the way it is, we have to move on, but hopefully the players that we have will do the job for us.”

Toutai said that his Lock, Don Lolo had left to return to work this week but would be back on Thursday, and available to play on Saturday.

New players who are joining the squad this week, included Kelemete Finau, Tovo Faleafa, Paula Mahe, Semisi Paea and Anton Milnes.

So far the ‘Ikale Tahi have had a rough ride in their bid to qualify for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

After the ‘Ikale Tahi lost to the Manu Samoa on Saturday, they now have to continue the battle to participate in the 2023 Rugby World Cup competition.

If they win the game against the Cook Islands on July 24, they then can compete in the Asia/Pacific play-off, against Hong Kong Korea or Malaysia for a place at the 2023 World Cup.

London

Meanwhile, the British media reported that the ‘Ikale Tahi will play matches in London against the British Lions on November 6, the Wallabies on November 13 and the Springboks on November 20.

However, prior to these November encounters, Toutai, said that they were negotiating for a game with Scotland and either Romania or the French Barbarians.

“We will take our best players from the Southern Hemisphere up north, and we will also have access to all our players in the north. We should be close to full strength,” he said.