The Pacific Islanders have had to bide their time after sitting out the first weekend of Rugby World Cup action and will want to make a physical statement on Saturday
Tadhg Beirne predicts that Tonga are going to "have a scalp off" Ireland in a physical battle in Nantes.
“Yeah, I think physicality is going to be top of their agenda," said Beirne. "I think they’re going to come and try and have a scalp off us for sure."They’re a serious side when you look at the team on paper. I’ve no doubt that they’re going to have a go at us. They’ll certainly attack us out wide and then they’ll take us on up front as well, and we’ve got to be ready for that.
“We were quite off it, we felt," said Beirne. "A lot of mistakes, we were disappointed with how our set-piece went. “Again, on the weekend just gone, we’re probably still not happy with where we were there, and particularly line-out. So, we’re putting pressure on ourselves to improve that area for sure and it’s another massive test for us.While insisting that lineout "definitely isn't a concern for us", Beirne maintains that Ireland do not have one eye on their meeting with defending champions South Africa on Saturday week.
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