Chris Henry
Former Ireland flanker on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and Radio Ulster

I think Andy Farrell's selection is brave and I love the attitude.

It's just taking care of business week to week. It's about respecting opposition, respecting the World Cup and he's just right. There's always a worry for injuries but I think at this stage we need to get guys firing and battling hard. It's Tonga's first game and I think the players are really going to enjoy the challenge.

Two legends. Here is how they stack up.

Image source, Inpho

Here's the record that Johnny Sexton is chasing against Tonga.

Sexton marked his return to the Ireland team with 24 points against Romania, including two tries, as he surpassed Ronan O'Gara as Ireland's record Rugby World Cup scorer. Sexton now has 102 Rugby World Cup points.

He scored more points in one match against Romania than he did in his entire first Rugby World Cup campaign (21 points in five appearances in 2011).

Sexton’s tally of 24 points was the joint most by an Ireland player in a Rugby World Cup match (David Humphreys v Argentina in 1999)

He needs nine points to join O'Gara on the all-time list. Will he break it tonight?

Image source, Inpho

Ireland captain Johnny Sexton says it will be a special moment but that "no-one else will really care" if and when he breaks Ronan O'Gara's all-time points scoring record.

Nial Foster
BBC Sport Northern Ireland at Stade de la Beaujoire.

For those of you that enjoy collecting match programmes, tonight's Ireland v Tonga edition is a striking pink/purple colour, there are 98 pages of rugby content and it's priced at a whopping €15!

Should Ireland produce a memorable performance tonight, it'll be worth every cent.

Image source, BBC Sport NI

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell, speaking to ITV: "The game is important to us. It is a completely different type of game compared to last week. We're respecting the opposition because of the quality that is there, as a collective and individuals and coaching staff.

"We know they are a big side, not just big but a physical side who can play the game,. They have a very good set piece and good maul. They want to hit in defence so we need to move them about a bit."

After Ireland launched their World Cup bid with such an emphatic win over Romania, I had been really interested to see what changes Andy Farrell would make to his team to face Tonga.

It turns out he didn't feel the need to make many, much to my surprise.

Many felt Farrell would rotate for this game, but he has named a really strong team and means business.

Read Tommy Bowe's latest BBC Sport column here.

Image source, BBC Sport

At the Rugby World Cup, Ireland lock Tadhg Beirne is forced to wear a suit for media duties after falling foul of the squad 'sheriffs' - James Ryan, Dave Kilcoyne and Jack Conan.

Image source, Inpho

Ireland intend to give veteran captain Johnny Sexton as many minutes as he can manage during the Rugby World Cup, says defence coach Simon Easterby.

Sexton returned from an absence of almost six months due to injury and suspension in the 82-8 win over Romania in their Pool B opener in Bordeaux.

The Leinster fly-half will start against Tonga this evening.

"He's the captain, he's the talisman in the squad and the more minutes he can play the better," said Easterby.

Ireland face a balancing act of wanting the 38-year-old on the pitch as much as possible while ensuring he is in peak condition for the critical moments.

Easterby added: "Johnny's not got potentially many more times wearing the green jersey and - those of you who know him - he wants to play every minute that he can.

"That will be a conversation between him and Faz [head coach Andy Farrell] and making sure that he and Faz are happy with the discussions and how they want to map out the next couple of weeks."

Chris Henry
Former Ireland flanker on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra and Radio Ulster

Last week couldn't have gone more perfectly from an Irish point of view, a great score line but tonight certainly is a different challenge with a much tougher opposition.

This Tonga side, they have a huge rugby culture there and this is their first game of this World Cup, so they are going to be massively up for the challenge.

Ireland fans have been enjoying the sunshine in Nantes ahead of tonight's game.

What do we make of some of these costumes?

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Inpho

Conor Murray says Ireland must be "on their guard" when they face a Tonga team that will include "ridiculous athlete" Malakai Fekitoa in Saturday's World Cup Pool B match in Nantes.

Centre Fekitoa, a 2015 World Cup winner with New Zealand, is one of four former All Blacks in the Tonga team.

Murray played alongside Fekitoa at Munster last season.

"He's a tough competitor, he really bought into our culture when he was at Munster," said the Ireland scrum-half.

Fekitoa, who won 24 caps for New Zealand before switching to Tonga under World Rugby's birthright amendment, external, is one of four former All Blacks - along with Charles Piutau, Augustine Pulu and Vaea Fifita - in Tonga's starting team.

The 31-year-old made 19 appearances for Munster and started in the Irish province's United Rugby Championship final win over the Stormers in Cape Town before leaving to join Benetton.

Read more here

Tonga's Charles Piutau says he's looking forward to facing former Ulster team-mates when he makes his World Cup debut against Ireland on Saturday.

The full-back played with Ireland trio Stuart McCloskey, Iain Henderson and Rob Herring during a two-year spell at Kingspan Stadium.

"I've very good memories," said 31-year-old Piutau.

"It feels weird that some of the guys I'll be playing against were part of that team, so it should be good fun."

The former Wasps and Auckland Blues player was a fans' favourite as an utility back for Ulster before moving to Bristol in 2018.

"The chant [Stand Up For the Ulstermen] always comes to mind running out of the tunnel - the guys that were there, they were awesome and made me feel welcome," added Piutau.

Read more here.

Image source, presseye

Tonga are the 20th and final team to play at RWC 2023, eight days into the tournament.They have had to be this patient in the past as they were the last team to enter the fray at RWC 2003.

They won their last Rugby World Cup match – 31-19 v USA in Higashiosaka at 2019 World Cup – having overturned a five-point half-time deficit.

The last time the ‘Ikale Tahi won two Rugby World Cup matches in a row was at a World Cup was in 2011 when they defeated Japan 31-18 and France 19-14 in their final two pool fixtures.

Tonga have only failed to score a try in four of their 29 World Cup fixtures.

Image source, Inpho

BBC Sounds

You can listen to live coverage of tonight's game on BBC Sounds.

On BBC Radio Ulster, Orla Bannon and former Ireland back row Chris Henry will take you through the build-up while Jim Neilly is joined by ex-Irish fly-half Tony Ward on commentary.

That's from 19:30 BST.

Nial Foster
BBC Sport Northern Ireland at Stade de la Beaujoire

After some Irish fans encountered problems entering the Stade de Bordeaux last Saturday, thousands arrived early at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes today in the hope of avoiding any confusion this week.

Spirits are high and all in green are expecting a win! Allez les verts!

Image source, BBC Sport NI

Image source, Inpho

Ireland scrum-half Craig Casey says it would be "unbelievable" to make his World Cup debut against Tonga in Nantes if afforded the opportunity.

Ireland will hope to build on their thumping 82-8 win over Romania when they face the Tongans on Saturday.

"If I get the chance now I'll really look forward to it," said Munster's Casey.

"When you're part of a squad only 23 can play so going into a tournament you know you're not going to play every minute.

"Every player knows that. You have to be ready for your opportunity and when it does come you have to take it with both hands and try and cement your place for the weekend after.

"Everyone is itching to go, even the lads who played last weekend are itching to get back on the field so there's a real buzz around the squad."

Matt Gault
BBC Sport NI

Image source, Getty Images

Many expected to see a much-changed Ireland team tonight, but Andy Farrell is having none of it.

Farrell's decision to retain several of his big-hitters is driven by two factors. First, he respects Tonga and the significant challenge they present, especially compared to an overwhelmed Romanian outfit last week.

Secondly, the Englishman clearly recognises the potential significance of going into next week's eagerly-anticipated clash with South Africa with a maximum return from the opening two games.

And in sending out a team that boasts 819 caps, Farrell's line-up undoubtedly contains enough experience and firepower to secure a second successive bonus-point win and move on to 10 points before attention turns to a mouthwatering Stade de France meeting with the Springboks.

Tonga have never progressed beyond the pool stages, but they are capable of producing monumental shocks, like they did against France in 2011.

And with four former All Blacks in their starting XV, they are not to be underestimated.

Johnny Sexton stays in the Ireland team for Saturday's World Cup game against Tonga, which sees four personnel changes from the big win over Romania.

Fly-half Sexton, 38, made his return to action last weekend after nearly six months out.

Wing Mack Hansen and scrum-half Conor Murray take over from Keith Earls and Jamison Gibson-Park in the backs.

Hooker Ronan Kelleher replaces Rob Herring with Josh van der Flier's recall meaning Joe McCarthy drops out.

Tonga coach Toutai Kefu has named former All Blacks Charles Piutau, Malakai Fekitoa, Augustine Pulu and Vaea Fifita in his starting line-up following World Rugby's 2021 eligibility rule change and both Sexton and Farrell are expecting the Pacific Islanders to present a tough test.

Ireland: Keenan; Hansen, Ringrose, Aki, Lowe; Sexton (capt), Murray; Porter, Kelleher, Furlong, Beirne, Ryan, O'Mahony, Van der Flier, Doris.

Replacements: Herring, Kilcoyne, Bealham, Henderson, Baird, Casey, Byrne, Henshaw.

Tonga: Piutau; Taumoepeau, Fekitoa, Ahki, Kata; Havili, Pulu; Fisi'ihoi, Ngauamo, Tameifuna (capt); Lousi, Fifita; Halaifonua, Talitui, Fifita

Replacements: Moli, Koloamatangi, Apikotoa, Paea, Funaki, Vailanu, Takulula, Inisi.

It'll be all-white on the night.