Flower of Scotland rings around the Stade de Nice, before Fasi fakafonua, the Tongan anthem, is sung with plenty of passion.

We're just getting ready for the Sipi Tau - kick-off is just around the corner...

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend isn't fussed by the break between their first and second pool games, and insists that his side won't underestimate Tonga today.

"We feel we'll be stronger for the wait because we've been able to train hard," Townsend said on ITV.

"Tonga are a serious team that will have improved from the Ireland game and we'll need to play well.

"We know they'll make breaks, win turnovers, but we've got to stay true to who we are and play for 80 minutes.

"The conditions here are very warm, and more opportunities could be created in the last 20 minutes. Those three back-line players on the bench will be brought on and could have a big impact."

Image source, Reuters

Scotland centre Sione Tuipulotu has spoken about playing against the land of his father’s birth in the lead-up to this game.

“It’s a tricky one,” Tuipulotu said of his father, Fohe. “No matter how much you try not to think about it, it’s always there in the back of your mind.

"I’m not sure if it’ll be emotional during the anthems. I have a lot of love for Tonga and that side of my heritage but I’ll be fully focused on getting a win and getting our World Cup back on the road.

“My dad will be at home (in Melbourne) with my little brother (Tavi, who’s 19) - he can’t leave him (Tavi) by himself,” he joked.

“Dad will wake up and watch it and I’ll wait for his message after the game, I know he has both jerseys in the house. I'll ask my little brother which one he has on, but I’m sure he’ll be going for us.”

Image source, Getty Images

It looks positively lovely out in Nice today, slightly sunnier than it is for me here in Glasgow.

I'm not at all jealous...

Image source, PA Media

Image source, PA Media

Scotland and Tonga have met just once before at the Rugby World Cup, with that fixture taking place in the pool stage in 1995; Scotland won 41-5 with Gavin Hastings scoring 31 points, four days after he'd scored 44 against Ivory Coast - the two highest totals by a Scotland players in a match at the tournament.

There's a positive omen for you all.

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Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer on Sportsound

There's no safety net for Scotland, they have to turn it on today. They need a big performance.

They need to get some feel-good back in the Scotland support. They're deflated after last night. There was a bit of fatalism going around, that Scotland are already out.

They're not. They're up against it in a massive way, but they need to but smiles back on Scottish faces.

Andy Burke
BBC Scotland at Stade de Nice

It seems as if everything has been stacked against Scotland for this World Cup ever since the draw was made way back in 2020, and things have only got tougher since the tournament began.

Ireland's victory over South Africa last night means Scotland's path to the quarter-finals has narrowed further, and many of the Scottish fans we met on the streets of Nice last night were quite dispirited at the thought that their team is staring elimination in the face after just one match.

The players need to forget all the permutations that might come into play down the line and focus on the task in front of them which is putting Tonga away in style and giving those fans something to cheer about.

Just a heads-up that in addition to following the live text updates for this game, you can also listen to the BBC's radio coverage via the links at the top of the page.

Image source, SNS

For a long time, the game between Ireland and South Africa in Scotland's pool was being billed as the pick of the group stage games.

It more than lived up to the hype, as two of the favourites to lift the Webb Ellis Cup slugged it out in a truly captivating contest.

Winger Mack Hansen described Ireland's 13-8 win as like "a Grand Slam on steroids", such was the enormity of their triumph.

It underlines their status as the number one team in the world, and had Scotland fans watching on nervously.

They know that they have to do what the reigning champions couldn't, and somehow get a positive result against Andy Farrell's winning machine to have any hope of reaching the quarter-finals.

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has brought Rory Sutherland and Scott Cummings into the pack to replace Pierre Schoeman and Grant Gilchrist, while Kyle Steyn and Chris Harris take the places of Darcy Graham and Huw Jones in the back-line.

Schoeman, Jones and Graham are all on a strong-looking Scotland bench which Townsend believes could be key in the final quarter.

Tonga coach Toutai Kefu has retained the same starting XV that faced Ireland.

Four former All Blacks start - full-back Salesi Piutau, centre Malakai Fekitoa, scrum-half Augustine Pulu and number eight Vaea Fifita.

Former Australia international Adam Coleman could make his Tonga debut from the bench.

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland: Kinghorn, Steyn, Harris, Tuipulotu, Van der Merwe, Russell, White; Sutherland, Turner, Z Fagerson, Gray, Cummings, Ritchie (c), Darge, Dempsey.

Replacements: Ashman, Schoeman, Nel, Skinner, M Fagerson, Horne, Jones, Graham.

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

Replacements: Moli, Koloamatangi, Apikotoa, Coleman, Paea, Vailanu, Takulua, Pellegrini.

It's been two weeks since Scotland got their World Cup campaign under way with defeat against South Africa in Marseille.

The events since then mean that for Scotland to have any hope of progressing from this brutal pool, they have to win today, and win well.

No pressure then. Kick-off is 45 minutes away, so let's get cracking...

Image source, Getty Images