Recap: All Blacks v Tonga LIVE | RWC Warmup
Follow all the action from the World Cup warm-up match on the RugbyPass live blog as the All Blacks host Tonga at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton.
Keep up to date with the latest score, stats and join the conversation from anywhere in the world in our Live Match Centre (click here).
This match – a rare afternoon test in New Zealand – is the final pre-World Cup fixture for both sides before their campaigns in Japan kick-off in a fortnight’s time.
Plenty of changes have been made by All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen following their 36-0 thrashing of the Wallabies at Eden Park in Auckland three weeks ago.
Codie Taylor and Matt Todd are the only alterations in the forward pack, coming into the starting side for Dane Coles and Sam Cane, neither of whom feature on the bench.
There’s a new-look midfield as well, with Ryan Crotty set to make his first international appearance of the year from second-five.
He replaces Sonny Bill Williams, and will partner up with No. 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, who retains his place from the Bledisloe Cup demolition.
Perhaps the most interesting change to the stating lineup, however, is the selection of Beauden Barrett at first-five.
The two-time World Rugby Player of the Year has been picked at fullback for New Zealand’s last three tests, but a shoulder injury to Richie Mo’unga sees the 28-year-old move back to his preferred position, with veteran Ben Smith reclaiming his place at No. 15.
That opens up the possibility of a test debut for rookie playmaker Josh Ioane from off the bench, despite the fact he was excluded from the All Blacks’ 31-man World Cup squad.
He is one of five changes on the bench, with one of the more significant inclusions on the pine being that of Scott Barrett, who returns from suspension following his red card during the All Blacks’ 47-26 defeat to Australia in Perth last month.
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Liam Coltman, Luke Jacobson and Aaron Smith – who swaps out of the starting XV for TJ Perenara – are the other new faces in the reserves.
As for the underdogs Tonga, the return of experienced first-five Kurt Morath headlines the five changes to their starting side following their 29-19 Pasifika Challenge II loss to Fiji at Eden Park last week.
Head coach Toutai Kefu has also recalled Malietoa Hingano as part of a backline reshuffle, Leicester Tigers flanker Sione Kalamafoni, Glasgow Warriors prop Siua Halanukonuka, and hooker Leva Fifita.
With a further four switches on the bench in the form of Sione Anga’aelangi, Dan Faleafa, James Faiva and Atieli Pakalani, the ‘Ikale Tahi will be hopeful of putting in a strong performance against the hosts, especially after Kefu spoke of his side’s lofty expectations at the World Cup, where he hopes to finish with a quarter-final spot.
The Pacific Island side have never reached the play-offs of a World Cup in their history, nor have they ever come within 31 points of the All Blacks, but that won’t deter the world’s 15th-ranked side from putting in a strong showing in Hamilton.
Lineups:
All Blacks: Ben Smith, Sevu Reece, Anton Lienert-Brown, Ryan Crotty, George Bridge, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Kieran Read (c), Matt Todd, Ardie Savea, Sam Whitelock, Patrick Tuipulotu, Nepo Laulala, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody. Reserves: Liam Coltman, Ofa Tuungafasi, Angus Ta’avao, Scott Barrett, Luke Jacobson, Aaron Smith, Josh Ioane, Jordie Barrett.
Tonga: David Halaifonua, Cooper Vuna, Malietoa Hingano, Siale Piutau (c), Viliami Lolohea, Kurt Morath, Sonatane Takulua, Maama Vaipulu, Fotu Lokotui, Sione Kalamafoni, Leva Fifita, Sam Lousi, Siua Halanukonuka, Siua Maile, Siegfried Fisiihoi. Reserves: Sione Anga’aelangi, Vunipola Fifita, Ma’afu Fia, Dan Faleafa, Zane Kapeli, Leon Fukofuka, James Faiva, Atieli Pakalani.
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Comments on RugbyPass
We’re building a bridge but can't agree where the river is.
2 Go to commentsfirst no arms shoulder or helmet tackle into his rib cage is going to be so very painful even to watch. go back to RU mate.
1 Go to commentsBulls by 5. Plus another 50.
3 Go to commentsJohan Goosen avatar. Cute. Surely someone at RP knows how to do a google image search?
3 Go to commentsCan’t these games play a little earlier? Asking for a friend.
3 Go to commentsIt’s impressive that we can see huge stadiums with attendance in the 40 000 to 50 000 region. It shows how popular this competition is becoming. What is even more impressive is the massive growth in broadcast viewership. The URC is one of the two best leagues in the World, the other being the Top14.
7 Go to commentsChristie is not Sottish, like the majority of the Scotland team.
2 Go to commentsHold the phone, decline over-rated. Is it a one game, dead cat bounce or the real thing? Has the Penney dropped? Stay tuned.
45 Go to commentsTotally deserved win for the Crusaders Far smarter than the Chiefs who seem to be avoiding the basics when it matters Hotham showed them what was missing and Hannah seems a real find - a tad light but that can be fixed over time
8 Go to commentsGreat insight into the performance culture with Sarries and I predict Christie will be a fixture in the Scotland team now for some time to come. However, he is slightly missing his own point around Scotland “being soft” when he cites physicality examples in defence of that slight. The issue is much closer to the example he referenced around feeling off before a game but being told “it doesn’t matter, you can still play well” by Farrell. Until Scotland can get their psyche in that square, they will carry on folding under extreme pressure…
2 Go to comments> We are having to adapt, evolve and innovate more than when we were in Super Rugby where there was only really one style that everybody had to play to gain the most success. Have = able to? Interesting what that one style might be? I thought SA sides still had bad tours now, or at least bad schedule, months away? Those extra few hours flights have to be a killer though, no surprise to see their sides doing so badly at the start of the season each year. I wouldn’t enjoy that unfairness as a supporter.
7 Go to commentsThe problem for NZ, and Aus, is they ripped up the SR model and lost a massive chunk of revenue that hasn’t been replaced. Don’t forget SA clubs went North because they were left with no choice, Argy unceremoniously binned and Japan cast adrift. Now SR wasn’t perfect, far from it, but they’ve jumped into something without an effective plan, so far, to replace what they’ve lost. The biggest revenue potential now lies in Japan but it won’t be easy or quick to unlock, they are incredibly insular in culture as a nation. In the meantime, there is a serious time bomb sitting under SH rugby and if it happens then the current financial challenges will look like a picnic. IF the Boks follow their provincial teams and head north then it’s revenue meltdown. Not guaranteed to happen but the status quo is a very odd hybrid, with the Boks pointing one way and the clubs pointing the other way. And for as long as that remains then the threat is real.
45 Go to commentsI think Etene has had some good tuition, likely while at the Warriors to be a professional that helped his rugby jump, but he was certainly thrown in the deep end way too early. Should have arguably 20 less SR caps, and therefor a way better record that he does at his age, but his development would have been fast tracked by the need to satiate his signing away from league. Again, credit to him and others that he has done it so well. Easy to fall over under that pressure in the big leagues like that but he kept at it when I myself wasn’t sure he was good enough.
1 Go to commentsAwesome story. I wonder what a bigger American (SA) scene might have mean for Brex.
1 Go to comments“Johnny McNicholl and the Crusaders” save a Penney. Who has been in camp this week and showed them how to play?
8 Go to commentsSo, reports of the Crusaders’ demise / terminal decline are perhaps just - slightly - premature/exaggerated…? 🤔 Will we see a deep-dive into that by the estimable Rugbypass scribes, and maybe one or two mea culpas? Thought not.
8 Go to comments1. The Chiefs are rudderless without DMac, which enhances his AB chances 2. Chiefs pack are powderpuffs. The hard men arent there anymore 3. They had their golden title chance last yr and wont threaten this yr. Gone in second round of playoffs.
8 Go to commentsHonestly, why did you have to publish such a foolish article the day they play us? 😂
45 Go to comments> They are not standalone entities. They are linked to an amateur association which holds the FFR licence that allows the professional side to compete in the league. That’s a great rule. This looks like the chicken or egg professional scenario. How long is it going to be before the club can break even (if that is even a thing in French rugby)? If the locals aren’t into well it would be good to se them drop to amateur level (is it that far?). Hope they can reset from this level and be more practical, there will be a time when they can rebuild (if France has there setup right).
1 Go to commentsWhat about changing the ball? To something heavier and more pointed that bounces unpredictably. Not this almost round football used these days.
35 Go to comments