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.
Continue reading below…
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.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
No question they were the better team. But that is the beauty of sport isn’t it!
95 Go to commentsEveryone is into Hurling in Ireland according to Porter, but only 11 of Ireland's 32 counties enter a team into the national competition. Same old blarney.
1 Go to commentsLet’s be honest. The draw and scheduling in the World Cup was a joke but South Africa found a way after having to go the hard (nearly impossible) way to the Cup Final via France and England. NZ had a hard game against France (lost) and had 5 weeks to prepare for the Quarter, 3 weeks knowing it was Ireland. NZ theerfore had to win one big game against an Irish team who played SA and then Scotland 7 days before. They won and it was de facto a semi final because they were playing a relatively weak Argentina team and it was a walk over. In the final a very rested NZ team was playing a very tired SA team and still lost. They couldn’t score more than 11 points. Put another way SA had to find a way to win while tired and they achieved that. NZ should thank their lucky stars that they fixed the scheduling in 2015 otherwise they would be dealing with a Bok treble.
95 Go to commentsPerhaps if Bongi wasn’t targeted and removed from the game in the first 3 minutes it would have been quite a different game. Maybe if NZ also faced the same competition the Boks faced to their win NZ would have looked quite different. The final score shows who outplayed who.
95 Go to commentsRubbish article! Abuladze played most of Exeters matches when fit. He got injured against Glasgow a while ago and is out for the rest of the season, thats why he hasnt played for Exeter and Georgia recently. Do some proper research next time!
1 Go to commentsGotta love it when kids throw their toys out the pram and can’t hack it with the grown ups debate. Here’s looking at you turlough! 😉🤣
148 Go to commentsThey lost the game period move on
95 Go to commentsSpringboks won! Stop winging. You can change the game however much you and your rugby colonizing IRB want to and the Springboks will win you at that too. Your mind is colonized my friend get a life
95 Go to commentsBen, nobody gets fooled anymore by selective and biased data to support an hypothesis. Games are decided on such small margins these days that you win some and lose some, and dominance is a thing of the rugby past. Look at the RWC circle of fortune…. Ireland beats SA who beat France who beat NZ who beat Ireland. And so it goes on. Match officials help to eliminate real indiscretions. If they had been with us years before, no doubt results would have been different. Remember Andy Haden’s dive from a lineout in 1978 for which a match-wining penalty was awarded? Wales should have beaten the ABs that day. They took the loss like the gentlemen they were.
95 Go to commentsWith all the analysis and how good the all blacks were.The fundamental mistake with the ABs is that this is a test match and not an exhibition.There is no better team(country) in world rugby than the Boks that knows how to win a test match(we are post masters at this).We know our rules, we have the discipline, we tackle like beasts, we take our points and we never give up.I now have educated the ABs supporters(at least say thank you).Please stop “bitching” , accept what the outcome is and move along swiftly.
95 Go to commentsAnd they came from behind to win two big games before the final. No one can say what would have happened. Had the boks gone behind the game plan changes and the result may changes. Ifs and ands are irrelevant. The boks won. Neutral critics enjoyed the games they played. Its not a popularity contest. Get over it and move on.
95 Go to commentsI'm happy for the people of SA to get a second WC. And I mean that. I was very disappointed with this man's “stand on the hand” incident with Josh Van Der Flyer (Ireland). Ireland's downfall in the last WC was they did not rotate their first 15 as the head coach probably should have. That said, I'm happy for SA and genuinely hope it lifts the mood in their country. Ireland did beat them in the first match of the tournament. And before the trolls start trolling ….. please don't bother. Etzbeth said recently that the Irish players said after the match “see you in the final”…..this was actually wishing the SA team the best of luck in the rest, the Irish team were not dismissing the AB’s. This is what Etzbeth was implying. But he was wrong. I no longer live in Ireland. But I hope to see them lift that cup before I pass. Anyway, congratulations SA. 👍
12 Go to commentsMore bloody click bait. Dan Carter has said absolutely nothing. As he should do. Poor journalism again from a site that should know better
9 Go to commentsOh god please help these loosers get over it!!!! You lost. Doesn't matter how many times you dummies are gonna analyse the game, you still lost and we are still Rygby World Champions….get over it, you lost.
95 Go to commentsThe next Willie le Roux. SA are made not to use him.
3 Go to commentsDan has always been as controversial as tea with milk so we were never going to get any definitive answer. So DMac for the win.
9 Go to commentsGoodness. When are the All Blacks and New Zealand commentators going to stop complaining about how they could have won and just try to win next time 😂. In South Africa if you lose you get up and try again. Get over it.
95 Go to commentsHonestly, it doesn’t matter a whole lot. RSA has a ton of experienced talent in its leadership group. I am more interested in who is the new 8 man/8 men and the younger props. The captain may change but the system does not
1 Go to commentsBen, you are one of the most arrogant and self opionated rugby critics I have ever come across (next to Keohane). I hoped that after SA beating the best ranked teams in the world on their way to the WC (something not done before) that you might have the grace to admit that this is a special team that deserved the accolades coming their way. You have no humility and as has been been already pointed out, merely a troll to attract audience numbers. Count me out in the future.
95 Go to comments‘War of independence’. Such a grand name for a few skirmishes. Where were all the great battles of this ‘war’ ? Smith got goosebumps as he was being emotionally manipulated, another mushroom.
1 Go to comments