Tonga power their way to victory over Canada to close out Pacific Nations Cup campaign
Tonga have finished their Pacific Nations Cup campaign with a 33-23 victory over Canada at Churchill Park in Lautoka, Fiji on Friday.
The power evident in the ‘Ikale Tahi’s game proved to be too much for the Canucks to handle, with all five of Tonga’s tries coming off the back of some strong ball-carrying and a confrontational style of play.
Tonga got underway strongly with a try to fullback David Halaifonua inside the first seven minutes, who took full advantage of an 8-9 play down the blindside channel from a scrum five metres outside of the Canadian tryline.
Halfback and vice-captain Sonatane Takulua landed the conversion from distance, but the North Americans hit back about 10 minutes later through the boot of Gordon McRorie, who landed a penalty from 25 metres out right in front of the sticks.
The Tongans then extended their lead through some superb inter-linking play, which stemmed from near their own 22 metre mark.
Capitalising on the dry, hard track under the Fijian sun, a number of good carries got them into the opposition red zone, and after some sustained pressure on the Canadian defensive line, it was the left wing Viliame Lolohea who went crashing over near the posts.
It took only five more minutes for their third try to be scored, with Stade Francais midfielder Malietoa Hingano punishing Canada for an overthrown lineout thanks to his clean pair of heels to outpace the lacklustre defenders.
Takulua missed the conversion, which proved to be his only missed kick at goal, and Canada were given some consolation before half-time as wing Jeff Hassler scooted over in the corner after star halfback Phil Mack bolted down the blindside from a lineout deep inside enemy territory.
Down 19-8 at the break, Canada’s chances of overturning the deficit took a hit when reserve prop Latu Talakai used his hulking frame to crash over just two minutes into the second half.
Despite an improved showing in the second stanza by Canada – which saw them dot down three more times through substitute Pat Parfrey, veteran speedster DTH van der Merwe and Hassler, who bagged himself a brace – a deserved try to Tongan No. 8 Sione Vailinu put the game to bed with little over 10 minutes remaining.
The Canadians’ weak defence was seemingly the downfall of Kingsley Jones’ side, which struggled to contain the abrasive offence that Tonga threw at them throughout the encounter.
McRorie’s goal kicking will also be a concern for the world’s 21st-ranked side, with the pivot missing four of his five attempts at goal.
The loss means Canada finish the Pacific Nations Cup winless and at the bottom of Pool B with only one point to their name.
It also leaves them with just one win from seven tests in 2019, and with just one more test against the USA and two further clashes against Leinster and the BC All-Stars between now and the World Cup, there is very limited time for the 1991 quarter-finalists to resurrect their form.
As for Tonga, the win is their first of the year following defeats to Samoa and Japan over the past fortnight, although they too remain at the bottom of their pool with five points.
The result leaves Toutai Kefu’s men in good stead for their upcoming warm-up matches against the Western Force, Fiji and the All Blacks over the coming month before their World Cup campaign kicks off against England in Sapporo on September 22.
Canada, meanwhile, will begin their tournament against Italy in Fukuoka on September 26.
Tonga 33 (Tries to David Halaifonua, Viliame Lolohea, Malietoa Hingano, Latu Talakai and Sione Vailanu; 3 conversions to Sonatane Takulua, conversion to Latiume Fosita)
Canada 23 (Tries to Jeff Hassler (2), Pat Parfrey, DTH van der Merwe; penalty goal to Gordon McRorie)
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Comments on RugbyPass
We had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getitng to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
7 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to comments