Toutai Kefu explains the 'quick fix' to make Tonga more competitive
While 102-0 doesn’t make for pretty reading, Tonga’s sizeable loss at the hands of the All Blacks on Saturday night was the expected outcome thanks to the many challenges currently faced by the island nation.
At the best of times, Tonga are forced to contend with their players being scattered across the globe, making player assessment difficult and training management borderline impossible.
They’re also expected to come together as a team in a short window of time and then go head-to-head with better prepared, better-resourced nations.
Throw in the global pandemic, and the likes of Tonga and their fellow tier-two nations have their backs up against the wall, especially given the ill-timing of the European domestic finals. That doesn’t mean the Pacific Island nation wasn’t up for the battle on Saturday, however.
“For us, in any climate, it’s a challenge,” Tonga coach Toutai Kefu said following the defeat at the hands of the All Blacks. “When you add COVID on top of that, it becomes more of a challenge.
“In all the campaigns I’ve gone through, our boys don’t complain or moan, they just get on with it. We don’t focus on negatives – ‘we didn’t get this, we didn’t get that’, we move on.”
“COVID’s obviously a layer of difficulty. But you’ve got the French [finals] and the English [finals] pretty much aligned with this kind of window so you’ve got to hope that some of the players don’t make it.
“But this time around, it’s just been mainly because of COVID, players not coming back due to quarantine costs. They usually get the one month off and then they’re back training. They’re probably not going to spend all of that in quarantine.”
While the pandemic appears to be easing up marginally around the world, there are other changes to the way the game is governed that Kefu believes could hugely benefit Tonga.
“There’s a range of things [that could help],” he said. “We get two windows a year – which is probably about four weeks. We haven’t got the luxury of having all our players play in the one competition and then we can train whenever we want. So probably the biggest quick fix would probably just be to get access to our better players. That’s probably the quick fix. And the next one probably can’t be done but to spend more time together.”
The All Blacks 102-0 win over Tonga didn't please everyone watching. #NZLvTON https://t.co/QieFqHKE5I
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 4, 2021
That challenge could be hugely mitigated should Moana Pasifika join Super Rugby next year.
“I could keep a lot of my players locally,” Kefu said. “I don’t have to send them overseas to France or to the other competitions, I could keep them here where we could monitor them or observe them.”
Kefu also identified the eligibility laws as a major factor. Currently, the only means for a player to change from one test nation to another is via the Olympics sevens loophole – which has seen former All Black Malakai Fekitoa link up with the Tongan sevens team in recent weeks in order to make himself available for the national XVs side.
“[Eligibility changes] would help a lot,” said Kefu. “There’s a few players that are ready to be capped, it’s just all about the timing. It depends what part of the eligibility… I certainly believe there should be a stand-down period. My opinion is that extra hoop that they have to jump through, in terms of playing sevens, is probably just a layer of complication that probably we don’t need. I’m happy with just a three or a four-year stand-down. It’d suit us a lot. If that’s possible, our team transforms.”
Kefu is hopeful that changes will occur during his tenure as Tonga coach but acknowledged that he may not be able to reap the benefits of any future decisions made around eligibility.
“The next coach will have a really good team,” he joked.
“[That decision making] is at another level. As a union or as a coaching group, we can voice our opinions. But those changes, that’s discussed at a higher level than me.”
Over the next two weeks, Tonga will square off with Samoa to determine who qualifies immediately for the 2023 Rugby World Cup and who needs to compete in further qualification tournaments.
Comments on RugbyPass
True Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
21 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
10 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
78 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
21 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
10 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
2 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to commentsIs Barrett going play full back??? They already have all the centers…
16 Go to commentsForgive my ignorance, I might not fully understand so would appreciate clarification: Didn’t the Bulls have to fly with three different carriers, paid for by the South African Rugby Union, whilst Edinburgh got a chartered flight sponsored by EPCR? Also, as far as I understand it South African teams don’t yet share in the revenue from the competition and are not allowed to host Semi-finals or Finals at home. Surely if everyone wants South Africans to “take the competition seriously” then they must make South Africans feel welcome, allow them to share in the revenue, and give them the same levels of access as the teams from the other countries. Just a reminder that South Africa has a large and passionate Rugby audience. Just by virtue of our teams being a part of these competitions means that more of us are likely to watch the knockout games, even if our teams haven’t qualified. It would be silly to alienate such a large audience by making them feel unwelcome.
21 Go to commentsFirst of all. This guy is very much behind the curve. All the bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning took place days ago already. Not adding anything to the topic other than more bleating, whingeing, whining and moaning. 🍼 Second of all, not one mention of the fact that South African teams can’t get home semi finals or finals. The tournament was undermined and devalued by the administrators. 🤡 Thirdly, football teams often have to juggle selections in mid week games, premier games, champions league games etc. and will from time to time prioritize certain titles over others. 🐒 And lastly FEK Neil, and anyone else for that matter, for insisting on telling teams how to manage themselves. If they make what is largely a business decision that suits them and doesn’t suit you - tough shite. 💩 It’s not rocket science as to why the Bulls did what they did. If this guy is too slow to figure it out (and is deliberately not mentioning one of the key reasons why) then he isn’t a journalist. He should join the rest of us pundit plebs in comments section. 🥴
21 Go to commentsSo the first door to knock on Rob is Parliament followed by HMRC. The Irish Revenue deliver a 40% tax relief rebate on the HIGHEST EARNING TEN YEARS of every pro Irish rugby players contract earnings at retirement. That goes a long way to both retaining their best talent and freeing up wages for marquee players. Who knows, if that had been in place in the UK, you might not have been able to poach Hoggy and Jonny Gray from Glasgow…!!!
3 Go to comments1. True, if that “free” ticket means access to all but the prized exhibit - EVIP only. SA cannot host semis, even if they’ve earned it (see Sharks vs ASM Clermont Auvergne at… Twickenham Stoop). 2. Why no selective outrage over Lyon doing the exact same thing a week earlier? Out of all the countries France send the most “B teams”, why nobody talking about “disrespect” and “prioritising domestic leagues” and “kicking them out”? 3. Why no mention of the Sharks fielding all of their Springboks for the second rate Challenge cup QF? No commitment? 4. Why no mention of all the SA teams qualifying for respective euro knock out comps in the two seasons they’ve been in it? How many euro teams have qualified for KO’s in their history? Can’t compete? 5. Why no mention of SA teams beating French and English giants La Rochelle and Saracens? How many euro teams have done that in their history? Add no quality? The fact is that SA teams are only in their second season in europe, with no status and a fraction of the resources. Since joining the URC, SA has seen a repatriation of a number of players, and this will only grow once SA start sharing in the profits of competing in these comps, meaning bigger squads with greater depth and quality, meaning they don’t have to prioritise comps as they have to now - they don’t have imports from Pacifica and South America and everywhere else in between like “European” teams have - also less “Saffas” in Prem and T14, that’s what we want right? 'If the South Africans are in, they need to be all in' True, and we have to ensure we give them the same status and resources as we give everyone else to do just that. A small compromise on scheduling will go a long way in avoiding these situations, but guess what, France and England wont compromise on scheduling because they ironically… prioritise their domestic comps, go figure!
21 Go to comments