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TGA vs FIJ
Pacific Nations Cup
Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku'alofa
Tonga
vs
Fiji
19
FT
50
Action
Lineups
All
Facts Only
All
Full-Time: 19 - 50
Fiji have recorded a huge victory over Tonga to wrap up top spot in Pool A of the Pacific Nations Cup. They'll face the losers of the Pool B match between Japan and the USA from Kumagaya tomorrow night, whilst Tonga head to Tokyo next weekend for a 5th place play-off with Canada. It's been a pleasure bringing you all the action from this special occasion in Nuku'alofa. For now, Harrison Ryburn signing out.
Despite another heavy defeat, this was arguably a much-improved performance from Tonga against tough opposition. They displayed a lot of nerves early on, and their backfield looked a mess under a high ball barrage from the Fijian halves. The red card gave them a lifeline though, and they used it as a confidence booster to cross over the try-line three times. During that period they were accurate and lethal, taking advantage of their opportunities with the ball, and forcing the Fijians back. They held out for twenty minutes of the second half too, but the youthfulness of their bench struggled to keep up the same intensity, and they were put away in the final quarter. Patrick Pellegrini was undoubtedly Tonga's best, and looks a very exciting player in the fly-half jersey, setting up two trys and scoring one himself. Lotu Inisi failed to provide the platform up front that he did last week though, and again they lost the physical battle, with Ben Tameifuna at his ever-reliable best in the pack.
It was a struggle at times for the Flying Fijians, despite looking as though they'd pulled out of sight inside the first twelve minutes with a 19-0 lead. Discipline was a major factor in their performance, and the loss of Cocagi to a red card in the first half let Tonga back into the contest. During that period they also conceded a number of other penalties, and were perhaps unlucky not to be reduced to 13. Nevertheless they eventually pulled away in the second half, helped by some impact off the bench. The likes of Ikanivere, Derenalagi, and Canakaivata were all tremendous up front, and integral to winning the physical battle up front, whilst also setting up the driving maul. Muntz also had another good day at fly-half, whilst Karawalevu and Masi were Fiji's best in the backline.
Fulltime in Nuku'alofa and Fiji have rallied to pour fifty points on Tonga, and pick up victory over their South Pacific neighbours in the 100th year of their international rivalry. It was tight at the break, with Tonga recovering from an early 0-19 deficit to peg the gap back to seven points, thanks largely to a red card against Fiji's Andrea Cocagi. The Flying Fijians pulled away in the second half though, eventually bridging the floodgates again with twenty to play, and scoring three second half tries to reach the half-century. It's a result that wraps up top spot in Pool A for Mick Byrne's Fijian side, and they'll now head to Tokyo for a Pacific Nations Cup semi-final against the runners-up from Pool B.
80+1'
The line-out is taken well, and Fiji spread it wide to the left with Muntz. He's taken in a heavy tackle and Tonga turn it over, before Paea finds 'Akualoa down the right wing. The latter bursts away, but is scurried into touch inside the 22. Fiji set the line-out, before clearing to touch through Muntz.
80'
The hosts continue to build phases 20m out, before Dolokoto gets in over the ball to win a big turnover penalty. Muntz finds touch up near halfway.
79'
Canakaivata takes the mark inside his own 22 from the restart, before Muntz clears to halfway. pellegrini runs back into contact on halfway, before bursting through a gap and rushing up to the 22. He finds Nai in support and Tonga are hot on the attack late on.
78'
Muntz adds the extras from in front.
78'
19-50 C. Muntz
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