Tonga (18) 31 / Japan (13) 18 (Final Score)
Tonga and Japan did battle in Whangarei at 09:30 SA Time (19:30 NZ Time).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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What a good action-packed match!
The sides went hammer and tongs from the word go, no standing back!
It was thrust and parry, defend and run… brutal but honest rugby.
Scorers:
Tonga:
- Penalties – Kurt Morath (4)
- Drop Goals – 0
- Tries – Viliafi Ma’afu (1), Tukulua Lokotui (1), Tetu’u Vainikolo (1)
- Conversions – Kurt Morath (2)
Japan:
- Penalties – Shaun Webb (1)
- Drop Goals – 0
- Tries – Kensuke Hatakeyama (1), Michael Leitch (1), Alisi Tupuailai (1)
- Conversions – 0
Teams:
Tonga: 15 Vungakoto Lilo, 14 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 13 Siale Piutau, 12 Alipate Fatafehi, 11 Sukanaivalu Hufanga, 10 Kurt Morath, 9 Taniela Moa, 8 Viliami Ma’afu, 7 Sione Vaiomo’unga, 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 5 Paino Hehea, 4 Tukulua Lokotui, 3 Taufa’ao Filise, 2 Aleki Lutui (captain), 1 Soane Tonga’uiha.
Replacements: 16 Aloisio Ma’asi, 17 Alisona Taumalolo, 18 Halani Aulika, 19 Joseph Tu’ineau, 20 Samiu Vahafolau, 21 Samisoni Fisilau, 22 Viliame Iongi.
Japan: 15 Shaun Webb, 14 Kosuke Endo, 13 Alisi Tupuailai, 12 Ryan Nicholas, 11 Hirotoki Onozawa, 10 James Arlidge, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Takashi Kikutani (captain), 7 Michael Leitch, 6 Itaru Taniguchi, 5 Toshizumi Kitagawa, 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Hisateru Hirashima.
Replacements: 16 Yusuke Aoki, 17 Nozomu Fujita, 18 Hitoshi Ono, 19 Sione Talikavili Vatuvei, 20 Atsushi Hiwasa, 21 Takehisa Usuzuki, 22 Murray Williams.
Date: Wednesday 21 September
Kick-off: 09:30 SA Time (19:30 NZ Time)
Venue: Northland Events Centre, Whangarei
Expected weather: Fine with a westerly breeze. Max 19°C, Min 9°C.
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
Assistant referees: Alain Rolland (Ireland), Stuart Terheege (England)
TMO: Giulio De Santis (Italy)
What an escape by Japan.
59 @ Loosehead:
Hello Loskoppie
Looks like Tonga’s physicality will be the decider in this match.
Penalty Tonga, this one very kickable
Tonga 21 / 13
Silly mistake by Japanese right winger… but Japan steals the Tongan lineout
Tryyyyyyyyyy Tonga, Vainikolo
Tonga 28 / 13
Penalty to Japan, in their own half, Arlidge kicks to touch
Good Japanese driving play
Japanese right winger, Kosuto Endo’s hands letting him down again
Lineout after a penalty to Japan… driving maul… penalty advantage and then the penalty to Japan.
They kick it out 5m out
Tonga give away yet another penalty.. Tongan Yellow Card, Aulika
5m Lineout again after the penalty… they drive… tryyyyyyyyy
TMO
Ball heavily unsighted…
Ruled held up
Scrum 5 for Japan
Tryyyyyyyyyyyyy Japan, the outside center!
Tonga 28 / 18
Japanese men taken out in the air from the kick-off… Tongan lucky to get a warning
My call was Tonga by 13 on Bru.
As I say that they get a kickable penalty
Tonga 31 / 18
… and there is my 13-point margin, for now
Japanese penalty, they go for touch
Great Tongan defence
Tonga offside, 10m out
Japan has an attacking lineout, 5m out
9 minutes left
Tonga steal the ball… hacked upfield, and far into touch
Penalty Japan, taken quickly…. scrum to Tonga
Tonga still does not have the 4th try…
Early engage in the scrum by Tonga, free kick Japan, on halfway
Penalty Tonga, near their own 22….
4 minutes to go
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