Tonga v Fiji match thread

[roopy]

Tonga in possession - knock on against Fiji - 6 more - penalty to Tonga 20 out from Fiji line - Tonga loses ball on about tackle 15

 

[roopy]

good set by fiji - put a lot of pressure on but rules offside on kick chase

 

[roopy]

Tonga have a good set, but kick by Paea knocked on both ways - line drop out

 

[roopy]

Fiji hold out a lot of strong runs at the line by Tonga, then pick up a lose ball and make a big break - Fiji knocks on but looked unlucky not to score after making lots of metres in 4 tackles

 

[roopy]

Tonga has a good set, but their 6th tackle options are poor - lots of knock ons from the kicks

 

[roopy]

Fiji get a repeat set - razzle dazzle footy through about 10 sets of hands, finally an easy try when Tonga ran out of numbers

 

[christopher]

team line ups???

 

[roopy]

Wes misses
10-4 to Fiji

 

[roopy]

penalty to Fiji on halfway - back on the attack - but turnover to Tonga

 

[roopy]

Tonga spill it - then Fiji spill it - both sides looking very tired in the heat

 

[roopy]

Tonga look good for a while, but spill it
play stopped for injured fijian - nearly halftime

 

[BatiFan]

Tonga have it all over the Fijians in the middle of the field and have so many big guys. Simple mistakes are all that is cruelling them from finishing off more movements.

For Fiji, Logaigavalu and Macalai have been a lot better today, yet they are still not getting anything out of their middle men. Osea Sadrau (front rower) did one hit up in the first 15 mins. Puna Rausabale was the only front rower to offer anything for them.

 

[roopy]

Tonga have a last go at the line, but kick not effective -
halftime

Tonga have looked the most disciplined and structured - but the Fiji defence has been very solid, and the Fijians have chucked the ball around and scored a couple of fantastic tries.
Both sides started with good ball security, but towards the end of the half they only held the ball for about a third of their sets as tiredness set in.

Fiji look on top, but only because they can score a try from anywhere i think.

 

[BatiFan]

Tonga only decent player last week was Sione Tongia who scored 3 tries, yet is not playing today. I would presume that injury is why.

 

[Arucard]

Scrappy test so far but understandable given the heat.

Fiji look the goods out wide but handling letting them down.
Mateo playing well for Tonga but lacking runners.

Fiji will have the wind behind them in the 2nd half and should be able to go on with it against a tiring Tongan team.

 

[BatiFan]

Another player Tonga are really missing is Tony Williams. He was named in the squad 3 weeks ago, but hasnt played in any of the Tongan games. Again, I owuld suspect injury has ruled him out.

 

[roopy]

second half - Tonga get the ball from the kickoff and barge over after 4 tackles
10-8 should be 10 all with the kick in front

 

[roopy]

10 all
The wind near blew the ball back through the posts it's so strong

 

[roopy]

good set from Tonga - but Fiji making plenty of metres - kick over dead ball line - 20 metre start from Tonga

 

[roopy]

good set from Tonga - Fiji returning - another strong run fron Uate