Tonga Down USA in Come From Behind Victory

Tonga downed the USA in a come from behind victory. Played earlier today in Osaka, Japan the Tonga Sea Eagles were 31-19 winners over the USA Eagles. Backing-up from just three rest days after facing Argentina on Wednesday the short turn around proved to be too much for the USA.

The visibly tired USA Eagles made 147 tackles in the match yet missed 42. This was decisive in Tonga outscoring the USA by four tries to three. In doing so Tonga finish Pool C in 4th position behind Argentina in 3rd; and ahead of the USA in 5th.

The USA were leading the match at half time. The 12-7 advantage came thanks to two tries to replacement Mike Te’o. He came on early for captain Blaine Scully with he and Olive Kilifi both on after just one quarter of play.

The complexity of the three rest days also saw both Titi Lamositele, and Greg Peterson replaced early. The lack of injection in the final quarter would see the USA dropping off tackles as three of Tonga’s four tries came in the final 23 minutes of play.

The opening score went to Tongan. With the Pacific Islanders having all the territory and possession the signs were ominous  and ultimately prop Seigfried Fisi’ihoi scored from a pick-and-go.

Te’o responded with his try scoring double from which Aj MacGinty converted one of the two goals. The 12-7 half-time lead had the USA well placed but their next try, scored by Tony Lamborn against the post, would not come until after Tonga had scored two.

Before Lamborn touched down centers Malietoa Hingano and captain Siale Piutau scored for Tonga. Leicester Tigers fullback Telusa Veainu then added to his double vs Argentina to score the final try of the match.

 

SCORING

TONGA (31)
Try: Fisiihoi (16′), Hingano (57′), Piutau (61′), Veainu (80′)
Conversion: Takulua (18′, 59′), Faiva (63′), Piutau (81′)
Penalty: Takulua (50′)

USA (19)
Try: Teo (20′, 25′), Lamborn (76′)
Conversion: MacGinty (21′, 77′)

TEAMS

USA
1 Eric Fry, 2 Joe Taufete’e, 3 Titi Lamositele, 4 Greg Peterson, 5 Nick Civetta, 6 Tony Lamborn, 7 Malon Al-Jiboori, 8 Cam Dolan, 9 Ruben de Haas, 10 AJ MacGinty, 11 Marcel Brache, 12 Paul Lasike, 13 Bryce Campbell, 14 Blaine Scully (capt.), 15 Will Hooley

Replacements: 16 James Hilterbrand, 17 Olive Kilifi, 18 Paul Mullen, 19 Ben Landry, 20 Hanco Germishuys, 21 Ben Pinkelman, 22 Nate Augspurger, 23 Mike Te’o

TONGA
1 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, 2 Paula Ngauamo, 3 Siua Halanukonuka, 4 Sam Lousi, 5 Leva Fifita, 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 7 Zane Kapeli, 8 Ma’ama Vaipulu, 9 Tane Takulua, 10 James Faiva, 11 Viliami Lolohea, 12 Siale Piutau (capt.), 13 Mali Hingano, 14 Afa Pakalani, 15 Telusa Veainu

Replacements: 16 Siua Maile, 17 Vunipola Fifita, 18 Ma’afu Fia, 19 Dan Faleafa, 20 Nasi Manu, 21 Leon Fukofuka, 22 Latiume Fosita, 23 David Halaifonua