Tonga cruise to second straight win over Canada

Tonga cruised to a second straight dominant victory over Canada in Nuku’alofa on Tuesday, with the final score reading 36-12 in favor of the home side. It was the final tune-up for the Ikale Tahi ahead of the World Cup, and featured a mix of likely travelers and seven uncapped players including five amateurs on the bench. Between the two tests the aggregate was 64-15 for the Tongans.

The home side had the early ascendency, and turned down an easy shot at the posts in favor of an attacking lineout. It was a wise decision, with the rolling maul doing its job and Sefo Sakalia touching down for five points. Tane Takulua made it a full seven with the conversion.

Canada had a rare opportunity to attack but gave the ball away and William Havili cleared his lines. Near halfway Vaea Fifita stole the throw-in, and Pita Ahki chipped over the line and regathered himself. Kyren Taumoefolau was on his outside and an offload set the flying winger free for a 40-meter run-in.

For a second time the Canadians found themselves in Tongan territory but again it was short-lived. The ball was turned over and Otumaka Mausia combined with Taumoefolau to run nearly the length of the field. Canada managed to clear, but after the lineout Fifita took off on the right side and swerved around multiple defenders to touch down under the posts.

Another lineout went badly for Canada and gave Tonga front-foot possession. At the first ruck the defense was too slow to react, and Sakalia broke from the unguarded side of a ruck to sprint clear up the middle for his double. Takulua’s third conversion made it 26-nil to the home side at halftime.

It didn’t take long for another try to go up on the board for the Tongans in the second half. Havili moved the team up the pitch with a long chip ahead. An attack on the short side then saw Fine Inisi and Johnny Ika combining to send Taumoefolau away for his second try and make it 31 unanswered points.

The Canadians finally got on the board after the hour mark. It came on broken play after a scrum collapse. Robbie Povey sent a cross kick to the left corner and Taumoefolau couldn’t quite haul it in, leaving the ball behind for Isaac Olson to pounce for a try.

One try for each team wrapped up the scoring. Sam Moli went over on the end of a driving maul with Otumaka Mausia’s conversion attempt ringing off the upright. On the stroke of full-time a bounce-pass from Peter Nelson sent Olson into the corner for his brace, with Nelson’s kick from wide out finding its target to bring a close to proceedings.

It’s now a month until Tonga plays their opening match of Rugby World Cup 2023, with Ireland their opponents on September 16. Canada will miss the tournament for the first time. A three-test series hosted by Spain is likely to be their next action in November.

 

SCORING

TONGA 36
Tries (6) – S. Sakalia 2 (5′, 32′), K. Taumoefolau 2 (19′, 46′), V. Fifita (24′), S. Moli (73′)
Cons (3) – T. Takulua 3/5 (6′, 25′, 33′), O. Mausia 0/1

CANADA 12
Tries (2) – I. Olson 2 (64′, 79′)
Cons (1) – P. Nelson 1/2 (80′)

 

TEAMS

TONGA
1 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi (17 Fe’ao Fotuaika HT), 2 Sosefo Sakalia (16 Paula Ngauamo 52′), 3 Ben Tameifuna (18 Paula Latu HT), 4 Steve Mafi (19 Matani Puloka 66′), 5 Vaea Fifita, 6 Sam Moli, 7 Sione Tupou (20 Chris Hala’ufia 66′), 8 Solomone Funaki, 9 Tane Takulua (capt.) (23 Leonaitasi Feke 61′), 10 William Havili (22 Patrick Pellegrini 61′), 11 Johnny Ika, 12 Pita Ahki (21 Feleti Inoke 71′), 13 Fine Inisi, 14 Kyren Taumoefolau, 15 Otumaka Mausia

CANADA
1 Liam Murray (17 Djustice Sears-Duru 37′), 2 Andrew Quattrin (16 Foster DeWitt 66′), 3 Conor Young (18 Cole Keith 38′), 4 Izzak Kelly (19 Piers von Dadelszen 70′), 5 Conor Keys, 6 Lucas Rumball (capt.), 7 Sion Parry (20 Mason Flesch 73′), 8 Siaki Vikilani (21 Travis Larsen 66′), 9 Jason Higgins (22 Ross Braude 61′), 10 Robbie Povey, 11 Isaac Olson, 12 Spencer Jones (23 Gabe Casey 66′), 13 Mitch Richardson, 14 Kainoa Lloyd, 15 Peter Nelson

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistants: Jordan Way (Australia) & Tevita Rokovereni (Fiji)
TMO: n/a