Tonga and junior ABs off to winning starts
4 JUNE 2006
By Dominic Rumbles
Tonga produced the performance of the weekend as the inaugural
IRB Pacific 5 Nations burst into life. The Tongans stormed to a 57-16 at
Japan's Honjo Stadium on Sunday to top the table ahead of the
Junior All Blacks, who defeated
Fiji 35-17 at the Post Fiji Stadium on Saturday.
Tonga, fielding a blend of experienced campaigners and talented youngsters who had impressed during the recent IRB Pacific Rugby Cup competition, ran in seven tries top secure a bonus point and head the standings above the Junior All Blacks on points difference.
The match hung in the balance as the first half finished with the visitors just two points ahead at 15-13, but Tonga rallied to score six second half tries in an open attacking display of running rugby to kill off a Japan side that simply could not win any quality possession after the interval.
Tonga drew first blood when Japanese-based Powerhouse number eight Tevita Fifita crashed over for the first of his brace of tries. Captain Sosiua Tauamalolo added the conversion
The lead was to be short-lived however as Japan, fresh from the early stages of Rugby World Cup qualifying, came straight back into the match when winger Nataniela Oto scored after a powerful driving maul deep inside the Tongan half. Shortaro Onishi converted to level the scores.
Powerful winger Tevita Viakona, who plays his club rugby for Saracens in England, scored Tonga’s second try before an exchange of penalties either side of the interval saw Tonga lead 18-13
One-way traffic
However, the final thirty minutes of the match was all one-sided traffic as
Tonga moved up a gear to end
Japan’s hopes of getting anything out of the opening game of the competition.
Under immense pressure the tired Japanese defence finally broke as Tonga ran in six tries through blindside Christopher Hala’ufa, lock Paino Kelekolio Hehea, full back Pierre Hola, number eight Tevita Fifita and replacement Lotu Filipine. Hola, who assumed the kicking duties after the interval, weighed in with a personal haul of 17 points to cap an impressive performance.
Tonga will be looking to continue the good form when they host Fiji, who lost 35-17 to the Junior All Blacks, in Round Two on Friday, while Samoa make their debut against the Junior All Blacks in North Harbour. Tonga, who have a bye, will face Italy in a one-off Test.
Junior All Blacks claim bonus point
The
Junior All Blacks, containing a number of players with Test and Super 14 experience, ran in four tries to claim a valuable bonus point, but were made to work extremely hard by a
Fiji side, who would have ran the visitors close had they made the most of their opportunities.
Suva was a sea of white jerseys as the Fiji rugby community turned out in their droves to sea the start of this exciting new competition that provides more Test rugby to the Pacific Island Unions and Japan and the partisan supporters were treated to a match of considerable quality.
Indeed the much to the partisan crowd’s delight Fiji had the better of the opening exchanges and raced into an early 7-0 lead when impressive openside flanker Aca Ratuva crashed over for the game’s opening try. Fly half Seremia Bia converted.
Both players were prominent in the recent IRB Pacific Rugby Cup, proving that that the competition plays an integral part in the development pathway for locally-based players in the Islands.
With players like Caleb Ralph, Corey Flynn and Josh Blackie in the team, the Junior All Blacks were always going to fight their way back into the game and after Stephen Donald had got the visitors onto the scoreboard with a penalty Number eight Nick Williams crossed the whitewash for a fine try, which was converted by Donald who stretched the lead to 13-7 with his second penalty after 24 minutes.
Fiji roared on by home support
The visitors threatened to cut free, but roared on by the home support,
Fiji came right back and dominated the final ten minutes of the half. Bai added his second penalty after 30 minutes to leave the match in the balance at 13-10 at the interval.
After the break the Junior All Blacks turned on the style as the Fijian’s faded in the Suva heat. Openside Josh Blackie, centre Cameron McIntyre and replacement Johnny Leo’o all added second half tries to help the visitors establish a comfortable 35-10 with ten minutes to go.
However, Fiji, resilient until the last, saved their best until four minutes from time when returning local hero Rupeni Caucau finished a great move to score a very popular try in front of his home fans.
Although disappointed with his team’s performance, Fiji coach Wayne Pivac said that there was plenty to build on ahead of next weekend’s trip to Gosford to take on Tonga.
Beaten by a better team
“We were beaten by the better team today. Our fitness dropped off during the second half, which resulted in us making so many turnovers and mistakes. We did create opportunities in the back line, but we need to work on what went wrong today.
For the Junior All Blacks the match proved an invaluable exercise for players who are on the verge of Test recognition and coach Colin Cooper said that he was pleased with his side’s opening showing in the competition.
“I thought that our defence worked particularly well today. We really did not give Fiji any space knowing that they had plenty of pace out wide. We also attacked the ball on the ground really well and I am pleased with the start that we have made.”
Japan host Tonga on Sunday in what is expected to be a highly-competitive game and with just one match gone, the inaugural IRB Pacific 5 Nations is already shaping up to be a entertaining and competitive tournament.
IRB Pacific 5 Nations table Round One
P W D L PF PA PD BP PTS
1. Tonga 1 1 0 0 57 16 +41 1 5
2. Jnr All Blacks 1 1 0 0 35 17 +18 1 5
3. Fiji 1 0 0 1 17 35 -18 0 0
4.Japan 1 0 0 1 16 57 -41 0 0
5. Samoa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Round one squad details
Japan: 15 Hiroki Mizuno, 14 Dazuke Ohata (Kosuke Endo), 13 Atasushi Moriya, 12 Hideyuki Yoshida (Eiji Ando), 11 Nataniela Oto, 10 Shotaro Onishi, 9 Mamoru Ito (Wataru Ikeda), 1 Yuichi Hisadomi, 2 Takashi Yamaoka (Yuji Matsubara), 3 Kenji Kasai (Tomokazu Soma), 4 Toshizumi Kitagawa, 5 Tsuyoshi Sato (Tomoaki Taniguch), 6 Ryota Asano (captain), 7 Hare Makiri (Tomoaki Naka), 8 Takashi Kikutani
Tries: Nataniela Oto
Cons: Shotaro Onishi
Pens: Shotaro Onishi 3
Tonga: 15 Pierre Hola, 14 Tevita Tuifua (Viliami Hakalo), 13 Sukanaivalu Hufanga, 12 Tatafu Naaniumotu (Kosilio Tonga’uiha), 11 Tevita Vaikona, 10 Sosiua Taumalolo (captain), 9 David Palu (Soane Havea), 1 Kisi Pulu (Eghiraim Taukafa), 2 Ma’afu Pale, 3 Tevita Taumoepeau, 4 Paino Kelekolio Hehea, 5 EmosiKauhenga, 6 Christopher Hala’ufa (Lotu Filipine), 7 Nili Latu, 8 Tevita Fifita
Scoring details to follow
Fiji: 15 Norman Ligairi, 14 Mosese Luveitasau, 13 Epeli Ruivadra, 12 Seru Rabeni (Kameli Ratuvou 62), 11 Rupeni Caucau (Jo Tora 78), 10 Seremaia Bai, 9 Seveci Taka (Emosi Vucago 78), 8 Alifereti Doviverata, 7 Aca Ratuva (Akapusi Qera 67), 6 Ifereimi Rawaqa, 5 Simon Raiwalui (capt), 4 Isoa Domolailai (Netani Talei 53), 3 Apisai Nagi, 2 Sunia Koto (Joeli Lotawa 67), 1 Josese Bale (Ravuama Samo 62)
Tries: Ratuva, Caucau
Conversion: Bai (2)
Penalties: Bai
Junior All Blacks: 15 Sosene Anesi, 14 Anthony Tuitavake (Viliame Waqaseduadua 60), 13 Niva Ta’auso (Tamati Ellison 60), 12 Cameron McIntyre, 11 Caleb Ralph, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Jamie Nutbrown (Kevin Senio 66), 8 Nick Williams, 7 Josh Blackie, 6 Steven Bates (Johnny Leo’o 58), 5 Bernie Upton, 4 Tom Donnelly (Hoani MacDonald 65), 3 John Afoa (Campbell Johnston 56), 2 Corey Flynn (capt), 1 Saimoni Taumoepeau (Wyatt Crockett 50)
Tries:William, Blackie, McIntyre, Leoó
Conversions: Donald, McIntyre(2)
Penalties: Donald (2), McIntyre
Fonte:
http://www.irb.com/EN/Tournaments+and+E ... ay+one.htm