Tonga v Lebanon saw a tremendous contest that almost made it a double header of upsets in New Zealand in the Rugby League World Cup on Saturday. Tonga march on into the Semi Finals and Lebanon can pat themselves on the back for a great World Cup.
We’ve covered the game with the Who, What, Where, When and How of a game which saw Tonga continue their impressive march. Just.
The 2017 Rugby League World Cup is a big deal for us, being huge rugby league fans and love a minnow or two, and we’ll be covering all of the games throughout. So visit our 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE
Now onto the Tonga v Lebanon game.
TONGA v LEBANON MATCH REVIEW
RESULT – Who Won?
TONGA 24
Tries: T. Lolohea (4), D. Fusitua (19), W. Hopoate (23), D. Fusitua (33)
Goals: A. Hingano 3 Conv, 1 Pen
LEBANON 22
Tries: A. Doueihi (9), J. Elias (30), A. Miski (40), A. Miski (69)
Goals: M. Moses 3 Conv
What did we learn?
Lebanon have proved that International rugby league is alive and if they get a chance and more games rather than waiting for a World Cup every four years they got really kick on. Luckily they’ve been included in next year’s Pacific Tests.
International Rugby League is in good shape if Tonga v Lebanon can produce such a competitive contest.
One question on Tonga – after the emotion of back to back wins over Samoa and New Zealand, are they mentally spent a little? And have we seen their best? England await in the semi final, and they have been slightly underwhelming thus far. But possibly have a bit left in the tank.
THE DOWLING-TAMATI #RLWC2017 PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT
We’ve decided that a tournament as big as the 2017 Rugby League World Cup needs a Player of the tournament, and who better than International relations specialists Kevin Tamati and Greg Dowling to name our award.
We award points on a 5-4-3-2-1 scale every match, and the results for this game is below. For the running total from all of the games visit our 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE
5 POINTS – MITCHELL MOSES
4 POINTS – ANDREW FIFITA
3 POINTS – ROBBIE FARAH
2 POINTS – JASON TAUMALOLO
1 POINT – ALEX TWAL
TONGA v LEBANON MATCH PREVIEW
Who: TONGA v LEBANON
Where and When: LIVE Saturday 18th Nov – Christchurch
When is it on TV? Channel 7Mate @ 3pm AEDT
What’s the Story?
Tonga v Lebanon is an interesting match up, and certainly one that was hard to predict at the start of the tournament.
The Tongans were talked up as a tournament dark horse, especially after the arrivals of Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita, and they delivered on that promise last Saturday with a stunning second half turnaround against New Zealand. The win left them on top of Pool B, giving them the easier path to the Grand Final if they are good enough.
Before the New Zealand game their form was great, having dealt with Samoa and the hugely emotional game well, and they thrashed Scotland on the first round of Pool games.
Can they make it all the way to the Grand Final? Their next step is likely England, although some Kumuls fans are eyeing off an all Pacific Nation semi final. Either way Tonga will fancy their chances, and rightly so on current form.
Lebanon should be happy to have made it into the knockout stages of the Rugby League World Cup, and were not embarassed in the games against the big shots of England and Australia. With the recent announcement that Lebanon will play in the 2018 Pacific Test Series, it is looking up for the Cedars, even with a loss this weekend.
Who Will Win and Why?
Tonga have way too much quality and in form players not to win this game.
Starting off with the forward pack which on current form will be very hard for Lebanon to stop. Although Lebanon’s Alex Twal has impressed.
Then there’s the backline full of NRL quality. Lebanon’s halves in Farah and Moses are industrious can hold their own, but the Tongan halves have also been good, especially Ata Hingano who has been surprisingly good.
Nothing points against Tonga, except maybe complacency.
Tonga by 32
Who to watch for?
The man of the moment Jason Taumalolo is the obvious choice here. He is currently leading our Dowling-Tamati Medal for best of the tournament. His decision to play for Tonga over New Zealand can now be argued as partially justified, and could upgrade to fully justified if Tonga better the Kiwis result. He will have plenty of the focus, so what about some others.
We have been super impressed with Tongan prop Sio Siua Taukeiaho. He is a powerful unit and can kick goals, and has been a big part of the Tongan success. He forms a pretty awesome three with Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita.
For Lebanon the man to watch is currently equal second in our Dowling-Tamati medal and has had a big year. Mitchell Moses courted controversy with his mid season switch to Parramatta, but his form there almost justified the hype, and he been excellent for Lebanon too. Whether or not he’ll be able to do anything up against the Tongan pack is to be seen, and probably unlikely.
TEAMS
Who’s in the Teams?
TONGA
- Will Hopoate 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Michael Jennings 4. Konrad Hurrell 5. David Fusitu’a 6. Tui Lolohea 7. Ata Hingano 8. Andrew Fifita 9. Sione Katoa 10. Sio Siua Taukeiaho 11. Manu Ma’u 12. Sika Manu (c) 13. Jason Taumalolo Interchange: 14. Siliva Havili 15. Sam Moa 16. Tevita Pangai Jnr. 17. Ben Murdoch-Masila Reserves: 18. Ukama Ta’ai 19. Joe Ofahengaue 20. Mahe Fonua 21. Samisoni Langi
LEBANON
- Anthony Layoun 2. Travis Robinson 3. James Elias 4. Adam Doueihi 5. Abbas Miski 6. Mitchell Moses 7. Robbie Farah (c) 8. Tim Mannah 9. Michael Lichaa 10. Alex Twal 11. Nick Kassis 12. Ahmad Ellaz 13. Jamie Clark 14. Mitchell Mamary 15. Ray Moujalli 16. Elias Sukkar 17. Jason Wehbe 18. Andrew Kazzi 19. Chris Saab 20. Bilal Maarbani
MATCH REVIEW
Coming soon.
THE DOWLING-TAMATI #RLWC2017 PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT
We’ve decided that a tournament as big as the 2017 Rugby League World Cup needs a Player of the tournament, and who better than International relations specialists Kevin Tamati and Greg Dowling to name our award.
We award points on a 5-4-3-2-1 scale every match, and the results for this game is below. For the running total from all of the games visit our 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE
Points coming after the match.
