Rugby League World Cup continues with Pool D action featuring Tonga v Wales which should see Tonga continue on their merry way, but one does have to be wary of a Dragon if you have seen any Game of Thrones or the lesser current equivalent.
Our Group D Tonga v Wales Match Centre has a preview, stats, team lists before the game and a summary of the match afterwards. More than you could ever need or want.
If you want more information on all the squads – follow this link here.
Tonga 32 Wales 6 Match Summary
Group D’s second round of games kicked off with the more one sided H2H on paper of Tonga v Wales, but the way this group played out in Week One it was still anyone’s game, and early Wales matched the star studded Tongan side.
An early mistake from Wales on their second play of the match gifted Tonga the ball on the Welsh line, and Tonga did pressure them with set after set, but Wales withstood the pressure and five minutes later got to touch the ball for the second time of the match.
Then it was Wales’ turn to apply some pressure as they had consecutive sets on Tonga’s line. Dalton Grant went close to scoring for Wales but was held up. But Wales continued to have the upper hand over Tonga, forcing errors from their more fancied opponents while having the better of the attack.
Wales then opened the scoring through debutant Kyle Evans after a Tongan error on the halfway line, and some quick hands from Wales sent Evans through a gap and the Welsh winger sped through the 50 metres to score under the posts. The conversion gave Wales an unlikely (before the game but not on balance of previous ten minutes) 6-0 lead.
Similar to the PNG game, Tonga found themselves behind, and being out-played and out-enthused by the less experienced team.
Tonga got on the scoreboard four minutes later through Daniel Tupou who scored in the corner from a scrum after Wales knocked on 10 metres from their own line. Tonga took the express route with two cut out passes all that was needed to get it to the winger. Wales remained in front 6-4 when the sideline conversion was missed.
Wales continued to pressure Tonga, forcing many early penalties, and all credit to the Welsh instead of taking the two points on a few occasions they went for the four pointer. While a wheelbarrow of points didn’t follow, they were annoying the Tongans, with a bit of push and shove a sign Tonga were plenty frustrated.
Half an hour into the game and Wales were the better side and still in front. Tonga had blown a few chances, but they in no way deserved the lead anyway.
A moment in the 34th minute summed up Tongans first half. They had made a break from inside their own half through Tuimoala Lolohea, but his 30 metre run was slowed with a Wales ankle tap, and then the scrambling cover defense forced a poor offload out of Tesi Niu, and a certain try had gone begging, denied by the Welsh defence.
The only thing keeping Tonga from more embarrassment was the errors from Wales. And it was after another Welsh error that Tonga took the lead for the first time in the match in the 37th minute through David Fifita. The forward barged his way through the Welsh defence which hung on bravely but not well enough. The conversion made the score 10-6 to Tonga.
Tonga then quickly extended their lead with the next set when Keaon Koloamatangi powered his way from close to the line to score. All of a sudden Tonga were 16-6 in front after a pair of quick-fire tries.
This game was following a very similar path to Tonga’s first match over PNG where a few quick tries belied the fact they probably weren’t the better side. Not forgetting either, how far PNG pushed Tonga in the second half too, so this game didn’t over yet.
HALF TIME – TONGA 16 WALES 6
The second half continued like the first with Tongans being denied a few try scoring opportunities by resilient Welsh defence in the first five minutes of the half.
But eventually Tonga’s stars combined to score, with fullback Tesi Niu crossing after breaking a number of Welsh tackles from 10 metres out. The conversion extended the score to 22-6.
Great goal line defense from Wales stopped another certain try just minutes later. And continued errors were slowing their progress in attack as well. It might click soon for Tonga, but they have been ordinary up the 60th minute mark.
On the back of a Six Again, Tonga kept it together for long enough and Daniel Tupou scored his second try of the match. The Tongan winger simply finished off some smart passing to the left through most of the Tongan backline. The sideline conversion was great, and the score remained 26-6.
Tonga were then denied the try of the match as Tolutau Koula sensationally plucked the ball going over the sideline flicked it backwards to his Tongan players in support and they went on to score, but the Video Referee process showed the ball just touched the line. A shame.
Despite continued heroic defence, Wales were unable to stop Daniel Tupou from scoring his third try of the game with ten minutes to go. Similar to the last Tupou try, it was a simple passing movement to the right, and Tupou ended up in just enough space that he needed to secure a hat trick. Siosifa Talakai was a surprise choice for the conversion, but he nailed it from the sideline for a 32-6 lead.
While Tonga eventually ended up winning comfortably, they weren’t overly impressive, but will still top Group D where their knockout opponent could be Samoa in a blockbuster Pacific clash. The score line was a little unfair on Wales, whose effort throughout the game was huge, and were just fatigued from a lot of tackling in the end. Any other side may have conceded 50+.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
3 Pts – Daniel Tupou
3 Pts – Kyle Evans
1 Pt – Tesi Niu
TONGA v WALES FINAL SCORE
TONGA 32
Tries: Daniel Tupou 20′ David Fifita 36′ Keaon Koloamatangi 39′ Tesi Niu 46′ Daniel Tupou 58′ Daniel Tupou 70′
Goals: Tuimoala Lolohea 3/5 Siosifa Talakai 1/1
WALES 6
Tries: Kyle Evans 15′
Goals: Matty Fozard 1/1
POINTS OF INTEREST
- Casey Badger officiating a World Cup game begs the question why she and Belinda Sharpe don’t get the chance to do more NRL. If Ashley Klein is still the leading referee in the NRL then it’s time for new blood.
- Good to see the Keaon Koloamatangi experiment at hooker has ended. Why you would play one of your most dangerous wide runners at hooker wasa mystery to us.
- Kyle Evans – first try scorer for Wales – only played his first rugby league game in July this year for Wakefield, a few months later he scored for his country in a World Cup. He previously played rugby union, where we can presume he got sick of the rules and penalties of rugby. His hit on
Tonga v Wales Teams Stats
Tonga v Wales Teams
TONGA
22 Tesi Niu
2 Daniel Tupou
3 Siosifa Talakai
23 Konrad Hurrell
5 Sione Katoa
6 Talatau Amone
7 Tuimoala Lolohea
8 Addin Fonua-Blake
14 Soni Luke
17 Moeaki Fotuaika
11 Felise Kaufusi
12 Keaon Koloamatangi
10 Siosiua Taukeiaho
16 Tevita Tatola
18 David Fifita
20 Tolutau Koula
21 Ben Murdoch-Masila
WALES
1 Caleb Aekins
2 Rhys Williams
5 Dalton Grant
6 Elliot Kear
22 Kyle Evans
14 Ollie Olds
7 Josh Ralph
8 Anthony Walker
9 Matty Fozard
24 Gavin Bennion
12 Chester Butler
17 Bailey Antrobus
16 Joe Burke
10 Dan Fleming
15 Curtis Davies
18 Connor Davies
21 Tom Hopkins
Tonga v Wales Pre Match Stats
- Wales have lost their last four against tier two Pacific nation teams. Their last win was against PNG in 2007.
- Wales have now also lost eight in a row at World Cups with their last win coming in the 2000 edition, against PNG.
- Wales meet PNG in the final match for both teams, so PNG should be wary of the aobve stats.
Tonga v Wales Preview
Tonga should seal their progress in the knockout stages of the Rugby League World Cup with a win against Wales, but they may be just a little weary after a hard fought win over PNG.
Tonga were a touch underwhelming against PNG for all their fanfare, perhaps they weren’t allowed to get going
But their two quick fire tries in the first half made the difference ultimately, and that’s what can happen with the NRL quality they have in their side. PNG actually outscored Tonga in the second half 12-6, with the Tongans only points coming in the last minute scramble for the winning try.
One wonders if Tonga will persist with Keaon Koloamatangi at hooker, we think he is best served out wider and running the ball, not passing. And perhaps throwing on David Fifita earlier than against PNG will get the Tongans that extra attacking edge they seemed to have missed against PNG.
Wales had their chances against the Cook Islands, having led at half time, and a great chance at the end to draw, but fell short and lacked that extra attacking weapons that the Cook Islands had.
It’s quite the step up with Tonga’s attacking weapons, so a Wales win looks quite unlikely here, but as we’ve seen at this World Cup so far, having pile of NRL stars isn’t everything, and teams used to the UK conditions do go well.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Tolutau Koula was the star for Tonga against PNG and will be a player to watch again from the back, with their Welsh opponents giving up the most run metres of all teams in Round 1.
Isaiya Katoa was also impressive at time, and certainly in the warm up game, so perhaps with a little more space that Wales might provide, we can see this future NRL superstar at his best.
PREDICTION
Tonga 52 Wales 6
