‘Ikale Tahi defeated by Argentina [1]
Monday, October 5, 2015 - 18:47. Updated on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 - 10:12.
Tonga was defeated by Argentina 45-16 in its third Rugby World Cup Pool C match watched by a crowd of over 29,000 people at Leicester’s City Stadium early this morning Monday, 5 October (Tonga time).
The ‘Ikale Tahi will play the New Zealand All Blacks in Tonga's final match on 9 October at St James Park in Newcastle.
After Tonga’s loss, Argentina's Pumas now move closer to a place in the Rugby World Cup Quarterfinals.
Argentina had scored five tries to get a bonus point that should be enough to seal a place in the last eight teams, unless they lose to Namibia and Tonga gets an unlikely win with a bonus point against RWC favourite All Blacks in their last games.
For the Argentine match, ‘Ikale Tahi flyhalf Kurt Morath and front rower Soane Tonga’uiha scored two tries for Tonga.
Morath took his try well but his kicking let him down, especially early in the second half when he missed two kicks that could have added pressure to the opposing team. He also failed to covert both tries.
Captain Nili Latu said they missed five kicks today and their team is one that strives on confidence.
"We let ourselves down with our ball control and discipline."
The 'Ikale Tahi now only has one win in the tournament, against Nambia, after first loosing to Georgia and now Argentina.