'Ikale Tahi face toughest match on home turf [1]
Friday, June 8, 2007 - 17:57. Updated on Friday, June 13, 2014 - 19:51.
The 'Ikale Tahi will face its toughest game this year, against the Junior All Blacks at Nuku'alofa's Teufaiva Stadium, tomorrow.
In a David v Goliath confrontation, the 'Ikale Tahi at the bottom of the points table come up against the leaders, the Junior All Blacks.
It is going to be a tough battle for Tongan captain 'Otenili Latu and his men since they have not won a match during their two outings. They were thrashed by the Australian A 60-15, and then last weekend out smarted by the Japanese 20-17. The only thing that is going for them tomorrow is that they are on their home ground.
Unfortunately, in the background a big feud within the Tonga Rugby Football Union, which climaxed last week when a new board was elected and the two Boards had a confrontation over who has the legal right to manage Tongan Rugby, must have an impact on the morale of the team.
The CEO of the first board, Saia Fonua, and two members of the new board, Velelevu Tapueluelu and Ricky Mafi agreed that the next best move is to let the court decide who has the legal right to manage Tonga's rugby.
The 'Ikale Tahi and the Junior All Blacks teams for tomorrow:
'Ikale Tahi
1. Toma Toke
2. 'Aleki Lutui
3. Soane Tonga'uiha
4. Sione Kalamafoni
5. 'Isileli Fine
6. Teu'imuli Kaufusi
7. 'Otenili Latu
8. Hale T. Pole
9. Soane Havea
10. Fangatapu 'Apikotoa
11. 'Aisea H. Kaufusi
12. 'Isileli Matakaiongo Tupou
13. Hudson Tonga'uiha
14. Seti Kiole
15. Vungakoto Lilo
Reserves:
16. Feki Moala
17. Sateki Mata'u
18. Lopeti Liku
19. Chris Hala'ufia
20. Tevita Palu
21. Siua Taumalolo
22. Sione Fonua
Officials:
Head Coach: Quddus Fielea
Assistant Coach: Ellis Meachen
Manager: Tali Kavapalu
Junior All Blacks
1. Cory Jane
2. Scott Hamilton
3. Casey Laulala
4. Sam Tuitupou
5. Anthony Tuitavake
6. Stephen Brett
7. Jimmy Cowan
8. Mose Tuiali'i
9.Marty Holah (captain)
10. Kieran Read
11. Tom Donnelly
12. Ross Filipo
13. John Afoa
14. Derren Witcombe
15. Clarke Dermody.
Reserves:
Tone Kopelani
Wyatt Crockett
Jerome Kaino, Daniel Braid
Andrew Ellis,
Stephen Donald
Tane Tu'ipulotu.