Fiji win knocks Tonga's RWC chances [1]
Saturday, July 16, 2005 - 19:42. Updated on Monday, May 12, 2014 - 09:21.
The Fijians took control of the game in the first half, and scored three tries, all from typical Fijian background movements, which enabled speedy Fijian players to break through the Tongan defence and score.
At half time Fiji was leading 17-0, from three tries and only one was successfully converted.
Tonga's 'Ikale Tahi got into a bad start in the second half, when six minutes after kick off, Tonga's captain 'Aleki Lutui was yellow carded, and six minutes later Fiji was awarded a penalty try under the posts and Fiji extended its lead to 24-0.
The 'Ikale Tahi finally got its act together in the last 20 minutes of the game, when 'Aleki returned to the field and Fangatapu 'Apikotoa replaced Movete 'Oto'ota at No. 10 for Tonga. 'Aleki scored the first point for Tonga after a concerted push-over by the Tongan forwards. Fangatapu successfully converted 'Aleki's try and the score was 24-7. From then on the 'Ikale Tahi was on fire. Ten minutes later they scored another try, and Fangatapu was successful with his conversion to narrow the gap to 14-24. Three minutes later the 'Ikale scored their final try. Fangatapu was not successful with his conversion and the score was 19-24.
Tonga's chance of snatching a victory or a draw with Fiji just slipped away in the last few seconds of the game when Seti Kiole came in from the fullback to form an overlap but the Tongan winger just touched the corner flag as he went down to score. It was all over after that and the score remained 19-24.
The 'Ikale Tahi will meet the Manu Samoa at Teufaiva, in Tonga, next Friday, July 22, its final game for this year's tri-nations and qualifying games for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. So far the 'Ikale Tahi has lost both its away games with Fiji and the Manu Samoa, and it lost its home game to Fiji today. The 'Ikale Tahi have to beat the Manu Samoa with a big score to qualify to take part in the Rugby World Cup. The winner of the Tri-nations and the first runner-up automatically qualify for the World Cup.