Decisive win for Tonga over Canada 36-12 [1]
Tuesday, August 15, 2023 - 22:07. Updated on Tuesday, August 15, 2023 - 22:09.
Photos by Tupou Vaipulu Jr.
Scoring six tries, the 'Ikale Tahi happily won their second international test match against Canada, 36-12, in Nuku'alofa this afternoon.
Sosefo Sakalia and Kyren Taumoefolau each scored two tries and Vaea Fifita and Sam Moli one each for Tonga, which led 26-0 at halftime. Sonatane Takulua kicked three conversions.
Isaac Olson scored both tries for Canada. Peter Nelson kicked the conversion.
5 minutes - Tonga went ahead, taking advantage of a Canadian penalty to set up a driving maul off a lineout that ended in Sakalia going over behind the forwards.
18 minutes - Tonga 12-0 running try by Kyren Taumoefolau, touching down in the corner after a Tongan grubber kick opened up the Canadian defence.
24 minutes -Vaea Fifita a former All Blacks lock, sped under the posts for a converted try and 19-0 lead.
32 minutes -Sosefo Sakalia's try gave Tonga a 26-0 lead.
In the second half Canada scored 12 points to Tonga's 1
Last week the Canadian men lost 28-3 to the 15th-ranked Pacific Islanders in the opening test on 10 August at Teufaiva Stadium.
The Tongan 35-man preliminary World Cup squad features former All Blacks Malakai Fekitoa, Charles Piutau, Augustine Pulu, George Moala and Fifita and former Wallabies Israel Folau and Adam Coleman.
'Ikale Tahi coach Totai Kefu is expected to name his World Cup squad on Friday. For Tonga, they represented the last two matches ahead of next month's World Cup in France where 'Ikale Tahi will face No. 1 Ireland, No. 4 South Africa, No. 5 Scotland and No. 19 Romania in a tough Group B.
Canada failed to qualify for the World Cup this year.