THE 'Ikale Tahi beat the Flying Fijians 32-20 in a Rugby World Cup warm-up test match at Churchill Park, Lautoka, Fiji this afternoon.

The 'Ikale Tahi scored three tries to two by the Flying Fijians, and though the Tongans won the game, the Fijians retained the Punja's Cup on points. Last week the Fijians beat the 'Ikale Tahi in their first encounter 27-12 at Churchill Park.

The head coach of the 'Ikale Tahi, 'Isitolo Maka, and his assistants, Toutai Kefu and Siua Taumalolo, have been trying to put a team together from a diaspora of Tongan rugby players to take on the Rugby World Cup favourites, the All Blacks in the inaugural game of the 2011 Rugby World Cup in Auckland on 9 September.

The 'Ikale Tahi have been doing all its World Cup preparation matches overseas because of the very poor facilities that Tonga has. So Tongan fans have only seen their team on TV, playing in New Zealand and Australia and in Europe during the Churchill Cup, and in Fiji this month during the Pacific Cup.

The 'Ikale Tahi captain this afternoon, Finau Maka was pleased with the performance, "it gives us confidence as we are preparing to meet the All Blacks," he said.