Tonga loses to Canada 36-27 [1]
Monday, June 10, 2013 - 18:32. Updated on Monday, September 9, 2013 - 18:40.
Tonga's rugby team the 'Ikale Tahi lost to Canada 36-27 on Saturday, June 8 in Kingston, Ontario. Reports attributed Tonga's loss to a lack of discipline but coach Mana 'Otai, who claimed otherwise, said Pacific Island teams are being unfairly penalized for their physical play.
The second round of the Pacific Nations Cup 2013 held at Queens University, saw Tongan lock Tukulua Lokotui scoring a first try and conversion by Kurt Morath which saw them behind Canada 9-7 at the half-time break, after three penalty kicks from fullback James Pritchard.
Edmond 'Aholelei was sent out with a red card six minutes into the second half after a scuffle that saw flanker Jebb Sinclair decked with a punch.
Canada extended its lead with Matt Evans and Sean Duke scoring early second half tries before Kurt Morath connected a penalty to take up Tonga's score 23-10. Ciaran Hearn converted a long penalty and Pritchard made another try and kicked the conversion to give Canada a strong lead 33-10.
The Tongans fought back with Viliame 'Iongi, Fetu'u Vainikolo and Will Helu scoring three tries to narrow the score 33-27 with less than three minutes of the game, but Prichard added another penalty kick in the final seconds to confirm Canada's win 36-27.
Tonga
According to reports, David Halaifonua and Sione Piukala were also sent to the sin-bin with yellow cards in the second half.
Halaifonua was yellow-carded for a hit that resulted in winger Matt Evans being taken out on a stretcher and Tonga played temporarily with 12 men. The team was even reduced to 10 men in the 52nd minute when centre Piukala was yellow-carded for a shoulder charge on Pritchard.
The 'Ikale Tahi coach told the Canadian Press about his frustration over what he sees as Pacific Island teams being unfairly penalized for their physical play, after the game against Canada.
"I had a look at both. I couldn't really see why the yellow cards were issued. After reviewing the tape of the incidents it's almost like, these days you know when a black man is tackling harder than the other, its seems to be the way."
'Otai said Pacific Islands were being singled out and it's a perception a lot of times.
"I think some of the foreigners that are involved in our team now are starting to see that. It's just hard to battle or fight that stereotype, I guess. But I'm not taking away that fact that at times we do make mistakes in terms of tackling - if I'm talking in general. But in today's games I couldn't justify the two yellow cards."
'Otai also disputed the red card against 'Aholelei said it was Canadian fly-half Nathan Hirayama who started the incident. "It's one of those things where we've just got to behave ourselves and let the referree do his job," he said.
Junior World Cup
Meanwhile, two of three Tongans players have been suspended for two weeks for separate incidents during the third round of the IRB Junior World Rugby Cup Trophy 2013 in Chile.
IRB.com reported that Siosifa Lisala appeared before an independent judicial officer Dr Juan Pablo Tafernaberry on June 6 in Temuco.
Lisala was cited for playing an opponent without the ball and acts contrary to sportsmanship in which he twisted the neck and head of an opponent during Tonga's match against Japan on June 5 in Pitrufquen. The player who admitted to the acts was suspended for two-weeks.
Lui Naeta also appeared before the same independent judicial officer for dangerous tackle on an opponent during the match against Japan. The player also admitted to the act and was suspended for two weeks.
The citing in relation to the other third Tongan player was dismissed.