Tonga broke Japanese hearts and extended their record Rugby World Cup win drought yesterday with an action-packed 31-18 victory in Pool A.
Sixteen points from the boot of Tonga flyhalf Kurt Morath made the difference as Japan slumped to their 17th consecutive World Cup defeat and failed in their bid to win two games at this year’s tournament.
The victory, in front of thousands of members of New Zealand’s Tongan community, follows Tonga’s brave defeat to New Zealand and bitterly disappointing loss against fellow minnows Canada.
Photo: AFP
“Today we tried to get it right,” captain Aleki Lutui said. “I’d like to thank the supporters, they mean a lot to us. Last week they were disappointed, now we’ve given them something to cheer.”
Tonga had the better of a helter-skelter first half 18-13 and they attacked from the kick-off when scrumhalf Taniela Moa was held up just centimeters short in the first attack of the game.
Viliami Ma’afu crossed the line minutes later, but replays showed he was held up by some desperate defending, but the video referee had no problem with Ma’afu’s second effort when he picked up and charged over from a 5m scrum.
Japan hit back when wing Kosuke Endo made a clean line-break and prop Kensuke Hatakeyama mauled his way over the line in the 13th minute, but again from the kick-off, Tonga had a simple score when they secured their own ball and from a ruck and second-row Tukulua Lokotui was released for a simple score on the left.
Alisi Tupuailai nearly ran the length of a pitch for an intercept try before being tackled, but Ryan Nicholas then broke to set up Japan’s second score when Michael Leitch came on to an inside pass on the right wing and barged through a wall of defenders.
Tonga’s Morath kicked a penalty from 22m and another when Japan’s goal-kicking flyhalf James Arlidge was sin-binned for an offside, but they were unable to make the numerical advantage count and it was Japan’s stand-in kicker Shaun Webb who coolly kept the Brave Blossoms in touch 13-18 with a penalty close to halftime.
Morath knocked over a penalty shortly after the break and Fetu’u Vainikolo provided the killer blow with a brilliant finish from the right wing for Tonga’s third try.
Samoan-born Alisi Tupuaili kept Japan’s hopes alive when he gathered a crossover pass and scored on 63 minutes, but some more last-ditch attacking from the Brave Blossoms could not prevent the stinging defeat.
“The Tonga team were tough and they deserved their win,” Japan captain Takashi Kikutani said. “We will keep up the good work in our last game against Canada.”
Tonga, currently ranked 15th in the world, have won five of their 12 games against Japan, but they last beat the Brave Blossoms in 2006.
Japan’s final game is against Canada in Napier on Tuesday, while Tonga play France in Wellington on Oct. 1.
The match was not interrupted by an alarming fire just outside the stadium, with large orange flames visible behind the main terrace during the second half. Firefighters were called and the blaze appeared to subside by the final whistle.
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