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Ikale Tahi squad for the Pacific Nations Cup 2011

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IKALETAHI

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Ikale Tahi team for Pacific Nations Cup 2011:

Hooker
'Ilaisa Ma'asi
Ifalemi Taukafa
Props
Kisi Pulu
Tonga Lea'aetoa
Alisona Taumalolo
Semisi Telefoni
Locks
Tukulua Lokotui
Lisiate Fa'aoso
Joseph Tu'ineau
Sitiveni Mafi
Loose Forward
Viliami Ma'afu
Tevita Ula
Sione Kalamafoni
Samiu Vahafolau (Captain)
Osaiasi Pepa Koloamatangi
Sione Vaiomo'unga
Half back
Samisoni Fisilau
Soane Havea
Tomasi Palu
Flyhalf
Kurt Morath
Inside Centre
Andrew Ma'ilei
Alaska Taufa
Outside Centre
Sukanaivalu Hufanga
Hudson Tonga'uiha
Wing
Viliame Iongi
William Helu
Fullback
Vungakoto Lilo (Vice Captain)
Mateo Malupo

Management
Sione Tupoumalohi Latu, Manager
'Isitolo Maka, Head Coach
Siua Taumalolo, Backs Coach
John McKee, Technical Advisor
Toutai Kefu, Skills Coach
Sateki Tu'ipulotu, Assistant Backs Coach
Faupula Kolokihakaufisi, Strength & Conditioner
Dr. John Lee Taione, Team Doctor
Timothy Gray, Team Physiotherapist
 
Good to see Sona Taumalolo in the Squad having that combination with Kisi Pulu along with Big Joe Tuinea should mean a strong scrum. The Fowards look very strong as is the case any Tongan side. I thought the inside centre from the Churchill Cup squad should have been given another look.

The Backs seem to be missing a few names. Anyone know where Alipate Fatafehi is playing at the moment. Wings seems to be short of depth for Tonga, seems to be the case for the entire backline.
 
IKALETAHI said:
Good to see Sona Taumalolo in the Squad having that combination with Kisi Pulu along with Big Joe Tuinea should mean a strong scrum. The Fowards look very strong as is the case any Tongan side. I thought the inside centre from the Churchill Cup squad should have been given another look.

The Backs seem to be missing a few names. Anyone know where Alipate Fatafehi is playing at the moment. Wings seems to be short of depth for Tonga, seems to be the case for the entire backline.
Click to expand...
I thought Arizona Taumalolo would make himself eligible, and it looks like he has which is a good addition for Tongas front row ranks.
I dont think Tongas depth in the wings is too bad. Viliami Iongi was a star during the Churchil Cup and should start in the PNC and in the RWC. Mateo Malupo and William Helu are also handy players IMO. One player who I thought was a star on the wing in recent years for Tonga that I wonder whatever happened to is Seti Kiole. I remember watching him during the 2006 and 2007 PNC and being soo impressed by him. The guy is a man mountain and plays very much like his cousin Jonah Lomu on the wing matching his speed with brute power. He was named in their 2007 RWC squad but never played a game and just disappeared from the international scene. Wonder whatever happened (???). He is 31 and I think would and should be a starter if he was back at his best combining his power running with the speed and elusiveness of Viliami Iongi on the other side.
I too am suprised Etueni Suia, the inside centre at the churchil cup, is not in the squad as he was very impressive in the churchil cup. Others who are missing who i thought played well from what I saw (didnt watch the final game vs Italy A) Paino Hehea, Sione Timani, Ofa Fainga'anuku, and Eddie Paea (Although with the additions of Arizona Taumololo and the return of Vunga Lilo probably forced the latter 2 players out of the squad).
All in all a good squad that should compete well in the PNC (except hopefully not against Samoa ;) )and lay the foundations for their RWC campaign.
 
Last edited:
IKALETAHI said:
Good to see Sona Taumalolo in the Squad having that combination with Kisi Pulu along with Big Joe Tuinea should mean a strong scrum. The Fowards look very strong as is the case any Tongan side. I thought the inside centre from the Churchill Cup squad should have been given another look.

The Backs seem to be missing a few names. Anyone know where Alipate Fatafehi is playing at the moment. Wings seems to be short of depth for Tonga, seems to be the case for the entire backline.
Click to expand...

Isn't Alipate playing with North Harbour?

From what i saw of him last year Mateo Malupo seems to be a gun winger & Villiami Iongi is in great form so hopefully we should be fine.

what i'm more worried about is 5/8, hooker and openside flanker! kurt morath is good but if he is injured then that creates a problem as saimisoni fisilau is the backup and is not a specialist 5/8.

Anyone know if any contact has been made with Nili Latu?? I know that him an Hale signed that petition but am hopeing that they will give him another chance!!
 
1. Kisi Pulu
2. Semisi Telefoni
3. Sona Taumalolo
4. Siosefa Tu'ineau
5. Lisiate Fa'aoso
6. Sione Kalamafoni
7. Vilz Ma'afu
8. Samiu Vahafolau
9. Saimisoni Fisilau
10. Kurt Morath
11. Mateo Malupo
12. Andrew Ma'ilea
13. Suka Hufanga
14. Villiami Iongi
15. Vungakoto Lilo

RWC

1. Soane Tonga'uiha
2. ?
3. Sona Taumalolo
4. Paino Hehea
5. Joseph Tu'ineau
6. Sione Kalamafoni
7. Villiami Ma'afu
8. Finau Maka
9. Saimisoni Fisilau
10. Kurt Morath
11. Mateo Malupo
12. Epi Taione
13. Suka Hufanga
14. Cooper Vuna
15. Vungakoto Lilo
 
Yea Alipate Fatafehi was playing for Harbour last yr, but that shouldnt tie him up at all around this time of year. Alipate Fatafehi must have his spot in the World Cup wrapped up if Isitolo Maka isnt even picking him for the games leading in.

Team for PNC

15. Vunga Lilo
14. Mateo Malupo
13. Suka Hufanga
12. Andrew Maile
11. Vili Iongi
10. Kurt Morath
9. Samisoni Fisilau
8. Samiu Vahafolau
7. Vili Ma'afu
6. Steve Mafi
5. Lisiate Fa'aoso
4. Joe Tuineau
3. Kisi Pulu
2. Ilaisa Ma'asi
1. Sona Taumalolo

IKALE TAHI RWC

15. Vunga Lilo
14. Vili Iongi
13. Alipate Fatafehi
12. Mafi Kefu
11. Cooper Vuna
10. Kurt Morath
9. Samisoni Fisilau
8. Samiu Vahafolau
7. Finau Maka
6. Vili Ma'afu
5. Sitaleki Timani
4. Joe Tuineau
3. Sona Taumalolo
2. Ephraim Taukafa
1. Soane Tonga'uiha

16. Ilaisa Ma'asi
17. Kisi Pulu / Tau Filise
18. Paino Hehea / Lisiate Fa'aoso
19. Steve Mafi / Sione Kalamafoni
20. Daniel Morath
21. Eddie Paea
22. Mateo Malupo
 
If Sitaleki Timani is available Tonga would possibly have the biggest lock pairing at the World Cup with both Joe Tuineau and Sitaleki Timani both standing at 6 ft 8 inches and both weighing 120 kgs add that with ball carriers such as Samiu Vahafolau, Sione Kalamafoni, Finau Maka, and Vili Ma'afu along with the Mobile front row who look solid at pieces as well Tonga has the foward pack to mix it with France on their day.
 
IKALETAHI said:
If Sitaleki Timani is available Tonga would possibly have the biggest lock pairing at the World Cup with both Joe Tuineau and Sitaleki Timani both standing at 6 ft 8 inches and both weighing 120 kgs add that with ball carriers such as Samiu Vahafolau, Sione Kalamafoni, Finau Maka, and Vili Ma'afu along with the Mobile front row who look solid at pieces as well Tonga has the foward pack to mix it with France on their day.
Click to expand...

At this stage it sounds like it is doubtful that Timani will be available; Robbie Deans is apparently very interested in him, and Timani would likely loose his Waratahs contract if he chooses to play for Tonga. As you say though, it would be great if he was available!
 
Hopefully thats not the case as he would only be used as a backup unless he was patient and waited till Sharpe retired to have a real go at some decent game time.

Sitaleki Timani has said he would go off to Japan if he wasnt selected for the Wallabies and play for Tonga during the RWC . Sitaleki has been named along with older brother Sione in The IKALE TAHI 50 man World Cup squad, so im hoping he isnt picked for the Wallabies as a player on stand by for others ahead of him, when He could play for Tonga and possibly start every game.
 
IKALETAHI...Would you not start or play Etueni Suia in a RWC lineup? He was very impressive in the midfield during the churchil cup and is alot of the reason Viliami Iongi was able to find the space he did vs the USA. And can Finau Maka play at openside flanker rather than Number 8 or blindside? I thought Koloamatangi has solidified the Openside flanker postion as Maka I think is too big and slow to cover at openside flanker. He is better utilized at Number 8 or if Vahafolau was to start at number 8, then number 6 at blindside flanker. Ma'afu and Kalamafoni are also good options to slot into the loose forwards if need be. I must say though their Forward pack is looking very impressive.
 
Last edited:
AfakasiAssasin said:
IKALETAHI...Would you not start or play Etueni Suia in a RWC lineup? He was very impressive in the midfield during the churchil cup and is alot of the reason Viliami Iongi was able to find the space he did vs the USA. And can Finau Maka play at openside flanker rather than Number 8 or blindside? I thought Koloamatangi has solidified the Openside flanker postion as Maka I think is too big and slow to cover at openside flanker. He is better utilized at Number 8 or if Vahafolau was to start at number 8, then number 6 at blindside flanker. Ma'afu and Kalamafoni are also good options to slot into the loose forwards if need be. I must say though their Forward pack is looking very impressive.
Click to expand...

I Know that Sitaleki Timani has made him self unavaliable and Koloamatangi would be in there seeing he has worked his way into PNC Nations.My Pick for foward pack
1.Soane Tonga'uiha
2.Ephraim Taukafa
3.Taufa'ao Filise
4.Joe Tuineau
5.Steve Mafi
6.Finau Maka
7.Pepa Koloamatangi
8.Viliami Ma'afu

Replacements
16.Ilaisa Ma'asi
17.Sona Taumalolo
18.Sione Kalamafoni
19.Samiu Vahafolau
 
Malo AfakasiAssasin I agree Maka isnt a quality openside flanker, But I know Isitolo Maka used Finau Maka at openside flanker during last yrs end of year tour. Finau Maka was also captain so I was just guessing being the two are brothers that it will stay the same.

I rate Etu Suia, But I think his selection depends on who makes themselves available. I doubt players like Siale Piutau will join after both Cooper Vuna, Afa Pakalani and now Sitaleki Timani pulling out. Hoping Toutai Kefu can convince younger brother Mafi to join.

Alot of problems with Tongan rugby. Players unavailable and players being banned. Tonga squad was looking solid it has however since lost some potential big game players.
 

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