Pacific Nations Cup 2012

[Muzzy]

Eddie Jones' getting desperate, promising that Japan will beat Tonga by 15 points next year.

Why would he say that as if it was some big goal to reach? This was the first time Tonga have beaten Japan in about 4 years, Japan have had narrow wins against them each time

On paper, Tonga have the most experienced squad. They were unlucky to lose to Samoa, they blew a lot of tries, they were playing better rugby and Samoa scored a couple lucky tries from Tongan handling errors. Iongi made a big break stepping 2 or 3 samoan defenders, all he had to do was pass to the man on his left but he tried to step the fullback but couldn't so he kicked it over the sideline

Fiji have a whole new team but they actually look pretty good. Their scrum has improved a lot, idk if its all of the front row or if its the prop Daveta, when he came on against Japan they dominated Japans scrum, haven't ever said that about a Fijian scrum before. Fiji put in a lot of big tackles too, Goneva looks good at center and the winger Votu has been playing well too, he's signed with the Exeter Chiefs now and Goneva has signed with the Leicester Tigers. These fijian players might look like no name locals now but next year most of them will probably be playing for clubs in europe.

Saw most of the Fiji vs Samoa game too, thought Fiji blew a lot of try scoring opportunities in that as well and made a lot of handling errors, if they get rid of that they can be a good team. The two kicks the first five missed were crucial in the end, one was an easy kick too, if he got them Fiji would have won the game. Fiji's scrum was good again too, they actually destroyed the samoan scrum, but I think Daveta is injured for the Scotland game coz he's bracketed on the bench

 

[Muzzy]

Samoa vs Japan starting now

Samoa have brought back Khan Fotuali'i, Jo Tekori, Kane Thompson and Ti'i Paulo, I guess preparing them for the Scotland test next week. All Samoa need to do is win this game and they win the Pacific Nations Cup

 

[Muzzy]

Wow this is a shock, Japan are winning 11 - 0, I think there's about 10 mins to go in the first half

Samoan prop Mulipola did one of the most idiotic shoulder charges right in front of the referee and got sent off just before Japan scored their try.

With the likes of Khan Fotuali'i coming back and Japan losing their last two games I thought Samoa were going to run away with this

EDIT: Japan just scored another try

 

[Muzzy]

Halftime: Japan 16 Samoa 14

Khan Fotuali'i scored a good try picking the ball up from the ruck 10 metre's out from Japan's line, there were no defenders at the ruck and he went straight through under the posts, covering tackle from Japan wasn't enough. Fotuali'i has been keeping Samoa in this game, he made another very good long run from a quick tap. Samoa were given a bullshit penalty though, the ref said the Japanese lock wasn't rolling away at the ruck and gave them a warning when the replay showed the lock was rolling away. After that Samoa went to a lineout and scored their second try from a rolling maul, Tekori just got the ball over the line.

Full Time: Samoa 27 Japan 26

great game in the end, Samoa took a leaf out of Scotlands book from yesterday, taking it to the forwards using driving mauls as much as possible. Either team could have taken it in the end, Japan did a lot better than I think anyone would have thought they would do. Japan scored a try in the last minute of the game, Nicholas had a chance to win the game with a conversion from the sideline that would have made it 28 - 27, but he missed both conversions he had. Japan missed a lot of their kicks and I think they missed all of their conversions. Lolo Lui also missed a penalty in the last five minutes which hit the post

 

[Hinato]

apon 26-27 Samoa
Défaite d'un point, en ayant inscrit 4 essais rageant...
Sinon défaite encourageante. Le Japon a produit un très gros match mais a été trop pénalisé et trop de fautes de mains ont empêchés un succès qui n'auraient pas été démérité loin de là. Les joueurs se trouvent de mieux en mieux et çà se voit. Les deux tests matchs face aux barbarians français vont être sympa à regarder. Pour le bilan, 3 défaites pour le Japon dans ce tournoi, mais à chaque fois des scores très serrés (19-25, 20-24, 26-27) et une équipe japonaise qui monte de rythme. Le travail d'Eddie Jones se voit et va logiquement finir très bientôt par payer au très haut niveau. En 3ème ligne, on a de sacrés joueurs: Kikutani, Leitch, sans oublier le jeune Tui qui est en train d'exploser au haut niveau. Derrière, les 3/4 combinent de mieux en mieux. Les Brave Blossoms produisent énormément de jeu. Cette équipe fera mal d'ici un an (je parle contre les nations secondaires, celles des îles Pacifiques, Ecosse, italie, etc...). Et dire qu'il manquait notre plus grand espoir Yoshikazu Fujita!!!

 

[Muzzy]

Fiji vs Tonga is set to start, if anyone wants a link to see it let me know

Fiji: 15 Metuisela Talebula, 14 Isimeli Koniferedi, 13 Wereniki Goneva, 12 Isake Katonibau, 11 Watisoni Votu, 10 Jonetai Ralulu, 9 Nikola Matawalu, 8 Kelepi Ketedromo, 7 Malakai Volau, 6 Josefa Domolailai, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Apisai Naikatini, 3 Setefano Somoca, 2 Seremaia Naureure, 1 Graham Dewes.
Replacements: 16 Tuatpati Talemaitoga, 17 Jeremaia Yanuyanutawa, 18 Iliese Ratuva, 19 Apakuki Vuaviri, 20 Kelemedi Bola, 21 Benedito Koroi, 22 Maikeli Mocetadra.

Tongan Team

Tonga: 15 Viliame Iongi, 14 Siale Piutau, 13 Mafileo Kefu, 12 Alipate Fatafehi, 11 Alaska Taufa, 10 Kurt Morath, 9 Taniela Moa (c), 8 Paula Kaho, 7 Sione Vaiomounga, 6 Steve Mafi, 5 Joe Tuineau, 4 Josh Afu, 3 Kisi Pulu, 2 Ilaisia Maasi, 1 Ofa Fainga'anuku.
Replacements: 16 Viliami Pola, 17 Sila Puafisi, 18 Lua Lokotui, 19 Vili Fainga'a, 20 Thomas Palu, 21 Sefa Vaka, 22 Edmond Paea.

http://www.fijilive.com/sports/rugby/news/2012/06/23/27716.Fijilive

Fiji just scored a classic against the run of play try, fijian winger ripped the ball away to set up a long range try to Talebula. Other than that the game has been very frustrating, its been scrum, pass, knock on over and over.

 

[Muzzy]

holy ****, this guy Talebula is amazing, he's just scored another amazing try, his third in only 2 games, all three of his tries have looked like flukes, typical against the run of play tries. he ran through two guys and stepped the fullback coming from outta nowhere

But other than that its still been very frustrating

 

[Muzzy]

Fulltime

Fiji 29 Tonga 17

As a Fijian fan, I felt like Fiji showed more potential throughout this match, but were unable to show it for most of the game as Tonga's rush defence put a lot of pressure on the Fijian team, it caused Fiji to make a lot of forced offloads and knock on's. The same goes go for Tonga as they also had a lot of knock on's caused by a brave Fijian defence who put their body on the line many times. Fiji would make a break, then force an offload or the halfback Matawalu would throw a bad pass putting pressure on the Fijian team which often lead to knock on's. Tonga lead for most of this match, however I think the score at half time was 7 - 14. When Graham Dewes was on the field Fiji got owned at scrum time, however the scrum improved a lot as soon as they replaced Dewes with Brumbies prop Yanuyanutawa, I think they should leave Dewes out of the Fijian team for now, its clear he's a poor scrumager and not worth having on there. Fiji made a lot of handling errors again in the second half, Tonga looked like they had the game in their hands for most of the second half even though the scores were close. Tonga kicked a penalty to go into the lead 17 - 14 around the 60th minute, but Fiji came back with another brilliant try to Talebula and then another try to Fiji, forgot who scored, Talebula also kicked a penalty for Fiji to take the lead 29 - 17. the Fijian backline showed a lot of potential but handling errors let them down a lot. Talebula scored two brilliant tries, he looks like a star in the making right now. The big turning point for me was when they put halfback Matawalu in the midfield, fullback Talebula at first five and Kelemedi Bola at halfback, the fijian back line looked so much better. Fiji scored 4 Tries to 1 from Tonga

 

[Tonga_rugby]

Samoa and Fiji are up but Tonga is down

Before PNC 2012, Tonga was the favorite team to win this edition. Good players but bad matchs. It's incredible.
I hope this news is true... Pat Lam to coach Tonga?
http://www.samoaobserveronline.com/...item&id=297:pat-lam-to-coach-tonga?&Itemid=58