RWC: France - Tonga (01-10-2011, 18:00)

[IKALETAHI]

IRB funding isnt everything its cracked up to be...Tonga beat Samoa and placed 3rd last world cup. They automatically qualified and everything yet Samoa got the same amount of money and better International fixtures. This doesnt bother me Samoa deserves it they have shown they can consistantly play at a tier 1 level. My point is I think regardless of your placing at the World Cup the IRB have an idea of who should get the funding and fixtures despite your placing at the World Cup. Pacific Islands deserve it anyways they are the only tier 2 nations to consistantly scare tier 1 sides and give so much to World Rugby.

MATE MA'A TONGA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LE MANU SAMOA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FIJI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Surefire]

Great Job Tonga! Huge upset and you deserved this win. Clean breaks and excellent defense. Tonga was awesome congratulations!!

 

[ckell]

Just to clarify, would Tonga be going through if they had won by more than 7?

 

[Darwin]

Just to clarify, would Tonga be going through if they had won by more than 7?

No Tonga needed 4 tries, and to beat France by more than 7.

 

[Tricia McMillan]

No Tonga needed both 4 tries, and to beat France by more than 7.

As well as to prevent France from scoring four tries regardless of victory margin.

Basically, Tonga needed to earn five and hold France to none.

 

[munstermuffin]

Is this part of France's plan going in to QF? Ha

 

[Shaggy]

Well done Tonga, but i'm a little disappointed that you didn't try for the four tries

 

[William18]

Tonga made the right decision not to go for the tries in the second half. Just in wining this game they have done something incredible. They were not going to score those tries against France and were better to just focus on winning the game.

 

[[email protected]]

as a tongan i am extremely happy for the win.
bonus point or no bonus point, we won and thats all that matters to us tongans. Yes if Ikale Tahi got a bonus point QF chances would be up for grabs but we are just happy for the win and love the determination and heart our boys put into this last performance.

Ikale Tahi! MATE MA'A TONGA!

 

[cardassian]

congrats Tonga, haven't watched the game yet but France is a big scalp to take.

 

[jawmalawm24]

as a tongan i am extremely happy for the win.
bonus point or no bonus point, we won and thats all that matters to us tongans. Yes if Ikale Tahi got a bonus point QF chances would be up for grabs but we are just happy for the win and love the determination and heart our boys put into this last performance.

Ikale Tahi! MATE MA'A TONGA!

Yep and you should be very proud of your boys they have created Rugby history tonight and have played excellent in the whole tournament. Well done Tonga!!

 

[Siva Tau]

Well done Tonga, shame about the loss to Canada earlier.

 

[Wally]

FUUUUUUUUU CANADA

If the IRB gave the "minnow" nations a fairer draw results like these would be much more common.

 

[Bail]

Tonga didn't deserve to win by 5, they deserved to win by 20. They completely outplayed France in almost every facet of the game. Yes, the French didn't play well, but you can only play as well as your opponent lets you play, and Tonga just never let up. They bruised, battered and bashed France into submission, and the French folded under the onslaught.

This is another game that proved Tier one nations only advantage is keeping closed world rugby. Close Tours Agreement, close 6 Nations and close 4 Nations doesn't exist for sporting reason anymore, they only remains for financial reasons. This is absolultely unfair. IRB must stop all this carnival immediatly ! If it doesn't, don't be surprised by a massive boycott from non foundation nations.

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

Let's say that we can't go any further downhill :huh: , and give England the occasion of bearing the costs of the traditional trigger this kind of underachievement make us pull...

 

[Sam Owen]

You know I wonder if Tonga just started to hit their straps now. I mean, have Tonga just come alive too late??...they played much better.

 

[Canadian_Rugger]

well played Tonga! Shame we aren't going to automatically qualify for the world cup though. I always knew this pool was going to be closer then people thought... it should of been called battle for second. The IRB really need to sort the scheduling out for this tournament as the tier 2 countries are starting to catch the big boys. Rugby is the fastest growing sport in Canadian High Schools and this world cup has really brought rugby to forefront of Canadian sport. Never in my wildest dreams would I think that Rugby would occupy the front pages of TSN, our national sports broadcaster. Games that are being played at 1 in the morning drawing over 200,000 viewers. I think Canada and other tier 2 countries are going to continue to get stronger and the IRB should embrace this.

 

[LittleGuy]

well played Tonga! Shame we aren't going to automatically qualify for the world cup though. I always knew this pool was going to be closer then people thought... it should of been called battle for second. The IRB really need to sort the scheduling out for this tournament as the tier 2 countries are starting to catch the big boys. Rugby is the fastest growing sport in Canadian High Schools and this world cup has really brought rugby to forefront of Canadian sport. Never in my wildest dreams would I think that Rugby would occupy the front pages of TSN, our national sports broadcaster. Games that are being played at 1 in the morning drawing over 200,000 viewers. I think Canada and other tier 2 countries are going to continue to get stronger and the IRB should embrace this.

Agreed!!! I really wish it was Tonga advancing to the QF's since we are extremely unlikely to finish third now and I would love to see someone carry the torch for the Tier two into the QF's. The United States also played well this RWC and Samoa were exceptional.

@ Sam yeah it seems like it, probably being well rested and the confidence after the Japan win helped. Also France were struggling big time against Japan and Canada and only pulled ahead in the last 15 minutes, what a terrible RWC for Les Blues they could be in for a rough knockout stage.

 

[Canucks]

This is another game that proved Tier one nations only advantage is keeping closed world rugby. Close Tours Agreement, close 6 Nations and close 4 Nations doesn't exist for sporting reason anymore, they only remains for financial reasons. This is absolultely unfair. IRB must stop all this carnival immediatly ! If it doesn't, don't be surprised by a massive boycott from non foundation nations.

First off, Congrats Tonga.
Second off, damn you France. Couldn't pull off the win.

This was a great day for the so called minnows. Tonga finished what Japan and Canada couldn't. Imagine if there was fair rest days between matches.
Pool A was the toughest pool this year.
NZ dominated everyone
France played down to everyone
Japan almost beat Canada and Tonga and took it to France.
Canada beat Tonga, but tied Japan. Those 5 missed kicks vs France look huge now.
Tonga losses to Canada, beats Japan and France.

Great pool.
The 6 nations and 4 nations need to exist so that these teams make money. It is fair, but 2 things I think need to exist are regular schueduled tours between at top 25 nations. For example, Canada goes on a tour to UK, then Scotland, Wales, Ireland and England should have to play some semblance of a top team.
The other thing is a tier 2 championship. Have tier 2 teams play each other and learn to develop their attack and such.

Please no should have, could have, would have. All teams could say that.

Congrats Tonga

 

[SelimNiai]

And who put 40 on a Tonga win by 7 or less?