RWC: New Zealand - Tonga (09-09-2011, 20:30)

[CDN_Rugby]

Canada can't field half of pros in his line-up, this is one of the weakest teams at RWC.

You really know dick all about Canadian rugby don't you? Pretty much all of Canada's first XV has experience playing top flight rugby...

Cudmore, Pritchard, Smith, Evans, Fairhurst, Sinclair, O'Toole, Franklin, Phil Mackenzie, DTH, Kleeberger, and Monro all have experience playing (or are currently signed) in the Celtic League, Aviva Premiership, Top 14, or ITM Cup. Twelve players in their 30 man squad play or have played top flight rugby. That's comparable to a lot of tier two nations. Also, the players that do play in Canada play in the B.C. Premier League and Canadian Rugby Championship, both of which are RFU Championship calibre.

On top of that, Canadian rugby players have passport issues that pacific islanders and tier two European sides don't have to deal with. I assure you, pretty much every player in Canada's squad is capable of playing top level or RFU Championship rugby.

Canada does have the talent to beat Tonga, contrary to what you say. In fact, Canada has never lost to Tonga at the RWC. 3-0.

 

[AfakasiAssasin]

It seems that Canada put up a better showing against the England Saxons in the Churchill Cup this year, including the Tonga A side, so I don't see your comment as fair to the Canadians.

The Canada V Tonga match is a must win for both sides, so both will field their strongest teams ... Tonga will field their second stringers against the All Blacks, because thjey only have four days between matches

Not sure what the Canadian team looked like during the Churchill Cup but I can assure you The Tongan team at the Churchill was maybe a little bit past half strength when you compare that team then the one that will meet Canada, New Zealand and the rest of Pool A.

TONGA Curchill Cup / RWC (Full strength) Lineup
1. Tonga Lea'Aetoa / Soane Tonga'uiha
2. Semisi Telefoni / Ephraim Taukafa
3. Kisi Pulu
4. Sione Timani
5. Emosi Kauhenga / Joe Tuineau
6. Josh Afu / Viliami Ma'afu
7. Pepa Koloamatangi / Finau Maka (or Nili Latu when he joins the team)
8. Pasuka Mapakaitolo / Samiu Vahafolau
9. Daniel Morath / Taniela Moa
10. Kurt Morath
11. Viliami Iongi
12. Etueni Siua / Siale Piutau
13. Suka Hufanga / Alipate Fatafehi
14. Viliami Helu / Fetu'u Vainikolo
15. Etimoni Paea / Vunga Lilo

You really know dick all about Canadian rugby don't you? Pretty much all of Canada's first XV has experience playing top flight rugby...

Cudmore, Pritchard, Smith, Evans, Fairhurst, Sinclair, O'Toole, Franklin, Phil Mackenzie, DTH, Kleeberger, and Monro all have experience playing (or are currently signed) in the Celtic League, Aviva Premiership, Top 14, or ITM Cup. Twelve players in their 30 man squad play or have played top flight rugby. That's comparable to a lot of tier two nations. Also, the players that do play in Canada play in the B.C. Premier League and Canadian Rugby Championship, both of which are RFU Championship calibre.

On top of that, Canadian rugby players have passport issues that pacific islanders and tier two European sides don't have to deal with. I assure you, pretty much every player in Canada's squad is capable of playing top level or RFU Championship rugby.

Canada does have the talent to beat Tonga, contrary to what you say. In fact, Canada has never lost to Tonga at the RWC. 3-0.

I'm Sure its not easy for both these teams to gather their top players at any given time. Canada does have good players and has had the edge over Tonga going by past results. But as I've said in a previous post, last time they meet was 2003 RWC (Canada won 24 - 7) where that Tongan team was very weak and that they have never played a Tongan side quite as strong as this one. I truly believe, with no disrespect to the Canadian posters here, that the Tongan should come out victorious with their encounter this time around. Lets wait and see though for what should be an entertaining game.

 

[Siva Tau]

Tonga have the best goalkicker IMO in World rugby in Kurt Morath. He is one sharp shooter.

 

[AfakasiAssasin]

Tonga have the best goalkicker IMO in World rugby in Kurt Morath. He is one sharp shooter.

Thats a biiiig call. He is good, dunno if hes the best though.

 

[rusty_lock]

With all due respect to Tongan supporters. To suggest that they are going to destroy the All Black scrum and that they have the best goal kicker in the tourney seems a bit hyperbolic to me. We will see what kind of line up that NZ put out against Tonga but if they put even half of their 1st 15 it will be I will be surprised if Tonga keep NZ under 60 and the spread is not over 40.

 

[Bail]

You really know dick all about Canadian rugby don't you? Pretty much all of Canada's first XV has experience playing top flight rugby...

Cudmore, Pritchard, Smith, Evans, Fairhurst, Sinclair, O'Toole, Franklin, Phil Mackenzie, DTH, Kleeberger, and Monro all have experience playing (or are currently signed) in the Celtic League, Aviva Premiership, Top 14, or ITM Cup. Twelve players in their 30 man squad play or have played top flight rugby. That's comparable to a lot of tier two nations. Also, the players that do play in Canada play in the B.C. Premier League and Canadian Rugby Championship, both of which are RFU Championship calibre.

On top of that, Canadian rugby players have passport issues that pacific islanders and tier two European sides don't have to deal with. I assure you, pretty much every player in Canada's squad is capable of playing top level or RFU Championship rugby.

Canada does have the talent to beat Tonga, contrary to what you say. In fact, Canada has never lost to Tonga at the RWC. 3-0.

Every report agree to say that Canada is weaker than before.
http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/08/06/canadas-world-cup-rugby-squad-drawing-attention/
This one says there is only 10 professional players in the squad.

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=187655664624788
This one say only seven.

Canada is a weak team. Tonga is high profile world class professional team (I concede, on the paper).

My XV for New Zealand is this one :

1. Soane Tonga'uiha
2. Aleki Lutui
3. Alani Aulika
4. Sione Timani
5. Joe Tuineau
6. Sione Kalamafoni
7. Finau Maka
8. Viliami Ma'afu
9. Taniela Moa
10. Kurth Morath
11. Viliami Iongi
12. Siale Piutau
13. Alipate Fatafehi
14. Fetu'u Vainokolo
15. Vunga Lilo


My XV to easily beat Canada :
1. Sona Taumalolo
2. Ephraim Taukafa
3. Taufa'ao Filise
4. Tukulua Lokotui
5. Paino Hehea
6. Sione Kalamafoni (only to destroy Monro)
7. Samiu Vahafolau
8. Finau Maka/Viliame Ma'asi
9. Taniela Mora (need playing time)
10. Samisoni Fisilau
11. Alaska Taufa
12. Andrew Mailei
13. Suka Hufanga
14. Fetu'u Vainikolo (need playing time)
15. Vunga Lilo/Will Helu

 

[calculon]

Every report agree to say that Canada is weaker than before.
http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/08/06/canadas-world-cup-rugby-squad-drawing-attention/
This one says there is only 10 professional players in the squad.

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=187655664624788
This one say only seven.

Canada is a weak team. Tonga is high profile world class professional team (I concede, on the paper).

My XV for New Zealand is this one :

1. Soane Tonga'uiha
2. Aleki Lutui
3. Alani Aulika
4. Sione Timani
5. Joe Tuineau
6. Sione Kalamafoni
7. Finau Maka
8. Viliami Ma'afu
9. Taniela Moa
10. Kurth Morath
11. Viliami Iongi
12. Siale Piutau
13. Alipate Fatafehi
14. Fetu'u Vainokolo
15. Vunga Lilo


My XV to easily beat Canada :
1. Sona Taumalolo
2. Ephraim Taukafa
3. Taufa'ao Filise
4. Tukulua Lokotui
5. Paino Hehea
6. Sione Kalamafoni (only to destroy Monro)
7. Samiu Vahafolau
8. Finau Maka/Viliame Ma'asi
9. Taniela Mora (need playing time)
10. Samisoni Fisilau
11. Alaska Taufa
12. Andrew Mailei
13. Suka Hufanga
14. Fetu'u Vainikolo (need playing time)
15. Vunga Lilo/Will Helu

^^^
Incidentally the above 15 is the same one that's gonna send the French back home. Hhehe!

 

[CDN_Rugby]

Every report agree to say that Canada is weaker than before.

And this report says Canada is predicted to finish third: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10748799. Since the media says it it must be true!

The reality is that either Japan, Tonga, or Canada could all easily finish 3, 4, or 5. Honestly, there isn't a single team at the RWC that Tonga can "destroy" with their second choice XV. They're a good side, but Canada and Japan are capable of beating them on any given day.

 

[IKALETAHI]

I think only Morne Steyn shades Morath in kicking percentages in the last two years (International). On paper Tonga has the more professional looking side when compared to Japan and Canada. The Tongan side has players who wont start in the 22 who play professionally, that doesnt always indicate who will win.

Canadas record against Tonga at the World Cup is also not an indications of how the game will pan out (Canada won in '91 and '03). Afakasiassasin is right when he says the '03 Tongan side was weak. Jim Love did a terrible job of Coaching Tonga. Love couldn't handle dealing with finding players all over the world. Love had no contacts so he held Open Trials in Auckland to select the Tonga team.

No disrespect to Canadian posters, But I think Tonga look to strong this year.

 

[Surefire]

My opinion is that because Tonga are strong they are going to have a tough go in this WC. I don't think either France or New Zealand is taking them lightly. They know what the Island teams are capable of and they do not want to get surprised. If New Zealand were to lose this game it puts their WC campaign under an enormous amount of pressure. New Zealand will want to come out very strong and not leave anything to chance. If New Zealand gets this win under their belt, they can then think about what players to rest.
As I said earlier on this thread, the real guessing gme is what team will Tonga play. Like all the pools in this WC, it seems their is a clear favorite for the Pool winner, but alot of arguments can be made as to who will get runner-up. Makes for great entertainment.

 

[ACT1NUP]

Tongans themselves are strong yes. Their rugby team will get pummelled though. They will be an unorganised mess, having no coach and with all the politics involved. They will do well to lose by less than 50. ABs are several classes ahead and are well used to islanders playing style unlike those from halfway around the world.

 

[donmcdazzle]

NZ has an advantage against island teams that others don't in that our players are used to playing against the style these guys play. The physical sort of play won;t rattle NZ so much as it can to other teams. Tonga might give the French a shake up, not NZ.

 

[IKALETAHI]

Tongans themselves are strong yes. Their rugby team will get pummelled though. They will be an unorganised mess, having no coach and with all the politics involved. They will do well to lose by less than 50. ABs are several classes ahead and are well used to islanders playing style unlike those from halfway around the world.

Who said they have no coach ?

 

[ACT1NUP]

Yea doubled checked that, it was the chief executive that resigned due to selection issues. I thought it was the coach. Any who any team with off field dramas usually suffers on field accordingly. Hurricanes spring to mind for me. I think, if anything, they may upset the French if the French have an off day and the Tongans are on their game. I do hope they do well though throughout pool play, just not against NZ.

 

[Melhor Time]

Silly, silly, silly RWC opening match. NZ are going to win 80-10.

Lets hope I´m wrong.

 

[AfakasiAssasin]

Will the Tongans be allowed to interupt the All Blacks Haka with their own Sipi Tau the same way they did in 2003? That was probably the best pre game showdown to a Rugby match I have ever seen. But I hear that there are sanctions which are in place for this world cup which prevent teams from interrupting or disrespecting the haka. I hope this doesn't mean that this pre match showdown will not go down in similair fashion the way it did in 2003 (and 1999) as that would be a shame. For those who havent seen yet check the video link below.

 

[187]

Well that would suck if they couldn't issue their respective challenges to each other at the same time. It adds to the spectacle.
I'm sure Tonga will rise to the occasion and put up a good show, both during the haka's and game.

GO TONGA!

 

[IKALETAHI]

Never been a fan of the 'Ikale Tahi sipi Tau I wish they would use Mate Ma'a Tonga's version. Anyways I read an article in the nzherald where NZ will start and Tonga will begin 10 secs later( probably because the Sipi Tau is shorter) , But yes both unions have agreed to do something similar to '03

 

[187]

Wellingtonians - where you thinking of watching this game?

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Maybe it's an idea to let the All Blacks do the Haka first, Tonga second?