USA vs Tonga

[TRF_Cymro]

USA so predictable in attack ... the old EOS way ...

 

[Shaggy]

No.4 for Viliame Iongi 37-13 to Tonga ... guess who man of the match is

 

[TRF_Cymro]

No.4 for Viliame Iongi 37-13 to Tonga ... guess who man of the match is

Shawn Pittman?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Another try for Tonga at the death

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

USA - a s***** team with a s***** coach

 

[Shaggy]

Shawn Pittman?

Yep, he was so good, he only needed to play for 70 minutes ... anyway, you're not allowed to guess ... you're on the panel

A pretty comprehensive win to Tonga ... I think they've leap frogged USA in the IRB rankings

 

[AfakasiAssasin]

Pitman back on at 58 mins no changes to score. Scrum 30 meters out on the near side. Pass from Koloamatangi puts Iongi in space, TRY for Iongi (Hatrick on debut?) very impressive has been Iongi. Morath CONVERTS from the near side and the score is 30 - 10 TONGA.

USA On the attack, regaining pocession from the restart. They move the ball wide to the farside and knocks the ball on. Scrum for Tonga AGAIN shoves the USA back. Kick up field but a good return from Malifa Tonga lineout 22 meters out. Lineout gathered by TONGA but turnover for the USA good attacking postion. Swiryn breaks runs the ball within few meters out. Penalty Offside for USA just as USA knocks the ball on. Penalty CONVERTED USA at 60 Mins TONGA 30 USA 13

K Morath kicks the ball inside USA 22. Lineout throw not straight scrum for Tonga inside 22. They spread but lose the ball forward. USA clear but Tonga back on the attack. USA win the penalty at the breakdown and kick the ball to touch lineout just on halfway. USA win lineout try a set move in the backs, but again an error with a forward pass in the midfield.

Scrum feed for the Tongans, They try to run the ball on the blindside but the ball is intercepted USA and they have the ball. USA get past halfway, offload by Malifa lost forward by Suniula. Scrum for TONGA close to Halfway line at 71 mins. USA scrum penalised again, Morath finds touch 22 meters out.

Tongans win lineout. Spread the ball twice but bad pass knocks the ball on. USA run the ball out after the scrum. Gets the ball to the 10 meter line inside their own territory but Faingaanuku wins the penalty at the breakdown. K Morath has a shot 47 m on the angle far side. K Morath MISSES to the near side. 75 mins Tonga 30 USA 13

Tongans take the ensueing restart and spreds the ball to Iongi. He has space and scores his 4th try. Try CONVERTED by K Morath Tonga 37 USA 13 at 77 mins. Viliame Iongi, a future star in the makeing for Tonga?

Tonga have a lineout 10 meters out after a poor kick from the USA trying to run the ball out of their 22. Penalty from the ensueing lineout and Morath kicks to the corner 5 meters out. Ball taken by Timani. Tonga spread the ball Mapakaitolo scores the try in the Corner. K Morath CONVERTS and Tonga win 44 to USA 13. Impressive Performance from Tonga apart from the later patch of the 1st half. Scrum was dominant all day and the backs looked dangerous when given the chance to spread the ball. Man of the Match (a no brainer) Viliame Iongi

 

[TRF_Cymro]

USA looked poor, for a side that has some potential were blown out of the water by a clinical Tonga outfit.

 

[dangandan]

Just checked the line ups. Were USA beaten by a Tonga side filled with unknowns?? I don't recognise any of the Tonga team. I'd be worried if i was an American this close to the world cup.

 

[Conal]

on the other hand go go team tonga!!!!
for the lack of team experince tonga looked good as a unit

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Aye, bodes well for Tonga in a world cup year

Shame about USA, but very pleased for Tonga

Will be interesting to see Saxons vs Tonga now

 

[LittleGuy]

Wow what is going on with the Eagles they look postively awful, I wonder if they can pull it together versus Russia or Italy "A" on finals day, I thought the home and away they had versus Canada this summer would be intense but after these two performances I'm no longer very worried.

 

[IKALETAHI]

Vili iongi could have stayed with the brumbies he was clocked the fastest at brumbies but hasnt got a chance yet. He has put his contract on the line by joining Tonga but great to see he has commited to Tonga.

 

[psychic duck]

I wonder how many European teams saw Iongi's tries yesterday?

why hasn't he been playing for the Brumbies,

are Fainifo, Speight and Smith better or do they just play because they're Australian and Iongi's committed to Tonga?

 

[AfakasiAssasin]

Vili iongi could have stayed with the brumbies he was clocked the fastest at brumbies but hasnt got a chance yet. He has put his contract on the line by joining Tonga but great to see he has commited to Tonga.

Im sure he turned more than a few heads yesterday. Keep playing like he did yesterday especially come world cup and he will not have to worry about some developmental brumbies deal...he'll have European clubs willing to pay him the big bucks chasing him.

Highlights from the game yesterday

 

[Sinbad]

I just read that Tonga was actually missing some keys players so that added insult to injury. Maybe it was the practice a day before the game or something but we looked beat the whole game. We definitely could've used Ngwenya.

 

[IKALETAHI]

This isnt Tongas best squad they are resting a fair few players who will probably come back for the pacific nations cup.

Not sure why Iongi hasnt got any game time for the Brumbies. He carved Fainifo up during the ACT premier rugby grand final last year , but seems to be raw in the brumbies eyes.

 

[darkozone]

I'm extremely disappointed in the eagles. We're better than this. If we play like this, we won't even have a chance at beating Russia in September. How are we supposed to develop players to help rise in the rugby rankings if the ones we already have are giving such a bad example? I think 7s has risen above 15s on the priority list for the USA. That needs to change.

 

[Melhor Time]

Wow what is going on with the Eagles they look postively awful, I wonder if they can pull it together versus Russia or Italy "A" on finals day, I thought the home and away they had versus Canada this summer would be intense but after these two performances I'm no longer very worried.

The USA were poor, quite embarassing in all honesty but the team was not full strength at all. The key thing I took from the game was the lack of USA depth. Really worrying. I hope they can indeed get a pro league up and running in 2013 like they are planning.

A number of issues - playing the best blindside flanker in the secondrow proved poor on two ground. 1. the Eagles missed him a lot at ruckt time, 2. the scrum was depleted by not having a specialist secondrower. Some fringe players are clearly not up to the standards to play at the Rugby World Cup. he Suniula´s have got to go. I am even looking at Emerick, who played very well vs Tonga, playing 12 with Tuiveluka 13 at the World Cup.

BTW, Russia will be strong. I´ve spent the afternoon researching the Professional League in the country and have changed by view of the sport in the country. Its seriously in a strong position. Looks like going from an 8 team league to 15 for 2012! Lots of money going into the sport. As I said, the USA are looking for something similar. Come 2015 Russia should be significantly better.

http://rugbyworldcup-argentina2023.blogspot.com/2011/06/tonga-impress-against-usa-eagles.html

BTW I am friends with a former USA Sevens player who knows almost all the players. He emailed me after the match with strong words. He was really embarrased. I can´t give out his name, sorry. But can say this.... I am going to Italy vs USA in Nelson for the World Cup and will have beers with him and some Eagles players after the match. Anyone there should join us!