Vuna named in Tonga squad

[04perryo]

is sione tu'ipulotu good because hes coming to worcester and ive never seen him play.

 

[brynylon]

Who would know?Many European teams have already started pre-season training for next season.I thought June was an official IRB international window and players had to be released.The IRB are bloody useless-the clubs rule and exert pressure on their players not to be available.Guess who loses-of course the Pacific Islands teams as usual.
All the Tongan backline against USA are Southern Hemisphere players whose clubs release them.The only time you will see Tonga at near full strength is at the World Cup and then Super 15 wont be available because they will lose their contracts.

 

[04perryo]

why isnt tevita teaumopeu something spelt like that like that not in the squad

 

[Tau tahi]

Is Tonga'uiha being kept back by the PRL or just not selected?

he won't be avaliable till The Rugby world cup because his wife is expecting a baby.

why isnt tevita teaumopeu something spelt like that like that not in the squad

Probably because Tonga has better props to offer he didn't make the last world cup i think?

 

[04perryo]

he's still good and i think he's underrated he absolutely dominated the championship this year in the scrum

 

[Darwin]

why isnt tevita teaumopeu something spelt like that like that not in the squad

Can't comment on his form over recent seasons, but while in NZ Tevita Taumoepeau was always good in the scrum, but was slow around the field. Given his age now (37) I can't imagine his mobility would have improved; I'd suggest this lack of mobilty would be a major reason for his exclusion from the Tongan squad.

 

[Tau tahi]

Can't comment on his form over recent seasons, but while in NZ Tevita Taumoepeau was always good in the scrum, but was slow around the field. Given his age now (37) I can't imagine his mobility would have improved; I'd suggest this lack of mobilty would be a major reason for his exclusion from the Tongan squad.

Thats highly the reason in him not been selected props need to make their presence felt not only in the scrums but in the breakdowns.He is well known to be solid scrummager but that's about it.

 

[AfakasiAssasin]

why isnt tevita teaumopeu something spelt like that like that not in the squad

Pretty sure he retired from international rugby around 2007. As Darwin_23 said he is 37 soo it's probably wise to spend his final years prolonging his career and making as much money as he can while he still can. Besides prop is the position Tonga has always had the most depth at so I doubt he'll be missed too much.

 

[04perryo]

ahh that wud make sense

 

[brynylon]

Tonga 44 USA 13.And without a lot of their best players.Iongi-what a finisher.But my man of the match-Kurt Morath-runs the team brilliantly!

 

[AfakasiAssasin]

Scrum was as ever impressive as ever and their lineout wasnt too bad either. K Morath did run the show nicely for Tonga and Hufanga and Siua combined well in the midfield. Iongi was MOTM with 4 tries and the highlight of the day being his third try cutting the USA defence after the 22 m restart to score. Apart from Lea'aetoa giving a few silly penaltys and being carded in the first half and a few awry passes from Havea, Tonga looked good today..... A big boost to their RWC preparations.

 

[AfakasiAssasin]

Found this aritcle in regards to TANIELA MOA and NILI LATU...

Latu, Moa out of Cup
Thu 9 Jun 2011
By Campbell Burnes
NILI LATU and Taniela Moa appear to have burned their bridges as far as making Tonga’s Rugby World Cup squad is concerned.
Both players are understood to be keen to play for the island nation when its RWC campaign kicks off against the All Blacks at Eden Park on September 9.
But coach Isitolo Maka told Rugby News he is having none of it after what he claims is agitation behind the scenes by Latu and an episode at last year’s Pacific Nations Cup which saw Moa head to Hawaii to a play a tournament rather than for Tonga.
Latu was one of the stars of Tonga’s stirring 2007 Rugby World Cup campaign, leading from the front with his energetic loose forward play, but he has lost favour with Maka, a 1998 All Blacks No 8.
“He didn’t accept me as coach of the national team,†says Maka. “I told him if he doesn’t, then I’ll move on. I’m not going to tolerate players who think they are bigger than the game.
“A lot of people talk about 2007, but what about 2008 and ’09? How did he play for Tonga then?â€
Moa, it can be revealed, was actually due to play for Tonga at the 2010 Pacific Nations Cup.
“He told me he was sick and would come back to New Zealand for a check-up. But he went to Hawaii to play in a tournament there. What would you do as a coach!?
“He has since contacted me and said he’s available for the World Cup, but you don’t wait for the World Cup and then suddenly say you want to play,†says Maka.
There are four halfbacks in a preliminary squad of 50 to be whittled down for the World Cup. One of them is Counties Manukau’s Samisoni Fisilau, whom Maka says “is very committed to Tongaâ€.
“I don’t believe those guys (Latu and Moa) will be as committed as the others.â€
The other notable omission is hooker Aleki Lutui, who captained the side at the 2010 PNC.
“I have explained to Aleki that I have moved on. The pace of the game is different now,†says Maka.
Tonga is in the UK contesting the Churchill Cup and will play in the July Pacific Nations Cup before two tests against Fiji in August.
source:http://www.rugbynews.co.nz/newsarticle/?article=4701

I understand Makas approach towards Moa but I feel he is being a little too unforgiving when it comes to Latu. I dont know how long Maka is contracted to coach for but I dont see either player making Tongas senior side while he is coach. I guess the line in the sand has been drawn for the future that if your not with the coach or totally commited to Tonga no matter how good you are...you will not be considered for selection. Here Latu's side of the story which I posted earlier

Nili Latu breaks his silence

FORMER Tongan International Captain, Nili Latu breaks his silence in his so called ‘ban’ from the ‘Ikale Tahi.

The current coach of the ‘Ikale Tahi team and former All Black, ‘Isitolo Maka, has reportedly made it clear that none of the players that were involved in the "letter incident" that happened during the Pacific Nations Cup 2009 in Fiji will be given a chance to play in the team.

Here is what the former captain Nili Latu has to say about what really happened.

I have played in New Zealand for many years and it was one of my wishes and dreams that one day I would play and represent Tonga. There were opportunities for me in New Zealand and it was obvious that playing in New Zealand had its financial benefits. In the past I have played in New Zealand’s National School Boys and I was schooled in New Zealand ever since I started playing, but not once have I forgotten my dream, to represent the country my humble parents grew up in, Tonga. When I finally had the chance to play for Tonga, I had the courage to return to the place where I grew up to show my support. I returned to Tonga at tough times because at the time according to the NZRFU if I was to represent another country other than New Zealand than my chances of playing for any Super 14 team in New Zealand will be stripped away, as the opportunity would be given to players who are willing to play for New Zealand. It was a very hard decision for me to make knowing that my family relied on my income from playing for New Zealand and if I was to play for Tonga than we could be financially affected; it was a risk I was willing to take. I believe that we are all familiar with the pay in New Zealand compared to the pay in Tonga. But to me getting good pay or money had nothing to do with my decision to play for Tonga.

Up till now the Board claims that Tongan players are always asking for money but the truth is we are just asking for our rightful earnings that help take care and feed our families. For local Tongan rugby players, rugby is their only source of income to feed and help their families. Players who come from New Zealand and overseas countries to play for Tonga also have expenditures such as paying for their rent, feeding their family etc. I would like to give an example to make my point more clear. The average pay for a player playing in New Zealand is $400 to $500 per week. If this player was to go and represent Tonga then he will no longer receive this $400 to $500 pay.
Furthermore, the rent in New Zealand in average is between $250 to $350. When players leave to represent Tonga they are still faced with the burden of having to pay for their rent, electricity bills, water bills, food, children’s school fees and their daily expenses. How are players expected to cover this with no pay from the national team?

Futhermore, not only are players away from their homes they are to gather up the courage to leave they respected families for about 6 to 7 weeks. To tell you the truth being separated from your family that long is not an easy thing to do especially those with wives and children.
This is one of the main reasons why Tongan players are unsatisfied because players know for sure that they have the right to ask for their pay. When players are chosen for the Tongan team, believe me, they do not come for the money, as all the players know how poor our country is. They are grateful for the money the board offers them because it would be of great help for their families. If for 6 to 7 weeks the players still haven’t received anything to send to their families and cover their expenses, then I am certain that it is not a crime to ask the board for some financial assistance. I believe it is not a crime for me to stand up and sound out the needs of the players.

When they said that for not choosing me and the rest of the senior boys is because of our politics, I believe the main reason for them not choosing us is because we, Hale and I, stood and talked about the problems they faced in the PNC this year. The team then agreed as a whole for us to compose a letter to the Board, sign it and then send it to them from Fiji so that they knew what we want for the benefit for the whole team. It was not just me and Hale’s idea to write the letter, it was the whole team that wanted to write the letter. It was then my responsibility as captain and Hale as vice to voice out the needs of the team to the board and this is what happened at the PNC.

After the PNC it seemed that Hale and I were blamed for some things that we said which were the player’s needs. We were then punished for informing others about what really happened. They seemed to have forgotten that it was the board that have had problems these last few years and now the players are suffering the consequences.

I have yet to receive a letter from Tonga informing me that I will no longer be accepted to play for the Tongan team. All I have been told is that a new board has been chosen and that the IRB was present during this process.

I am apparently no longer allowed to play for Tonga because it was I who spoke out for the team regarding the problems the Tongan Rugby Union have struggled with for many years now.
It was not just for my well being alone that I spoke of the problem; it was for everyone and the future of rugby in our beloved country. But whose problem is it? It is the board’s problem but we the players who just play, get injured while doing our best to represent our country also have to suffer for their problems and shortcomings.

My position is captain, and it is certainly not an easy task being captain especially in a National team. One of the responsibilities of a captain is that if there is anyone in the team who has any concerns the vice captain and I will inform and ask the board and ask for their assistance; this is what happened at the Pacific Nations Cup 2009. If they say that it was wrong for me to speak out for the rights of the players and inform them of their needs then I should never have been captain. I informed them to give the players their deserved pay and did not just ask them once. It got to a point where the players got tired of waiting for their pay so we agreed to write a letter. This letter did not just consist of one player; we all agreed that that we would all sign of our own free will. I did not force anyone to sign the letter, everyone who signed the letter signed it out of their own free will. I have heard talk, that Hale T-Pole and I wrote the letter and then forced the players to sign it, I also heard that some of the players signed the letter just because it was Hale and I who composed it. I say to you now that this is not what really happened. It was out of the players own free will that they signed the letter.

I would like to clearly say to the members of the board, that even though you have closed the door for me to come and play for Tonga I will keep on knocking and waiting until the day you the leaders will have a change of heart. Tonga is a religious country and I still believe that we still have a chance, together with the others who have said to have also been left out. I am disappointed by the fact that I have no information from the board as to why I am no longer allowed to play for Tonga after working so hard for my country; all I have is speculation. If the reason for leaving me out the team was because of writing the letter, I gladly accept it because that is why I was chosen as captain, to be a voice for the players. If I was not selected because I had any shortcomings as captain or as a player then i accept the fact that I was not chosen. The obvious problem is I still don’t know the reason I was not chosen. Hopefully one day I will be informed of the reason, I will accept it, it may be something to learn from.

Nevertheless, there will never be a time were playing for my country would not be an option. I strongly believe that if the board tries to resolve their problems first than we, the players, would not be affected. Even though they did not choose me to join this tour to Europe I will not give up, my support is with the players that they continue their work.

I was really honored and happy, when the coach at that time Quddus Fielea’ together with the team chose me to be captain dating right bak to the World Cup in 2007. The truth was that there were other good players who were also capable of being captain such as, Hale T-Pole, Finau Maka, ‘Epeli Taione, ‘Aleki Lutui and others. When it was final than I was to be captain of the ‘Ikale Tahi team the only thing I was sure of was that I must be a good role model to my team in the field; someone for my team to follow. My fellow team mates also were the ones who helped me while I was captain. It is not right for me to say that I was the best captain in Tonga’s National Teams just because of the results of the 2007 World Cup. I say that I am a representative of the team, but it was the players who played the game in the field who were the rightful captains, the 15 players and the reserves, they were the rightful captains. I would also thank all of the players because if it wasn’t for them than it would not have been easy for me. They all did their bit on the field.

I believe that maybe rejecting the senior players for this tour was done in the heat of the moment, out of anger and I believe that it can be resolved by discussing and also working together in a suitable manner.

At the present time, I do not have any idea who the members of the TRFU Board are and their path is still blurred and uncertain. I believe that that the preparation for the World Cup would be much more easier if this uncertainty is solved, if not than even more problems will arise in Tonga’s Rugby. There will be many more quarrels and accusations and disputes. What will then happen to the rugby players and the future players? If they look at how messed up the board is then there will be no incentive for them to make them want to play. There are plenty of good quality players who can represent Tonga, the problem is that they realize the problem that Tonga is still struggling with and it discourages them to play.

I hope that these problems could be resolved so that our preparations for the next world cup 2011 could start. My mission right from the start when I first left New Zealand to play for Tonga is still the same up till now. My mission is to help and support my home country, Tonga, and if my mission cannot be accomplished because some people are just too stubborn than all I could do is to give my support to the players that are chose to represent us.

I would like to give my apologies to the people and the supporters of Tonga’s rugby if I had any shortcomings as captain I believe that it was for the country’s own wellbeing and also for the players. My apologies, as they say “ Ko e vale pe ‘a fanauâ€.
Source:http://www.pacificnationsrugby.com/home-news.aspx 04 Dec 2009

​

 

[Tau tahi]

Tonga's squad for Saxons
Notable changes in starting line up are Eddie Paea in at fullback Josh Afu in at six Pasuka Mapakaitolo in at Eight Semisi Telefoni at Hooker
and Daniel Morath at Halfback all the rest are the same.Isitolo Maka has also made a few changes to the bench.

 

[04perryo]

Telefoni at hooker wat about aleki lutui

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Telefoni at hooker wat about aleki lutui

Mentions two posts above that Lutui has been told that Tonga have moved on and will not need him.

 

[04perryo]

Oh i just saw it. personally i would have played because he his powerful and a monster

 

[Tau tahi]

41-14!!! what happened if it was the world cup squad i'll be worried.

 

[psychic duck]

I don't think Nili Latu or Hale T-Pole have done that much wrong, I strongly think that both of them should be reinstated immediately,

I understand more about Taniela Moa, lying about being ill and then playing Hawaii is disrespectful to the coach, but I still think Isitolo Maka shouldn't burn bridges, Caucau is far worse, but gets chance after chance in European rugby

Aleki Lutui should play as well, he's better than Telefoni who is more of a prop than hooker really

 

[04perryo]

definatly agree with you there

 

[brynylon]

Dont be concerned-there are many other players available for the World Cup squad.