Tonga beat Fiji

Was not expecting that at all...

http://www.irb.com/pacificnationscup/news/newsid=2044392.html#tonga+equal+best+ever+ranking+after+fiji

Its a poor Fiji team I'm not surprised.

O was it. Disappointed now...

I'm not surprised by the win, it's the scoreline that I was shocked by. Tonga have played 3 games with each other already this summer and while they are still a few players short of their strongest side, this Fiji side was well short, especially in the pack.

Fiji are a side that grow with more time together and were always likely to suffer in the first game.

I'll be very surprised if FIji look remotely like qualifying from their pool this time around. Wales will still be hurting from last time, the quality of players isn;t as good IMO and I think they'll ship two or three heavy defeats in the pool stages.

I don't know Stag. They get their easiest game up first with Namibia and then South Africa next which most likely is a definite loss, so with those two out of the way, they then have the target of the two most important games if they want to qualify.

I would say that this time around, they will actually have a better tight five than 4 years ago. Back row is still strong. The only real problem will be at scrum half.

I'm still backing Samoa to be the strongest challenger to Wales, though I'm not ruling out Fiji.

Just looking at the fixtures and something is going to work in Wales' favour big time. Samoa play Namibia and then just 4 days later will have to play Wales.

Good for Tonga - sounds like they are well placed to give a Lievremont handicapped France a good game.

fEs,

That is something I've been thinking about myself. I don't think it will happen but they could certainly push them very close. A lot of it will depend how condescending France are towards them when they go out to play and who decides to represent Tonga at this World Cup as there are still quite a few question marks.

Whats Tongas best possible team? If every single player who could/would/should play for them decided to?

MBTGOG wrote:fEs,

That is something I've been thinking about myself. I don't think it will happen but they could certainly push them very close. A lot of it will depend how condescending France are towards them when they go out to play and who decides to represent Tonga at this World Cup as there are still quite a few question marks.

Exactly, and by then Lievremont will probably have the entire French back division rotating around Pallison, with Traille back at 15 and Chabal at openside. It's their last group match and they'll have just faced NZ (so will likely know in their own minds whether they're looking at 1st or 2nd in the group), hopefully they'll treat it as a dead rubber ahead of the QFs, and slip up.

I'm not saying this because I'm anti-France. Far from it - I seriously hope the NH has a good showing this time round. I just like to see an upset, and Lievremont needs to go after the WC. Worst outcome for France is if he does just enough to keep his job.

Okay Stag, I'll give it a try. If anyone disagrees, then leave me alone-

1. Tonga'Uiha
2. Ma'asi
3. Pulu
4. Mafi
5. Timani
6. Hala'ufia
7. Latu
8. Ma'Afu

9. Fisilau
10. Morath
11. Iongi
12. Kefu
13. Piutau
14. Fatafehi
15. Malupo

In the backs, there are still players like Vuna, Taniela Moa, Ahoe'tilea and Pakalani. In the pack, there's Maka, Vaha'falou, Fa'aoso and Tuineau.

Crumbs - are you making these names up!

I recognise very few of these guys, but then again, I have the same feeling each time Lievremont names his squads.

My knowledge is very limited on Islands players, they play in the Islands, Japan, France etc and it's very hard to gauge their talent.
All you really need is a good set piece and a strict referee for dangerous tackles... oh and a good supply of body bags for the actual game.

Good on Tonga beating Fiji though they seemed to have slipped behind in recent years.

I'll go through them fEs.


1. Tonga'Uiha- Northampton prop. I think we all know his quality.
2. Ma'asi- Hooker for Counties Manukau. Probably a weakness. I like Lutui more personally but don't think he will be selected.
3. Pulu- Perpignan prop who does a decent job on both sides.
4. Mafi- Leicester lock who showed up well for the Tigers after signing mid-season.
5. Timani- Starting Waratahs lock, who looked very impressive.
6. Hala'ufia- London Irish back rower.
7. Latu- Captained them last time around. Abrasive openside.
8. Ma'Afu- Started for the Blues last year and was probably their best player. Had to leave due to some idiotic rule, which has now been removed.

9. Fisilau- Another Counties Manukau player, who I rate quite highly. Big strong player.
10. Morath- Decent out half, who has a good boot.
11. Iongi- Impressive throughout the Churchill Cup.
12. Kefu- The Toulon centre.
13. Piutau- Counties Manukau player, who played very well for the Highlanders this year.
14. Fatafehi- Big winger who played for North Harbour and has signed for Lyon next season.
15. Malupo-

MBTGOG how on earth can you know all their players?
You must be a rugby almanac!

MBTGOG wrote:I'll go through them fEs.


1. Tonga'Uiha- Northampton prop. I think we all know his quality.
2. Ma'asi- Hooker for Counties Manukau. Probably a weakness. I like Lutui more personally but don't think he will be selected.
3. Pulu- Perpignan prop who does a decent job on both sides.
4. Mafi- Leicester lock who showed up well for the Tigers after signing mid-season.
5. Timani- Starting Waratahs lock, who looked very impressive.
6. Hala'ufia- London Irish back rower.
7. Latu- Captained them last time around. Abrasive openside.
8. Ma'Afu- Started for the Blues last year and was probably their best player. Had to leave due to some idiotic rule, which has now been removed.

9. Fisilau- Another Counties Manukau player, who I rate quite highly. Big strong player.
10. Morath- Decent out half, who has a good boot.
11. Iongi- Impressive throughout the Churchill Cup.
12. Kefu- The Toulon centre.
13. Piutau- Counties Manukau player, who played very well for the Highlanders this year.
14. Fatafehi- Big winger who played for North Harbour and has signed for Lyon next season.
15. Malupo-

Crikey. I'm sick of these South Sea Island nations poaching all those Kiwis!

So by the paperrock scissors ranking method they are now above Wales.Wow

The same method that had us better than the All Blacks last WC? [France being the scissors]

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:So by the paperrock scissors ranking method they are now above Wales.Wow

Lol, I checked the IRB world rankings before I realised you meant that Fiji and Samoa had beaten Wales so Tonga are better now!

AlynDavies wrote:MBTGOG how on earth can you know all their players?
You must be a rugby almanac!

AD, he just made them up, knowing were too lazy to check

On a side note its nice to see so many other teams playing games. Zimbabwe playing Uganda, Madagascar, Sweden, etc etc

None will trouble the major powers anytime soon, but it shows our great sport is growing nicely around the world.

GeordieFalcon wrote:On a side note its nice to see so many other teams playing games. Zimbabwe playing Uganda, Madagascar, Sweden, etc etc

None will trouble the major powers anytime soon, but it shows our great sport is growing nicely around the world.

It's worth noting Zimbabwe have in fact won a test series against New Zealand
Ooooooooooh I love posting that!

I was trying to think...who was the Zimbabwe Tight Head who played for them in the 1992 world cup then went to play for South Africa...big fella.

AlynDavies wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:On a side note its nice to see so many other teams playing games. Zimbabwe playing Uganda, Madagascar, Sweden, etc etc

None will trouble the major powers anytime soon, but it shows our great sport is growing nicely around the world.

It's worth noting Zimbabwe have in fact won a test series against New Zealand
Ooooooooooh I love posting that!

Are you Welsh? Everybody needs something to post...