Tonga get breakdown right

Tonga 31 Japan 18:THE WEEK of hard graft spent improving Tonga's competitiveness at the breakdown paid off for coach Isitolo Maka yesterday as he watched his huge pack preserve their slim hopes of a first World Cup quarter-final.

Tonga were too big and too strong for Japan at the Northland Events Centre as they powered their way to a 31-18 Pool A victory, claiming nine turnovers at the breakdown without giving up one.

“I think that was the big turning point, we made a lot of turnovers out of it because our tacklers were not just making their tackles but up on their feet and putting pressure on them,” said Maka.

The huge pack was expertly led by outhalf Kurth Morath, who kicked 16 points and kept the Tongan attacks driving up the middle of Japan’s defence, another ploy Maka said his side had worked on.

“The reason why we went with Morath at outhalf tonight because we wanted to keep it around our big forward pack not to run them around all the time,” Maka said.

As Tonga ploughed away on their training drills over the week since they lost to Canada, Japan were resting weary bodies having been beaten heavily by hosts and tournament favourites New Zealand on Friday.

Maka acknowledged the rest period, a contentious issue amongst the second and third tier nations at the World Cup, had been a big factor. “The seven days break really, really helped us.”

Tonga will enjoy an even longer break before they take on France in Wellington on October 1st where they could, if results go their way, have a chance of reaching the last eight.

“We have one more game left and we have nothing to lose, especially to play against a team like France,” added Maka.

TONGA: Tonga’uiha, Lutui, Filise, Lokotui, Hehea, Kalamafoni, Vaiomounga, Ma’afu, Moa, Morath, Hufanga, Fatafehi, Piutau, Vainikolo, Lilo. Replacements: Taumalolo for Tonga’uiha (40), Ma’asi for Lutui (47), Aulika for Filise (40), Tuineau for Hehea (65), Fisilau for Vaiomounga (64), Vahafolau for Moa (71).

JAPAN: Hirashima, Horie, Hatakeyama, Thompson, T Kitagawa, Taniguchi, Leitch, Kikutani, Tanaka, Arlidge, Onozawa, Nicholas, Tupuailei, Endo, Webb. Replacements: Fujita for Hatakeyama (67), Ono for T Kitagawa (56), Vatuvei for Taniguchi (52), Hiwasa for Tanaka (52).

Referee: Dave Pearson (RFU).