PNC - Fiji back from the brink to beat Tonga in a thriller

Fiji overcame a 28 point deficit to rein in the Ikale Tahi of Tonga to score a thrilling win this afternoon in Apia in the opening match of the second round of the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup.

Fiji punished the ill-discipline of the Tongan team - scoring 31 unanswered points when the Tongans had 14 men on the field through two separate yellow cards. Tonga looked set for a big win after scoring four tries in the first 25 minutes and with a 31-10 halftime lead, few would have tipped the Flying Fijians to recover. But when Tonga's 'Akameta Fe'ao was sent to the sin-bin in the 63rd minute, the game turned for Fiji. Down 38-20 when Tonga were down to 14 men, Fiji scored three converted tries in the 10 minute period to take a 41-38 lead and hold off a desperate Tongan team to record a stunning win.

The match got off to the worst possible start for Fiji with Tongan fullback Vungakato Lilo scoring the first of his two tries down the right hand side of the field in the second minute of the match. Lilo was in again in the 12th minute followed by  centre Alipate Fatafehi in the 19th minute. #9 Samisoni Fisilau scored Tonga's 4th try in the 25th minute and with 5/8 Kurt Morath converting all of them, Tonga had an impressive 28-0 lead early in the game.

Tonga's first yellow card of the match was issued against Vungakoto Lilo in the 27th minute and marked the beginning of Fiji's fightback. Firstly, Fullback Taniela Rawaqa kicked a penalty in the 28th minute before winger Malakai Bakaniceva scored a try, converted by Rawaqa to bring the gap back to 28-10. A penalty to Morath in the 35th minute gave the Tongans a 31-10 half time lead.

Fiji opened the second half with a try in the 45th minute when prop Campese Mafu burrowed over the line. Converted by Rawaqa, Fiji clawed back the gap to 31-17. Tonga struck back almost immediately however when second-rower Alepini Olosoni scored. Morath converted to once again give Tonga a 21 point lead - 38-17.

A penalty to Rawaqa in the 55th minute brought the score back to 38-20 before Fe'o's yellow card in the 63rd minute started a golden 10 minutes to Fiji. Tries to Bolatagane, Waraniburotu and Sekonaia Kalou, all within 10 minutes and all converted by Rawaqa, earned Fiji a famous victory.

Fiji thus head into the final round of the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup undefeated and facing the Hosts Samoa in the final match of the 2010 tournament.

Fiji captain Domoniko Waqaniburotu:


"It was a great comeback. We made a lot of mistakes in the first half but in the second half we had to comeback. Tonga was stopping us from going wide and made us play their way in the first half. We changed this in the second half and spread the ball, which paid dividends and we scored the tries."



Fiji backs coach Alfred Uluinayau:

"I'm proud of the performance of the boys. They did extremely well in the second half to beat Tonga.
We made a slow start but the boys played their hearts and managed to come back and win."

Tonga coach Isitolo Maka:

"I think indiscipline was costly to us. We had two players sin binned and that was where Fiji took advantage of us from. I'm happy with the performance of the players as they did well at the ground. Fiji was a tough team and they played another type of rugby game in the second spell."

Tonga captain Aleki Lutui: 


"We are very disappointed. The same thing from last week happened again. We improved at the set pieces and scrums but our defence was poor in the second half. Fiji came out very strong in the second half and made us pay for the lack luster performance in the second half."