Fiji recorded their second victory at this year's ANZ
Pacific Nations Cup after a stunning second half come back against
Tonga in Apia.
Despite trailing 31-10 at half time, Fiji ran out eventual
41-38 victors in Apia and are now just one win away from a first
ever PNC title.
Having beaten Japan 22-8 last week, Fiji will now play Samoa
on 26 June, with a win ensuring their name will be etched on the
PNC trophy for the first time ever, whilst the result was
heartbreak for Tonga as the side again lost narrowly after losing
24-23 to Samoa in the opening round.
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With the match being streamed live on the IRB website, the
Pacific rivals were at their best and showed a level of competition
that is improving each match.
Tonga got off to a flying start as full back Vungakato Lilo
scored the match's first two tries in the opening 11 minutes
and both were converted by full back Kurt Morath to give them a
14-0 lead.
For Lilo's second, Morath placed a precise cross field
kick for wing William Helu to offload neatly for the full back to
score and stun Fiji.
12 minutes later Tonga had doubled their lead as first
Alipate Fatafehi intercepted a Fijian pass inside his own 22 before
racing 80 metres to cross under the posts and scrum half Samisoni
Fisila picked the ball up from the base of a scrum and darted over.
Tonga's opening try scorer Lilo was sent to the sin bin
on the 26th minute, however, which gave Fiji a way back into the
match before half time.
Full back Taniela Rawaqa kicked the resulting penalty, before
the impressive Sireli Naqelevuki set up wing Malakai Bakaniceva for
Fijis first try of the match. Morath added another penalty,
however, to make the scores 31-10 at half time.
After the restart Fiji scored after just four minutes, with
prop Campese Ma'afu taking advantage of excellent forward play
and Rawaqa adding the conversion, but Tonga responded immediately
through Alepini Olsson.
The lock showed great strength to score Tonga's fifth
try, beating four defenders, and Morath made it five from five
conversions.
Fiji head coach Sam Domoni made several replacements, and they
had an immediate impact as scrum half Kelemedi Bolatagane showed
excellent speed with a quick tap to make it 38-27.
Captain Dominiko Waqaniburotu scored the Fijian's fourth
try having received the ball on the wing from replacement Graham
Dewes, and Rawaqa cut the deficit to just four points with the
conversion.
With five minutes remaining Tongan hearts were broken as Fiji
completed the come back through lock Sekonaia Kalou who scored the
winnng try in the corner and Rawaqa's conversion extended his
leading all-time PNC points tally to 89.
Tonga play Japan on 26 June in their final ANZ PNC 2010 match,
whilst Fiji play Samoa at Apia Park.
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."
You can watch highlights of this match on-demand on the iRB website.