Tonga stun France
1 Oct 2011
Tonga picked up a shock 19-14 win over France, but it wasn’t enough for a quarter-final qualifying spot in Pool A.
Just like Samoa’s showing against the Springboks on Friday, Tonga delivered a brave performance in their final World Cup fixture in Wellington. However, they’d be kicking themselves for their disappointing upset defeat to Canada earlier the tournament as it proved costly at the end of their campaign.
Tonga had to achieve a bonus-point win with a deficit of more than seven points against France to advance to the second round. While they recorded a win, they couldn’t score four tries and a late Vincent Clerc try secured France a losing bonus point. Tonga had the opportunities to achieve their goal, but poor finishing and decision making in the French red zone – especially in the second half – saw them fall short.
This will see France go through to the quarter-finals – but you’ll have to question how far Marc Lievremont’s men will go. They’ve failed to impress against the stronger nations in Pool A while there have been talks of team infighting. The defeat to Tonga will intensify criticism.
Tonga performed well in the first stanza to hold a 13-6 lead at half-time. After flyhalf Kurt Morath and scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili traded penalties, it was wing Sukanaivalu Hufanga’s try in the corner that was the telling score in the opening 40. But Tonga finished the first stanza with 14 men after Hufanaga was yellow carded in the 39th minute for a dangerous tackle.
France could only add one penalty with their one-man advantage in the second half. Once Tonga returned to 15 men, they regained the ascendancy and created numerous scoring opportunities – which mostly came through Morath’s boot.
France also picked up a sin binning when reserve flyhalf Fabrice Estebanez was punished for a tip tackle – which made Tonga’s task of sealing the win easier. Wing Clerc dotted down in the final movement of the match, but it wasn’t enough to stop one of the big upsets of this year’s World Cup.
By Gareth Duncan
190 Comments
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1 Oct 2011, 12:01 pm
given that france were humbled by tonga does this mean the all blacks victory is cheapened/not as impressive?? the choke to end all chokes is still very much on!!!
1 Oct 2011, 12:13 pm
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-145:
I don’t remember caring what you thought.
But as it happens I thought the AB’s game v the French was classy. Still do.
The team that went out today v the Tongans was woeful. But at the same time Tonga showed today their rally in the second half of the opening match v NZ was underrated..
1 Oct 2011, 12:28 pm
Hopefully, Lievremont is set to lose his job in less than a month. The guy is a strange alchemist : manages to turn gold into shite
1 Oct 2011, 12:28 pm
@ulsterrugger(ulsterrugger)-151:
Yes you are correct. Nowhere near as impressive.Much like 2007 where SA did not play any decent teams to win the RWC.
Based on your impressive soothsaying I recooment you sell your house and put the money on a bet that excludes NZ being a winner.
Time is running short though. Best get in while the odds are stacked in your corner.
1 Oct 2011, 12:33 pm
@Brads(Brads)-154:
we beat the teams that beat the teams that beat your boys.
That’s knockout rugby.
And you sucked at it.
No dry your eyes.
1 Oct 2011, 12:42 pm
@Brads(Brads)-154: Means you guys were atrocious to be beaten by bad teams, meaning by your logic there were no decent teams for SA to face in ’07
1 Oct 2011, 12:52 pm
@Gunther(gunther)-155: @Michael(mikeybrass)-156:
You miss my irony. deal with it
1 Oct 2011, 13:00 pm
@Brads(Brads)-157:
you irony is impressive.
but it seems as if you are comparing apples with um er artichokes.
we’ll help you as much as you can.
but you have to want to help yourself.
1 Oct 2011, 13:20 pm
Oh no doubt this puts the France All Choke game into perspective. Why is the coach experimenting with scrumhalves playing flyhalf in a world cup game? Moron. France are not a happy side.
And haaa at the Dan Carter injury. Collin Slade, ewww.
1 Oct 2011, 13:52 pm
This is surely the end for lievremont in what has been years and years of mediocrity. Ive said it before and il say it again this is the poorest standard of teams accross the board i have seen in a long while. No team has been outstanding – none! And who has been the star of the tournament again nobody.
The overall standard was poor in 2003 as well but this is a close second.
1 Oct 2011, 14:10 pm
160 – dquinn25 – people like you destroy the spirit of the game of rugby with your endless depracations and comfortable armchair critisim – Sean Fitzpatrick is highly impressed with the Boks and so are several other former internationals – Fiji captain said (pre-Frans Steyn) injury Boks were the team of the tournament and better than they were in 2007 – agreement from former international forwards Dalagglio and Livremont – Ireland/Wales/NZ all very formdidable – Pacific Islanders coming along and playing their hearts out …
These people all don’t know what they’re talking about and don’t live up to your high fantasy standards – I suppose in your book Frans Steyn is an ordinary place kicker, Schalk an ordinary tackler and Sonny Boy Williams has ordinary offloads, etc. etc. etc.
Get a life …
1 Oct 2011, 14:13 pm
@dquinn25(dquinn25)-160:
Agree. The coaches have been brain dead. Martin Johnson leaves Wilkinson on in a tight game, even though he is missing every single kick he attempts and only brings Flood on because of Tindall’s injury in the last 10. Henry has been playing players out of position all tournament, Deans forgets he had a bench against Ireland, Lievremont playing a scrumhalf at flyhalf.
This has no doubt been the most miserable World Cup in memory. When both sides come out it is supposed to be epic, but no. Instead we have some half naked maori blowing on a piece of wood trying to look exotic. After the Anthems and seconds away from kick off when the blood is pumping, we are greeted with ‘I got a feeling, that tonights gonna be a good night, that tonights gonna be a good good night…” Way to ruin a great atmosphere.
1 Oct 2011, 14:16 pm
@Kobus Kitty(Kobus Kitty)-162:
Way to ruin the world cup atmosphere *
1 Oct 2011, 14:29 pm
@J.B. Cowper(J.B. Cowper)-161: If you think these Boks are superior to the ones of 2007 then it is you who has no clue! Where did i mention any of those players in my post? Nowhere numb nuts! Im simply stating that in comparison to previous world cups. It is you that needs to ‘get a life’ and stop reading so much into posts so much that you start making up parts in your own head to justify your pathetic response!
1 Oct 2011, 14:35 pm
@Brads(Brads)-152: by the same line of thought then – who gives a toss what you think.
1 Oct 2011, 15:00 pm
Well, that puts NZ performance in perspective. Canada beats Tonga, draws with Japan. Tonga beats France. Mmmm.
1 Oct 2011, 15:14 pm
164 – dquinn25 – fine you idiot – you know more than the Fiji captain who played against both Bok teams – then and now – you know everything; have another beer
1 Oct 2011, 15:49 pm
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-165:
You do. simply by responding.
Without a jot of argument to add value to your repost I have to point out.
1 Oct 2011, 15:50 pm
@J.B. Cowper(J.B. Cowper)-167: The Fiji team is a lot weaker than 4 years ago d@ck head! Hes hardly going to say oh ‘yeah this years Boks are very ordinary in comparison to 4 years ago’ its called sportsmanship hes just bigging them up doenst actually mean he believes what hes saying. Its like someone saying ‘this NZ team is the best in history’ when it clearly isnt – read between the lines you moron
1 Oct 2011, 15:52 pm
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-166:
So if NZ thrash Canada tomorrow, where does your Mmmm shift to?
1 Oct 2011, 16:06 pm
How boring is this thread then eh? Who cares people. new Zeland are going to crash out in the semis anyway. Without Carter theyre stuffed. Richie carrying an injury, and Read on thin ice.
1 Oct 2011, 16:17 pm
@Brads(Brads)-170: Depends by how much. If by 40, mmm, if by 60 mmmmmm, if by 100, mmmmmmmmmmmmm.
A nothing game for both teams.
1 Oct 2011, 16:21 pm
@TheAgent(TheAgent)-172: yeah my issue with this WC thing is there are wayyyyy too many mmmm games. No consequence ridiculous mismatches. Really should only be 3 max 4 teams per pool. or fewer pools so we have 3 pools of 4 teams.
Whole thing is drawn out ridiculously and the pool stages are a bit of a formality. Good the minnows get to play some big games but apart from that a bit nonsensical.
1 Oct 2011, 16:33 pm
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-173: Agree. Have a WC for the top 10 teams, and let teams 11-20 compete for the other 2 places. Sort of a mini WC a year before the WC. Then have 2 groups of 6 teams. Each play each other, top 2 from each go through to semi.
1 Oct 2011, 17:08 pm
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-171: only one one side playing to form the ABs,carter out,isn’t going to stop them winning the WC,on form who’s going to beat them?
1 Oct 2011, 17:16 pm
169.dquinn25
OK God – you know more than the guy who played both teams; whatever you say …
1 Oct 2011, 17:26 pm
@J.B. Cowper(J.B. Cowper)-176: Tw@t!
1 Oct 2011, 18:32 pm
177.dquinn25
Brain surgeon …
1 Oct 2011, 19:09 pm
Graham Henry has taken enough cues from PdVs book. Carter and McCaw get rests after each game all in the name of injury.
1 Oct 2011, 19:31 pm
@J.B. Cowper(J.B. Cowper)-178: Lol yeah id advise for yourself d@ck head a full labotomy!
1 Oct 2011, 19:57 pm
@dermie(dermie)-175: Springboks doffie
1 Oct 2011, 21:58 pm
180.dquinn25
You can’t even spell you dumg fu$k and, even worse, you’re not original – so f&ck off and stop wasting my time
1 Oct 2011, 22:09 pm
@Slumtown(Slumtown)-145: Not “beat” them. Thrashed them. By 20.
1 Oct 2011, 23:07 pm
@TheTackler(TheTackler)-183: yes bud like we did just over a year ago to much the same strength team – 12 June 2010 Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa 42 – 17 by 25 points. Highlighting my point – theyre useless – Australia gave them a real thrashing end of last year. Theyre just useless under Lievremont. Kiwis got upset with me cos I was pissed at France for playing such a lame game and said that the Kiwis shouldnt read too much into that result. I stand by that viewpoint. New Zealand still have not been tested by a decent team this cup. Doubt if next weeks QF will be any different. Argies are playing some dodgy rugby this year.
1 Oct 2011, 23:19 pm
Thats it – Dan Carter ruled out of rest of Rugby World Cup – massive blow for New Zealand. Slade is not going to cut the mustard. If they continue with injuries to Read and Richie theyre in big poop. We may have lost Frans but in comparison to Oz and Nz were looking pretty flush.
2 Oct 2011, 00:34 am
@J.B. Cowper(J.B. Cowper)-182: Lol what your precious time wanking over *** porn! Your a f@cking w@nker go and die slow!
2 Oct 2011, 11:45 am
186.dquinn25
Now it’s become hate mail you stupid psycho – what has porn got to do with rugby unless in your shallow no-purpose world; you probably spend your whole day in front of the computer – once again, get a life ****.
2 Oct 2011, 13:00 pm
@J.B. Cowper(J.B. Cowper)-187: Well you did start it all f@uck nuts! Bit off more than you can chew!
2 Oct 2011, 22:33 pm
188.dquinn25
All right call a truce … the truth is I was fully freaked out by the injury to Frans Steyn and ready to have a go with anyone who wanted … so I caused the fight with you in the first place and threw the first punch – and from then on acted like a brat
I actually quite enjoyed our spate which I think was a draw – that said, apologies are due … go well; enjoy the rest of the competition
2 Oct 2011, 23:01 pm
@J.B. Cowper(J.B. Cowper)-189: Ifeel your pain! steyn is a huge loss, he adds security with his kicks from hand and is always a threat to opposition if they give away penalties from 55-60 metres. Morne Steyn is also capable of booting long kicks though so there is that hope. Lets hope Jean DV regains some form as he has been disappointing these last few seasons but is a very capable player in fact at one time he would have ben regarded as the best centre along with Fourie in the world. Heres hoping the Boks take Australia which they should be capable of. I really feel NZ have lost around 50% of their threat with Carters loss and are there for the taking, if i was a New Zealander i would feel sick as this WC could have been there for the taking but without Carter im sure they will crumble at some stage. I do feel that this world cup has been lower in standards to past competitions, the state of some of the pacific nations was terrible at this cup as were the likes of Scotland and Namibia,Argentina aint playing too great either but they lost a few greats to retirement at the last world cup and have slowly declined.
Yes i apologise too for my stupid comments, enjoy the tournament heres hoping the Boks take it they have the players heres hoping they find the form. Il likely see you on another board some time. Take care
Dave
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