Tongan luck now primed for Samoa
October 28th 2008 08:43
Not even the biggest bucket of KFC would have satisfied Tonga if their team of stars lost against the Irish yesterday.
Yet it almost happened. Ireland were playing with pride and passion and were only eight minutes away from causing the biggest upset in the world cup so far.
A hat trick from Irish winger Damien Blanch nearly cast the men from the Emerald Isle a win away from a potential semi final playoff in a tournament they were considered no chance of winning.
Only a 40/20 kick from Eels five-eighth Feleti Mateo gave the Tongans a hard fought opening victory against an opponent they were expected to account for in relatively easy fashion.
Indeed that kick was the turning point for the Tongans as they scored the match winning try from the ensuing set with a mere eight minutes remaining in the game.
While the Irish were bitterly disappointed at being on the wrong end of such a valiant effort, Tonga were in their dressing rooms breathing a sigh of relief stronger than Hurricane Katrina.
Although Mateo was the player that got the “Mate Ma’ out of a potentially big hole, a repeat performance from the Parramatta star will not be enough when they confront Samoa in their second world cup game.
Mateo is the star of the side but there are sixteen others that need to lift their heads.
Sure, it would not surprise anyone if Tonga had an eye on their epic clash with rival nation Samoa at CUA stadium this Friday night.
With a host of NRL stars in their line-up, Tonga are expected to give this world cup a shake come the business end of the tournament, yet their performance against Ireland suggests otherwise.
Their inability to put a world cup minnow to the sword proved they have become complacent without having earned the right to be.
Indeed Tonga expected to win their opening game with little use of their fuel tank.
But at the climax of the match, they were left with nothing and coach John Dymock was thankful for the two points at the end of the day, even if his side did not release a statement of sorts to their more fancied opponents.
But now that the Irish are out of the way, watch for Tonga to put on a show against the Samoans.
Led by Mateo and Michael Jennings, Tonga have the firepower to potentially put Samoa to the sword come Friday night.
Regardless, Samoa are not here to be cannon fodder and will be eager to state their intentions in this tournament with a solid performance against their islander rivals.
With rugby leagues greatest prize on the line, let alone bragging rights, expect a few Tongan and Samoan muscles to be fairly sore at the end of what should be a brutal, albeit entertaining affair.
| 62 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
