Tonga off to a flyer
Celebration time: Tonga number 8 Finau MakaMONTPELLIER, 12 September - A muscular performance by Tonga brought the USA back to earth as the Pacific islanders registered their first victory of the IRB Rugby World Cup and their first world cup win since 1999.
Tonga's 25-15 victory was set up in the opening 20 minutes when they raced to a 13-0 lead. It was sealed with an individual try in the final 10 minutes when substitute forward Viliami Vaki beat off four tiring tacklers to score under the posts, just as the USA had drawn to within three points.
Tonga fly half Pierre Hola admitted to some panic in the ranks when the USA clawed their way back to trail 18-15, but captain and flanker Nili Latu took control and told the team to be patient and keep to the game plan.
"This tournament is about fronting up or going home. It's about mental toughness and we have that," Latu said.
Quick score
The Tongans went over with barely a minute gone, number 8 Finau Maka's five-pointer the fastest try in Tonga's RWC history and the second fastest at RWC 2007.
"We started very slowly. We were sort of 'deer in the headlights' in the first half, I
guess," said Eagles captain and fly half Mike Hercus.
USA coach Peter Thorburn (NZL) admitted his team's widely praised effort in the physical confrontation with England four days earlier had probably taken more out of his players than he thought.
USA prop and try-scorer Mike MacDonald said the Tonga defence was no tougher than they had faced in the England game, just a little smarter having had the benefit of video analysis.
"They probably did their homework (from USA v England): they knew the lines we were going to run and were waiting for us."
Stifled attack
He said Tonga won the game with their hard, spirited play and ability to choke off the Eagles' attack at crucial times by slowing their ball.
"What they did really well was slowing our ball up - more so than England did. Our cleaning out or rucking ability wasn't as good as we needed it to be. I think that was the main factor in the game. They slowed our ball down very effectively."
The USA forwards did their best work in settling play in the second half with a series of pick and drives around the ruck to try to tire the Tongan defence.
"When we got within three points I thought we had a chance. We thought they were tiring but silly mistakes cost us," said Hercus.
Wasted ball
While the Tongans took their chances, the Eagles squandered possession and territory with handling errors and poor decision making.
"We had territorial domination, more possession, but we were unable to score," said Hercus.
"We had the same problem against England - good situations but too many mistakes. That's a point we have to work on."
Perhaps Thorburn summed it up best in the match program: "The USA have got some very good athletes and people that have adapted to rugby very well but if you don't grow up with the game - if you don't subliminally learn the basics of the game - then, under pressure, these things break down."
RNS plr/ap/mp/mr
