RWC: Tonga - Japan (21-09-2011, 19:30)

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Okara Park, Whangarei (21-09-2011, 19:30)

Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
​

[TABLE="class: grid"]
[TR][TD] Tonga [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] Japan [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Vungakoto Lilo [/TD][TD] 15 [/TD][TD] Shaun Webb [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Fetu'u Vainikolo [/TD][TD] 14 [/TD][TD] Kosuke Endo [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Siale Piutau [/TD][TD] 13 [/TD][TD] Alisi Tuluailai [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Alipate Fatafehi [/TD][TD] 12 [/TD][TD] Ryan Nicholas [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Sukanaivalu Hufanga [/TD][TD] 11 [/TD][TD] Hirotoki Onozawa [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Kurt Morath [/TD][TD] 10 [/TD][TD] James Arlidge [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Taniela Moa [/TD][TD] 9 [/TD][TD] Fumiaki Tanaka [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Viliami Ma'afu [/TD][TD] 8 [/TD][TD] Takashi Kikutani (c) [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Sione Vaiomounga [/TD][TD] 7 [/TD][TD] Michael Leitch [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Sione Kalamafoni [/TD][TD] 6 [/TD][TD] Iratu Tanaguchi [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Paino Hehea [/TD][TD] 5 [/TD][TD] Toshizumi Kitagawa [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Tukulua Lokotui [/TD][TD] 4 [/TD][TD] Luke Thompson [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Taufa'ao Filise [/TD][TD] 3 [/TD][TD] Kensuke Hatakeyama [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Aleki Lutui [/TD][TD] 2 [/TD][TD] Shota Horie [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Soane Tonga'uiha [/TD][TD] 1 [/TD][TD] Hisateru Hirashima [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Aloisio Ma'asi [/TD][TD] 16 [/TD][TD] Yusuke Aoki [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Alisona Taumalolo [/TD][TD] 17 [/TD][TD] Nozomu Fujita [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Halani Aulika [/TD][TD] 18 [/TD][TD] Hotishi Ono [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Joseph Tuineau [/TD][TD] 19 [/TD][TD] Sione Talikavili Vatuvei [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Samiu Vahafolau [/TD][TD] 20 [/TD][TD] Atsushi Hiwasa [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Samisoni Fisilau [/TD][TD] 21 [/TD][TD] Takehisa Usuzuki [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Andrew Ma'ilei [/TD][TD] 22 [/TD][TD] Murray Williams [/TD][/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[M Two One]

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

AUCKLAND, 19 Sept. - Japan head coach John Kirwan on Monday announced his team to play their third Pool A match against Tonga at Northland Events Centre, Whangarei on Wednesday, 21 September.
Japan:
1. Hisateru Hirashima
2. Shota Horie
3. Kensuke Hatakeyama
4. Luke Thompson
5. Toshizumi Kitagawa
6. Itaru Taniguchi
7. Michael Leitch
8. Takashi Kikutani (c)
9. Fumiaki Tanaka
10. James Arlidge
11. Hirotoki Onozawa
12. Ryan Nicholas
13. Alisi Tupuailai
14. Kosuke Endo
15. Shaun Webb
Replacements:
16. Yusuke Aoki
17. Nozomu Fujita
18. Hitoshi Ono
19. Sione Talikavili Vatuvei
20. Atsushi Hiwasa
21. Takehisa Usuzuki
22. Murray Williams
RNS bm/jf

 

[cardassian]

You've put the Japanese team under Tonga in the OP.

Really torn on this one, like to support our pacific brothers but really like Japan as well. (had a great time there when I visited).
Should be a good game with Tonga trying to out muscle the Japanese and Japan looking to spread the ball wide at every opportunity.

Go rugby!!!

 

[LittleGuy]

I'm cheering for Tonga since they didn't throw in the towel vs. New Zealand like Japan did and I really want their fans to go away with some kind of a victory at the RWC.

 

[Shaggy]

Tongan team according to the BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/14812433.stm

Tonga: Vungakoto Lilo, Fetu'u Vainikolo, Siale Piutau, Alipate Fatafehi, Sukanaivalu Hufanga, Kurt Morath, Taniela Moa; Soane Tonga'uiha, Aleki Lutui (captain), Taufa'ao Filise, Tukulua Lokotui, Paino Hehea, Sione Kalamafoni, Sione Vaiomo'unga, Viliami Ma'afu.Replacements: Aloisio Ma'asi, Alisona Taumalolo, Halani Aulika, Joseph Tu'ineau, Samiu Vahafolau, Samisoni Fisilau, Andrew Ma'ilei.

PS ... Zeq, I think you have the whole Japanese side defecting to Tonga in your starting thread graphic

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Fixed

 

[Shaggy]

Fixed

Cool, ... you don't trust my source for the Tongan starting line up then

... that's okay, i'm not that sure either, as there are inaccuracies in the rest of the article

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Well, I only add them when they are released on the RWC official site

 

[Shaggy]

Well, I only add them when they are released on the RWC official site

... very wise

...... Can't decide who will win this one, I think i'll go with Tonga by 7 or less - should be a great game ... my blog on this one is being published soon

 

[Lusia]

This is going to be a good game...I think Tonga may edge out the brave blossoms who suffered a big loss in losing their number 8 forward Holani, a strong ball carrying forward. I believe this game may be the game Soane Tonga'uiha shines. He had a brilliant season with Northampton and has yet to really show his abilities in this world cup.
I believe Tonga played an A side against Canada and suffered for it. Not many people have mentioned that in the media and a lot of people are favouring the brave blossoms based on their performance against the French. I think Tonga will win well hopefully earning themselves a bonus point and show some form heading into their final pool game against the French. I hope the Japanese win final game against the Canadians in the following week, that game will be a cracker.

Please Tonga tackle, tackle, tackle hahaha

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Both teams have been announced by now:

[TABLE="class: grid"]
[TR][TD] Tonga [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] Japan [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Vungakoto Lilo [/TD][TD] 15 [/TD][TD] Shaun Webb [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Fetu'u Vainikolo [/TD][TD] 14 [/TD][TD] Kosuke Endo [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Siale Piutau [/TD][TD] 13 [/TD][TD] Alisi Tuluailai [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Alipate Fatafehi [/TD][TD] 12 [/TD][TD] Ryan Nicholas [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Sukanaivalu Hufanga [/TD][TD] 11 [/TD][TD] Hirotoki Onozawa [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Kurt Morath [/TD][TD] 10 [/TD][TD] James Arlidge [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Taniela Moa [/TD][TD] 9 [/TD][TD] Fumiaki Tanaka [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Viliami Ma'afu [/TD][TD] 8 [/TD][TD] Takashi Kikutani (c) [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Sione Vaiomounga [/TD][TD] 7 [/TD][TD] Michael Leitch [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Sione Kalamafoni [/TD][TD] 6 [/TD][TD] Iratu Tanaguchi [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Paino Hehea [/TD][TD] 5 [/TD][TD] Toshizumi Kitagawa [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Tukulua Lokotui [/TD][TD] 4 [/TD][TD] Luke Thompson [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Taufa'ao Filise [/TD][TD] 3 [/TD][TD] Kensuke Hatakeyama [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Aleki Lutui [/TD][TD] 2 [/TD][TD] Shota Horie [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Soane Tonga'uiha [/TD][TD] 1 [/TD][TD] Hisateru Hirashima [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][TD] [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Aloisio Ma'asi [/TD][TD] 16 [/TD][TD] Yusuke Aoki [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Alisona Taumalolo [/TD][TD] 17 [/TD][TD] Nozomu Fujita [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Halani Aulika [/TD][TD] 18 [/TD][TD] Hotishi Ono [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Joseph Tuineau [/TD][TD] 19 [/TD][TD] Sione Talikavili Vatuvei [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Samiu Vahafolau [/TD][TD] 20 [/TD][TD] Atsushi Hiwasa [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Samisoni Fisilau [/TD][TD] 21 [/TD][TD] Takehisa Usuzuki [/TD][/TR]
[TR][TD] Andrew Ma'ilei [/TD][TD] 22 [/TD][TD] Murray Williams [/TD][/TR]
[/TABLE]

 

[Canucks]

I'm cheering for Japan as I get a very bad vibe from the Tongans. It might have to do with their coach Maka's comments after the Canada match. I don't think Tonga played their A team, as numerous posters stated Tonga changed their side to a very attacking side because they felt they could break down the Canadian defense while the team that played the All Blacks was a side meant for defense.
I say this as a Saints fan, Tonga'huia is not a player who elevates his teammates but rather a player who is elevated by his teammates. Not a knock against him, but he plays best when he can feed off of someone. Whether or not he can find that in Tonga with all their changes recently remains to be seen.
As well, Tonga looked lacksidasical on any turnover or counterattacking opportunity. I expect Japan, who live and die by their ability to speard the ball wide and counterattack, will hurt the Tongans if they aren't careful.
I expect Tonga to, like the Canada game, run a lot of crashes at the centers, especially with Fatafehi drawing the Japanese defenders in and keep the ball in the forwards.

 

[RuckinGoodStats]

Pre game stats for #Tonga v Japan.

Kickers in #RWC2011 #Tonga Morath 67% (6 from 9). Japan Alridge 4 from 6, Willimas 1 from 1.

Concerning #Tonga average #RWC2011 stats:Miss 1 in 4 tacks,18.5 lost possessions/turnovers (4.5@ruck 6 hand errs) 8 pens (2 in poss,5@ruck)

Concerning #Japan average #RWC2011 stats:Miss 1 in 3 tacks,22 lost poss/turnovers (3@ruck 10.5 hand errs) 11.5 pens (1.5 in poss,3.5@ruck)

Average #RWC2011 stats #Tonga want to continue:6.5 linebreaks 5 offloads 0.5 intercepts 0.5 charge downs broke 15 tackles (3 in OPP's 22)

Average #RWC2011 stats #Japan want to continue:8.5 linebreaks 5 offloads 2.5 intercepts 0.5 charge downs broke 13.5 tackles (2 in OPP's 22)


Ref Pearson #RWC2011 ave per game: 2.5 scrum resets, 3 scrum infringes 20.5 pens (11.5@ruck, 5.5 in 22) 10.5 were pen kicks

Pearson #RWC2011 ranking from 10 refs (1 most/highest): 1st​ for scrum F/K 9th​ for scrum pen. 8th​ for scrum resets 7th​ for pens

Pearson favours left side of field for awarding penalty kicks at goal penalties. He award's 62% more on left than the right side #RWC2011

 

[SelimNiai]

Good start from the Tongans, heavy pressure and a deserved try.

 

[Moody Fool]

....

Wow. Don't understand the TMO on that one.

 

[Muzzy]

Damn and i was hoping this would be the first time in 4 years were Japan DIDN'T get a controversial try against Tonga

 

[SelimNiai]

Japan hit back with try of their own although I think it was a double movement.

5-5 after 14 mins

Edit: As I'm posting Tonga score straight from the kickoff with a blatent forward pass

12-5

 

[Tricia McMillan]

Just chipping in that I don't think the Japanese try was valid either. You can reach out with your arms to touch the ball down in the in-goal area, but you can't wiggle your body forward. That's called rabbiting and is a form of double movement.

 

[Moody Fool]

This game is sloppy as hell. But fun.

Can't wait for Canada to play Japan. Their backs will make it very exciting.