Tonga (18) 31 / Japan (13) 18 (Final Score)

Tonga and Japan did battle in Whangarei at 09:30 SA Time (19:30 NZ Time).

This was the live match discussion Article.

The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.

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What a good action-packed match!

The sides went hammer and tongs from the word go, no standing back!

It was thrust and parry, defend and run… brutal but honest rugby.

Scorers:

Tonga:

• Penalties – Kurt Morath (4)
• Drop Goals – 0
• Tries – Viliafi Ma’afu (1), Tukulua Lokotui (1), Tetu’u Vainikolo (1) 
• Conversions – Kurt Morath (2)

Japan:

• Penalties – Shaun Webb (1)
• Drop Goals – 0
• Tries – Kensuke Hatakeyama (1), Michael Leitch (1), Alisi Tupuailai (1)
• Conversions – 0

Teams:

Tonga: 15 Vungakoto Lilo, 14 Fetu’u Vainikolo, 13 Siale Piutau, 12 Alipate Fatafehi, 11 Sukanaivalu Hufanga, 10 Kurt Morath, 9 Taniela Moa, 8 Viliami Ma’afu, 7 Sione Vaiomo’unga, 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 5 Paino Hehea, 4 Tukulua Lokotui, 3 Taufa’ao Filise, 2 Aleki Lutui (captain), 1 Soane Tonga’uiha.
Replacements: 16 Aloisio Ma’asi, 17 Alisona Taumalolo, 18 Halani Aulika, 19 Joseph Tu’ineau, 20 Samiu Vahafolau, 21 Samisoni Fisilau, 22 Viliame Iongi.

Japan: 15 Shaun Webb, 14 Kosuke Endo, 13 Alisi Tupuailai, 12 Ryan Nicholas, 11 Hirotoki Onozawa, 10 James Arlidge, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Takashi Kikutani (captain), 7 Michael Leitch, 6 Itaru Taniguchi, 5 Toshizumi Kitagawa, 4 Luke Thompson, 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Hisateru Hirashima.
Replacements: 16 Yusuke Aoki, 17 Nozomu Fujita, 18 Hitoshi Ono, 19 Sione Talikavili Vatuvei, 20 Atsushi Hiwasa, 21 Takehisa Usuzuki, 22 Murray Williams.

Date: Wednesday 21 September
Kick-off: 09:30 SA Time (19:30 NZ Time)
Venue: Northland Events Centre, Whangarei
Expected weather: Fine with a westerly breeze. Max 19°C, Min 9°C.
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
Assistant referees: Alain Rolland (Ireland), Stuart Terheege (England)
TMO: Giulio De Santis (Italy)