Debut for Jordan Taufua!

Tumua Manu also at 12. Samoa starting to build some nice depth in their squad.

@African-Monkey Yup, Tonga on the other hand have dropped all their nation-hopping stars.

I assume that Havili wasn't a success at 1st 5 either?

Congrats to Jordan Taufua.

9 making their debut in a test that could be tight. Some very good players in there for Manu Samoa. Hopefully they can bring it together.

@Bovidae W. Havili wasn’t great at 10 last week and the Fijian forwards really targeted him. Probably a better fullback anyway.

@ACT-Crusader The number of Samoan debutants is much smaller. They forgot to remove the asterisk from the players who debuted last week.

@Stargazer Do they count games against Aus A as Tests?

@Dice Not sure. There was a match last weekend (or the weekend before) where a country's first team played another countries second team, and the first counted it as caps, the second didn't. It may have been another match though, I can't quite remember which match it was. It may have been Chile v Scotland A, too.

@Bovidae said in Manu Samoa v Tonga (Pacific Nations Cup):

I assume that Havili wasn't a success at 1st 5 either?

Nope. Bit tough considering he’d played all Super Rugby at 15.

@Dice said in Manu Samoa v Tonga (Pacific Nations Cup):

@Stargazer Do they count games against Aus A as Tests?

I am pretty sure I read that they don’t.

The race is on for the Samoa loosies before the RWC, with Motuga and Stowers also waiting in the wings, and McFarland being a star for Saracens this year.

We're starting to see the benefit of Moana Pasifika being in Super Rugby with Samoa and hopefully Tonga as well despite last week.

@African-Monkey said in Manu Samoa v Tonga (Pacific Nations Cup):

The race is on for the Samoa loosies before the RWC, with Motuga and Stowers also waiting in the wings, and McFarland being a star for Saracens this year.

We're starting to see the benefit of Moana Pasifika being in Super Rugby with Samoa and hopefully Tonga as well despite last week.

Interesting to see Fritz Lee back, haven’t seen him in ages. I wonder if Steven Luatua is going to make himself available? Also Lima Sopoaga.

@TheMojoman Lee has been playing very well for Clermont the last few years, often captaining the side in the Top 14.

A backrow of Luatua, Lam and Taufua sounds awesome.

@Stargazer said in Manu Samoa v Tonga (Pacific Nations Cup):

@TheMojoman Lee has been playing very well for Clermont the last few years, often captaining the side in the Top 14.

A backrow of Luatua, Lam and Taufua sounds awesome.

Lee's been pretty impressive since he left NZ. Some Clermont fans say he's their best import player ever.

I'd say Motuga is definitely ahead of Lam.

Forgot this game was this early

Surprised by the score 18-3 to Tonga after 30mins

Tonga looked disorganised last week.. I assume they’ve been good today? Or were the scores against the run of play?

Plenty of NZ coaches and support staff in both the Samoan and Tongan camps.

I missed the start of the game but the Tongan scrum is dominating. Samoa have been on attack but haven't taken their chances. Both Tongan tries have been through good attacking play.

Perfect conditions for running rugby.

HT: 18-10.

31 unanswered points to Samoa since I started watching

Conceding 2 quick tries while Poloniati was in the bin started the capitulation. The lineout started to misfire as well.

When Tameifuna was on the field the Tongan scrum was dominant. Paea is a big drop from Takulua. They missed his leadership too.

Good to see Tumua score one. He ran from deep to get that intercept.

A familiar try celebration.

@Dice I wish I knew how to make gifs like that.

@Dice was good timing by Tumua. A laboured pass but Tumua was on the spot to take it.

Thought the Tongan attack really suffered with some poor organisation.

Impressed by the mauling by both sides.