Tonga vs Fiji

The Vodafone Flying Fijians hammered Tonga 36-nil in their first Pacific Nations Cup match at the HFC Bank Stadium today. The rampaging side ran in five ...

I am so grateful and honored to lead the boys.” We will go back out on Monday and train on what we have learnt from today.” “We know the Fijians were going to come hard and we knew it was going to be a tough game. The side who were in Tonga’s territory passed the ball around to get Mesulame Kunavula free who then offloaded to Vinaya Habosi for a magnificent try. Fiji who were in total command of the second half, got another try to the “Bossman” who had been working extra hard in the match looking for a try. Fly-half Teti Tela added the extras to get Fiji the perfect start.

All eyes were on controversial former Wallabies star Israel Folau who returned from league to play for Tonga in their visit to Suva.

Israel Folau's return to international rugby lasted only half an hour as his Tonga team were thrashed 36-0 by a clinical Fiji in their Pacific Nations Cup ...

Ah Wong intercepted Lalakai Foketi's pass on the Australian 22-metre line in the dying seconds and crossed unopposed for his second try to break a 26-26 deadlock. Former All Blacks centre Seta Tamanivalu also made his return to international rugby after a gap of five years from the Fiji bench in the second half. Fullback Seta Tuicuvu crossed in the 56th minute after a break from skipper Waisea Nayacalevu before winger Vinaya Habosi further enhanced his burgeoning reputation by scoring his team's fifth try on his test debut.

Fiji have dampened the hype surrounding Tonga's new all-star cast, pummelling the 'Ikale Tahi 36-0 in their Pacific Nations Cup clash in Suva.

The result lifts Fiji to the top of the Pacific Nations Cup table, one point clear of second-placed Samoa, who earlier recorded a last-gasp win against Australia A at ANZ National Stadium. A penalty goal to fullback Seta Tuicuvu, kicking in the absence of Tela, gave Fiji a comprehensive 22-0 lead at half-time. Even with the numerical advantage, the Tongans struggled to capitalise as their forwards battled to match the physicality of their Fijian counterparts at the set piece and failed to capitalise on the ill-discipline of their opponents.

Folau sustained a leg injury during the first half of the Test; The former Wallabies back was sacked by Rugby Australia in 2019; Folau was one of nine Tongan ...

That fire power was not enough to hold out Fiji, who was playing a Test at home for the first time in almost three years. Folau left the field with a leg injury in the 27th minute and was replaced by Tima Fainga'anuku, who made his debut for Tonga on the same day his brother Leicester was due to make his Test debut for New Zealand against Ireland. Folau took the field on the right wing for Tonga in his first Test since 2019.