6 o'clock UK time. 4th cup of coffee. Canada's turn to take a bow; the 18th team to make an entry against a Tongan side who had been the 2nd side to start their campaign (about 40 minutes after New Zealand started theirs unfortunately). Still, much for Tongans to take away from those second 40 minutes, where if they didn't exactly rattle New Zealand, they did more than hold their own.
Canada aren't a team of massive names, though in Jamie Cudmore they have one of the, how shall I put this, more rugged second rows I've watched in recent times. Tonga made 11 changes from their first game and shifted the impressively strong scrum half Moa out one position to fly half.
First things first. What a pleasure to see Jonathan Kaplan refereeing a game.... Let me complete that sentence.
What a pleasure to see Jonathan Kaplan refereeing a game England aren't playing in.
I have an aversion to Mr Kaplan. I'll try to keep it under control.
Another sunny and windy venue, saw Tonga start strongly, winning quick ball time and again, but Canada's defence held firm, and a knock-on 5 metres out saw the early spark extinguished. This game promised a fascinating clash of styles, with the power-flare of the Tongans against the more dour and dogged Canadian game. The early stages confirmed that theory, and the closeness of the sides in the World Rankings (Tonga 12, Canada 14) hinted at a close game.
Both sides cancelled each other out in the early exchanges, with neither side really able to establish a good platform for attacking. Canada looked slightly the weaker in defence though, missing half a dozen early tackles as the Tongans looked to run the ball whenever possible, and it was slightly against the run of play when the Canucks broke the line as Tonga missed their first tackle and the ball eventually passed through both centres hands, eventually reaching the beard, sorry hands, of Sinclair the second row, and he touched down in the corner to break the deadlock. James Pritchard slotted the conversion to make it 7-0.
Sinclair's beard is Robinson Crusoe-esque, and he is not the only one, as there appear to be three equally hirsute members of the pack. I'm sure they'll look back on their image with style in future years....
From the re-start Kaplan pinged the Canadian backs for offside but Morath couldn't take advantage with his kick going wide. From the 22 though, a virtually identical penalty in a virtually identical position saw Morath miss again. 2 missed kicks from under the posts and not a Wilkinson in sight.
Tonga continued to have the Lion's share of both territory and possession, but struggled to break down a solid and well organised Canadian defence. When they threatened, Canada earned a penalty right in front of Tongan posts, and Pritchard kicked an unmissable 3 to make it 10-0. It was a strange scoreline, as Tonga looked physically the better side, but basic errors that would a schoolboy blush kept hurting them, and Canada gained confidence with each one.
I started to ask myself why Tonga, who had impressed in the second half against New Zealand, had made 11 changes to their side, as this XV were really looking a shadow of that side. Admittedly they had been awful in the first half on Friday, so maybe this was the calm before the storm once more.
A third kickable penalty, as the half drew to a close, gave Tonga a chance to close the gap, but they went into the corner. Kaplan warned the Canadians who had started to encroach a little too often at the breakdown. To their credit, they kept their discipline during the next series of Tongan phases, which must have reached 20, but to no avail, as outside centre Piutau cut through on the stroke of half time to score a try which Morath successfully converted to make it a three-point game.
Half Time: Tonga 7 Canada 10
Spurred on by the late try, Tonga started brightly and another breakdown penalty (Kaplan's card stayed in pocket but for how long?) was successfully knocked over by Morath to draw the teams level. Not for long though, as Tonga seemed determine to do things the hard way and gave Pritchard another gimme 3 as Canada edged in front once more 13-10. Van der Merwe and Kleeberger, who had by far the most impressive (or should that be ridiculous?) beard, were pulling strings for Canada, but the final pass just seemed to elude their grasp and Tonga clung to their coat-tails.
Despite the fact that there was more than half an hour to go, both sides seemed nervous. While Tonga weren't panicking, a lot of their attacks seemed confused, when they weren't knocking on that is. Finally though, as a period of concerted Tongan pressure started stretching Canada's defence, a good angle from Piutau and a scissor pass from Moa sent the former scything through under the posts to give them the lead for the first time, but only by 4 points.
Canada's Van der Merwe continued to lead the way, but tiredness was showing and with that came the handling errors. More Canadian indiscipline in their own 22 though meant more pressure on the scrum, which Tonga opted for rather than kicking at goal as they sensed weakness and tiredness. No weakness here though as Canada held the scrum and hands on the floor allowed them to clear their lines.
AS bad as Tonga had been in the first 40, they improved substantially as the game went on. Handling, kicking, tackling were all better, and it was the Canadians who were struggling to get the basics right. While there were only 4 points between the sides though, they were still in the game. No sooner said though, it was gunshot would to foot time, as, penalised for not binding in the scrum, Canada gave Morath another easy penalty, and they moved 20-13 clear.
Canada re-grouped and following a slack knock-on by Tonga, substitute Trainor made an immediate impact, bursting through the line and ensuring quick ball for No 8 Carpenter to pick up and stretch for a well-worked try. Pritchard missed his first kick of the evening though, and Canada, though back in the game, still trailed but only by 2 points. Game well and truly on!
Some good rolling maul work saw Tonga's line threatened again, as galvanised by the try, Canada looked lively again, and MacKenzie took an inside ball and burst through a static and tired Tongan defence. This game was like one of New Zealand's infamous bungee ropes, stretching one way then the other, and the conversion now saw Canada take a 5 point lead with 5 minutes to go.
Moa now moved to scrum half and some big units had entered the fray, but Tonga's decision-making throughout had been woeful. Canada held up Tongauiha and had 90 seconds to survive, with a scrum in front of their posts. Carpenter picked up, the ball was secured and the clock run down until with leaps of delight, the ball was belted into touch for a thoroughly deserved Canadian victory.
Full Time: Tonga 20 Canada 25
Tonga only have themselves to blame. Slack in every area of the game, both before the game, when their team selection suggested they were over-confident of victory, and during the game when awful handling, dreadful decision-making, weak tackling and a general lackadaisical approach, saw them struggle to gain a footing.
Canada were solid. Unspectacular in many ways, they proved that if you do your basics well, the opposition has to be on their mettle to beat you. Van der Merwe was for me the outstanding player on the pitch, slightly edging Kleeberger who got the Man of the Match award. The forward effort though did not drop one bit as the game went on, and despite having two periods where they looked very tired, they pulled through and held on.
So the World Cup has its first surprise of sorts. 14th beats 12th. Tonga should have won this on paper, and with a little more concentration they probably would. Take nothing away from Canada though, a momentous victory for the Canucks, who have a tricky task now though as they have a mere three days rest before taking on the French.
At the end of the day, this was only ever likely to be a match to decide the minor placings in Pool A, but the Canadians will no doubt come out fighting on Sunday as they attempt to cause the shock of all-time.
No comments:
Post a Comment