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Tonga will face the Cook Islands after losing back to back tests against Samoa. Photo: PHOTOSPORT The Ikale Tahi capped 17 new players during tests against the All Blacks and Samoa this month, with most of their European based stars unavailable because of Covid-19 travel restrictions. Thirty players were in camp ahead of last weekend s second test against Samoa - a World Cup qualifier - in Hamilton, but injuries and unavailability have depleted their squad further, with just 27 players in the mix to play on Saturday afternoon. Hooker Siua Maile, lock Harrison Mataele and number eight Nasi Manu picked up a knock during Saturday s 37-15 defeat in Kirikiriroa, joining Solomone Funaki and Zane Kapeli on the sidelines. ....
'Anyone know any Tongans?' Toutai Kefu ringing around NZ clubs in bid to field team for test match stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Photo: RNZ Pacific/Vinnie Wylie The team was edged 31-24 by Tasman two weeks ago, in their first competitive match in three years, and outclassed 73-0 by the New Zealand Under-20s side on Saturday. Meanwhile, an understrength Ikale Tahi suffered back-to-back defeats against Manu Samoa in their World Cup qualifier. Cook Islands coach Nathan Robinson is a former Cook Islands international himself and said the squad has come a long way in the last few weeks. The cohesion has been really really good from day one, he said. In coming together more often the players will get more familiar with each other, knowing each other s work-ons, what their habits are and having these camps has definitely served its purpose and given us a bit of food for thought long term when we do play other tournaments. ....
Tonga rugby team welcome reinforcements for Hamilton test rnz.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rnz.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Tonga hung tough for 40, but had no answers after the break as their Pacific rivals took a firm grip on the match. A misfiring lineout and continuing tackling issues did not help their cause. The opening 40 had been a good old arm-wrestle, finishing more or less in a stalemate, with Samoa taking a 6-3 advantage into the sheds via two penalties to one. Samoa created the better chances through a half in which they edged the possession and territory battle, but Tonga’s defence was mostly accurate. The ʻIkale Tahi did miss 10 tackles for the spell, but made the ones that counted to keep their line intact. ....