World Cup 2017: Tonga

If RL isn't the biggest thing at the moment in this island nation, then I'll eat my hat, then my scarf for afters. For them to do so well in any sport is unique to this great game.

Report card: The first showing was in 1995 and for a first time effort, it was amazing. They lost by a point to New Zealand and drew with PNG. In 2000 a big win over South Africa was tempered by loses to France and PNG. Still, +20 in the points. In 2008 a win and a loss. 2013 three tight games but no quarter final.

Into 2017 and suddenly it was up a notch. Scotland were dispatched 50-4, Samoa 32-18 and then surprisingly New Zealand 28-22. The first time into the quarter finals and a stubborn Lebanon was squeezed past 24-22. Them the big semi final game against England and a late burst of scoring had them come up short 18-20. This was well over expectations and into the top four.

Final ranking for the tournament: 1st to 4th (out of 14 teams).

The chart shows the previous WC tournaments Tonga has attended. The lower figure for each year is the points differential for the group stage only.

				95			00			08			13			17
				W	D	L	W	D	L	W	D	L	W	D	L	W	D	L
					1	1	1		2	2		1	2		1	4		1
				-1			+20			-6			+20			+66

Other teams ranked at the 2017 WC. Click on the nation to go to that article.

12th - 14th: Scotland, Wales, USA.
9th - 11th: France, Italy, Samoa.
5th - 8th: Ireland, Lebanon, New Zealand, PNG.
1st - 4th: Australia, England, Fiji, Tonga.

RL Women's WC 2017 : Semi Finals

The expectation then pool play highlighted two team far and away better than the others. Would the semi finals confirm that?

Game One: The Canada Ravens had to return to face the Australia Jillaroos after losing 88-0 just days earlier. The favourites were trying to go one better than last time and raced to a 42-0 half time lead. However, any hope of exceeding the last effort was stymied in the second period with a more even contest and Canada managing to score as well.

Final score: Australia 58-6 Canada.

Game two: The England Lionesses hadn't met the New Zealand Kiwi Ferns in this tournament. More had been expected of them but the gap has widened between hemispheres. 14-4 at the break was tight but not thereafter as the Kiwi Ferns ran away with the game.

Final score: New Zealand 52-4 England.

The final that was predicted by me and most others has materialised. Before the tournament I was thinking Australia would take it. Now I think it will come down to who plays better on the day.

For the Round One Summary, just click here.

RL WC 2017 : Semi Finals Summary

Getting to the critical end of the tournament, the heat is on. Win and you enjoy a WC Final, lose and the heartbreak. Three Southern Hemisphere teams, two Pacific Island nations and two traditional powerhouses of the game. An interesting mix as the old order of predictability took a hit in the games that preceded the semis.

Game One: Fiji played their hearts out last week to effect a huge upset. Could they do it for another week? It's never easy to repeat that sort of performance. Australia, the well oiled machine, stood in their way. To answer the question, Fiji didn't play as well, giving away soft penalties and also errors being made. Australia didn't need that kind of leg up and by half time led 22-2.

The second half got worse despite Fiji managing a nice try. V Holmes backed up a five try haul last week with six this time round. Will we ever see that in consecutive international matches again? The Bati did well to get this far, but any hope of an upset depended on a red hot performance and a flat Australia. Neither eventuated.

Final score: Australia 54-6 Fiji. Attendance: 22,073.

Game Two: England hadn't made a final since 1995 and not lifted the trophy since 1970. No pressure then. Mate Ma'a Tonga had never got past the group stage before and were in a semi final. The crowd in Auckland was heavily Tongan in ethnicity so it was like a home game for them.

In the 225th RL WC game, England led 12-0 after 17 minutes and went to the break on that score. The second half had England pulling away to 20-0 by the 68th minute. Then from the 73rd to 78th minutes Tonga scored three converted tries to trail just 18-20. The atmosphere was tense but Tonga just came up short, a loose ball carry costing them a victory at the death. England again fail to play a full 80 minutes. That won't do against Australia in the final.

Final score: England 20-18 Tonga. Attendance: (30,003, capacity).

England score early against Tonga

Picture source: Sportinglife.