Pacific Championships 2024

[StandOffHalf]

What a stupid pass from Coates to Edwards, who fumbles under his post.

Baffling that Teddy has been dropped!

[Futtocks]

Collins gets his ribs rearranged.

[Futtocks]

Tom Turbo intercepts and scores. Gutting.

[StandOffHalf]

Olakauatu puts his shoulder through Collins!

Turbo in off a wayward pass from Lolohea.

[StandOffHalf]

This Kangaroos side is a pale shadow of great teams from decades past.

An All-Star vibe, lacking in ferocity, pride, and bite.

Edited October 18 by StandOffHalf

[Copa]

I still remember the days when Australia would steam roll any pacific team (excluding NZ) from start to finish if a match ever occurred. The island teams have progressed significantly.

[StandOffHalf]

Edwards has had a bad start.

Three bobbles or fumbles.

[StandOffHalf]

Olakauatu has started really strongly on the other hand.

[StandOffHalf]

Terrible kick on the run from Lolohea gives the Roos a 7-tackle set.

He looks off the pace for a Test Match.

[StandOffHalf]

Tonga don't have the creativity to get around the Kangaroos. Their best chance is hard carries from their second-rowers.

[Futtocks]

12 minutes ago, StandOffHalf said:

This Kangaroos side is a pale shadow of great teams from decades past.

We hear this every few years. Even about "great teams from decades past".

[StandOffHalf]

Just now, Futtocks said:

We hear this every few years. Even about "great teams from decades past".

They have some great players but they are not a great TEAM.

[StandOffHalf]

An error-riddled first half.

Roos coughing the ball up, and Tonga not good enough to create chances despite their good ball.

[Abicus]

Seen this game a few times now. Australia’s opponents have heart! Playing with grit! But can’t convert the chances they get. Australia score nearly flukey type tries - I mean this was an intercept.

All that said, this is the most ‘vulnerable and ordinary’ Australia have looked in the last decade possibly.

But then Tonga drop the ball in their half with 90 seconds to go …

[Futtocks]

Australia 6:0 Tonga at HT. Some sloppiness from Tonga when in good positions, plus some desperate try line tackling to keep the Kangaroos out.

[StandOffHalf]

Lomax sprays the one-point attempt wide.

Tonga having lots of punch and holding out - so far. They lack ball-playing nous though when they get down into good ball.

The score is competitive, which is good.

You'd have to think that the Roos will go bang-bang at some point and zoom clear.

I struggle to see where points come from for the Tongans, unless it's a barge-over from a quick PtB by Olakauatu or Eliesa Katoa.

Edited October 18 by StandOffHalf

[Spotty Herbert]

Tonga's problem is in the halves. Tui is not test match standard any longer and Katoa is still learning. Their forwards could do the business just by wearing the Aussies down.

[Abicus]

Tonga within a score after 50min. Incredible.

[StandOffHalf]

Clunky Roos.

Olakauatu looks the most damaging in red tonight.

[Spotty Herbert]

I can't help thinking the score would be very different if Cleary, Munster and Haas were available. Hammer (Samoan, of course) with the breakthrough

[StandOffHalf]

Even when they are clunky and misfiring, the Roos have the All-Star-like inevitability that they'll cash in eventually.

Hammer cruises in down the left flank.

[Abicus]

33,196 the crowd - a fantastic result

[StandOffHalf]

Lady in yellow yawning in the crowd.

Don't blame her, to be honest...

[Keith989]

7 minutes ago, Abicus said:

33,196 the crowd - a fantastic result

Frustrating that this is on when some of us are in work! I don't get to see Tonga much.

[Futtocks]

Another sloppy restart from Tonga and, seconds later, they are scrambling to shove TTurbo into touch on their own try line.