Tonga have hung on to beat a gutsy Lebanon team 24-22 in an entertaining Rugby League World Cup quarter-final in Christchurch.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Tonga 24
Lebanon 22
Tonga will start as the heavy favourites in their World Cup quarter-final against Lebanon at Christchurch Stadium. Join The Roar for a live blog of the action from 3pm (AEDT).
The Tongans should be full of confidence after their epic second-half comeback win over New Zealand in Waikato last weekend. That win was their third in a row and saw them finish undefeated at the top of Group B after the three World Cup pool rounds.
Their two earlier wins in the tournament were against Scotland and Samoa. The level of crowd support for Tonga in New Zealand makes playing there like a home game for them.
Lebanon’s only win in the pool rounds was against France in the first week, though they have had a tougher draw in Group A.
Since that victory, they’ve been beaten by both England and Australia. They were competitive during parts of both those matches, but it would be a major upset if they could overcome the surging Tongans this afternoon.
Tonga welcome back Michael Jennings from a hamstring injury this week. He replaces Mahe Fonua, who drops out of the squad. Jennings scored five tries in Tonga’s first two matches at this World Cup. Sam Moa has also been named on the bench in place of Peni Terepo.
Lebanon will be relying on big games from Robbie Farah, Mitchell Moses, Tim Mannah and Michael Lichaa.
The winner of this afternoon’s match will face the winner of tomorrow’s quarter-final between England and Papua New Guinea.
Prediction
Tonga by 16.
RM
Guest
what an absolute ripper of a game. Congratulations to both teams - and what a World Cup this is turning into!
Lebanon World Cup dream crushed after controversial call. ROBBIE Farah was fuming as a controversial call destroyed Lebanon’s Rugby League World Cup dream in “heartbreaking” fashion Watch Free: https://t.co/mC0gH61SU0 Watch Free: https://t.co/mC0gH61SU0
In the lowest scoring game of the 2017 World Cup and Fiji have booked their place against Australia in the semi-final
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
I was referring to the pool matches against England and Australia.
Robbo
Guest
Lebanon played a more attacking game that Tonga did - what game were you watching????
Robbo
Guest
Rubbish Tonga are overrated and were very very lucky to win against basically a park footy team in Lebanon
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
It certainly looked like Tonga were thinking about next week. Lebanon played a spoiling game and really frustrated all of their opponents with their defensive attitude. For sure, England and Australia never looked like losing but every time they were 'supposed' to start running away with the game, they found Lebanon in their way. What's important now is that teams like Lebanon, PNG, Ireland, Fiji and Tonga keep playing games against each other as soon as possible. It's great that Lebanon are taking part in next year's Pacific Test series but the games really ought to be played in PNG, Tonga etc.
Fred
Guest
Tonga had their eyes on next week. But credit to Lebanon, they've been great. In a pool featuring Australia and England it wouldn't be hard to embarrass yourself, but instead they won over plenty of new fans. I'm really happy to see Lebanon taking part in next year's Pacific Tests.
Sleiman Azizi
Roar Guru
Lebanon outplayed and outsmarted Tonga everywhere except on the final score. How many almost tries in that second half? Three? That's a massive effort by Lebanon. Tonga have some work to do, some real soul searching, if they want to beat England/PNG next week.
Peter
Guest
Congratulations Tonga. Well played Lebanon.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining me on this afternoon’s coverage, hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to leave your comments on the game.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Match report TONGA 24 LEBANON 22 Tonga have hung on to beat a gutsy Lebanon team 24-22 in an entertaining World Cup quarter-final in Christchurch. The Tongans led 22-16 at half-time and only added a penalty goal in the second half, but it was enough to get them the win. It earns them a semi-final spot next week against the winner of the England and Papua New Guinea quarter-final being played tomorrow. For Lebanon, their World Cup is over, but they gave the Tongans a big scare with a spirited performance. The Tongans scored four tries to three in the first half to head into the sheds leading 22-16. They scored their first try in the 4th minute when winger David Fusitua made a break out wide, before turning the ball back inside for five-eighth Tui Lolohea to score under the posts. Lebanon hit back five minutes later though through a backline play which ended with centre Adam Doueihi stepping back inside to score. That made it 6-all. The Tongans regained the lead in the 18th minute when winger David Fusitua scored the first of his two tries, showing good skills to get the ball down in the corner. They were in again four minutes later when fullback Will Hopoate used his size to crash over out wide to make it 16-6. But the Lebanese team hit back in the 30th minute after great lead-up work from Mitchell Moses. He ran the ball on the last after being put under pressure, made a break and then put the ball on the toe. Centre James Elias won the race to ground the ball beside the posts. Three minutes later, Fusitua helped the Tongans to skip away after using his height to take a cross-field kick and plant the ball down in the corner for his second try. The successful conversion made it 22-12. Then on the stroke of half-time, Lebanon threw the ball around in desperation before putting a kick through. Winger Abbas Miski grounded the ball to score out wide. Lebanon had a try disallowed six minutes into the second half when Tonga’s defence was ruled to have been obstructed before centre Adam Doueihi crossed for what would have been his second try. Mitchell Moses was also brought down inches short of the line ten minutes later after making a great break. The Lebanese finally crossed with ten minutes to go after throwing the ball around and eventually creating an overlap for winger and Josh Mansour-lookalike Abbas Miski to score his second try. Moses’ conversion made it 24-22 and set up a grandstand finish, but Tonga hung on to book their semi-final berth.
Beavis
Guest
Decisions went both ways but he kept it a one score game which is important.
Maestro
Guest
Sutto - you are a champ all those cheapie 50-50 decisions going Lebanons way - an Academy award nomination is surely on its way and hopefully a semi-final berth.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Full-time The hooter sounds and its victory for TONGA! TONGA 24 LEBANON 22
John Coomer
Roar Guru
78’ Lebanon knock on trying to push the pass! Tonga scrum feed 20 metres out from their own line. TONGA 24 LEBANON 22
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
So much for sportsmanship...
John Coomer
Roar Guru
77’ Lebanon back in possession on their own 30 and they now get a relieving penalty! Tap near halfway. TONGA 24 LEBANON 22
John Coomer
Roar Guru
76’ Lebanon lose the ball early in the count! Tonga scrum feed 10 metres short of halfway. TONGA 24 LEBANON 22