ST HELENS – Wales gave Tonga a massive fright before a Daniel Tupou hat trick inspired a comeback that saw Kristian Woolf’s men run out 32-6 winners in St Helens.
The Dragons, with just a handful of full-time players, shocked the life out of their more illustrious opponents, scoring early and leading until the 37th minute before two late tries spared the Tongans’ blushes.
This was no smash-and-grab, either. Wales withstood an early onslaught of four consecutive sets on their line before wresting control, building pressure and getting their reward after Kyle Evans reacted fastest to a Siosifa Talakai mistake to score.
It was far from a flash in the pan. For more than half an hour, Wales were the better side and might have scored more. Tonga, on the other hand, were disorganised and bunched in the middle.
Tupou had grabbed one back, but the conversion was missed and Wales kept the lead. Sione Katoa, on the other wing, bombed a try through poor handling.
It took until late in the half, when the part-timers inevitably tired, for the class to shine through. David Fifita did eventually put Tonga in front and Keaon Koloamatangi crashed over to break Welsh hearts.
Tonga ran in tries after the break through Tesi Niu and Tupou again, but continued to underwhelm with Wales able to defend doggedly and throw the ball when they got it.
Mate Ma’a Tonga were then denied one of the tries of the tournament: Tolu Koula dove full length at a ball as it bounced over the touchline and propelled it back in field, from whence it went through hands to Tui Lolohea.
Kasey Badger, the first female ref to control a men’s World Cup game, gave the try on the advice of her linesman but the video referee found a millimetre of chalk on the ball before Koula arrived. It was the correct decision, though it was hard not to wish it had been allowed to stand.
Tupou then sealed the game, and his hat trick, and would have grabbed a fourth with minutes to play, but for an obstruction call.
Tui Kamikamica will sit out Fiji’s crucial qualification match with Scotland after being banned by the Match Review Panel after copping a Dangerous Contact charge in the Bati’s win over Italy.
The Fijians can still choose to appeal, and with a spot in the quarter finals against New Zealand on the line, they will certainly want to have their captain on deck. Teammate Taniela Sadrugu was also charged with Dangerous Contact, but escaped a ban.
Elsewhere, Ireland lost both of their starting props for their clash with the Kiwis on Friday night, with Titans front-rower Jaimin Jolliffe and Wigan’s Liam Byrne both scratched by the Match Review Panel.
Jolliffe was cited for a high tackle that left Lebanon’s Kayne Kalache in hospital, while Byrne was banned for two separate incidents, including a late shot on Mitchell Moses that saw him sent to the bin late on.
Rob Mulhern and Jalal Bazzazz were both sent to the sin bin after a brawl at halftime, but neither was charged as no punches were thrown.
(Photo by Richard Sellers/PA Images via Getty Images)
His accent might be more Bondi Beach than Bramall Lane, but Victor Radley can’t wait to run out at the home of Sheffield United on Saturday afternoon, with 50 of his English father’s mates cheering him on.
Nigel Radley was born and raised in the Steel City – though he supports Wednesday, not United – and has flown over from Australia to watch his son represent England in his home town.
“I can’t wait,” Radley told the BBC. “My dad booked his trip all around getting here and he gets here on Friday for Sheffield.
“He’s organised all of his mates. I think there are 50 coming so it’s going to be really special.
“I can’t wait to see family and friends. I’ve met a few people in Sheffield who have said that if my grandfather was still alive, he would be over the moon. I’m stoked that I get to do it.”
Radley doubled down on his decision to turn down Australia and New South Wales to play for his heritage.
“I know I made the right decision since I came over here,” he said. “That was the big one, missing that opportunity [to play Origin in future]. A lot of people are saying ‘you can play Origin and you get paid well to play Origin’, which I hadn’t done yet, that was pretty much the big one.
“I just didn’t have the same feeling about that than I had when I thought about playing in a World Cup for England.
“I haven’t really made decisions with my head for my whole life, so I just went with that feeling in my chest which I had. I’m stoked now, I’m loving it.
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