Kalafi Moala: Tongans' saddest rugby lament

COMMENT

Let's face it. Tonga were never going to beat the All Blacks.

The 91-7 score reflects the complete domination the men in black had over their disheartened and generally undisciplined opponents.

Even by the third try, to Corey Flynn in the 23rd minute, the Tongans were breathing heavily. Their shocked faces showed strain, their heads began to hang, in shame, if not in weariness.

Much has been made of the Tongans' difficulties at this World Cup. The lack of funding. Gripes against coach Jim Love, the IRB, and even the NZRFU.

But nothing is more demoralising to a rugby team than constantly losing, and for a rugby-loving nation such as Tonga, that has sadly become the norm. Tonga's days as a dominant rugby nation in the Pacific Islands are truly over. When they did manage a win against Samoa or Fiji in the past decade it was put down to luck. But luck has not come Tonga's way in their preparation for the cup.

"Putting together the best possible team is one of the big problems with our campaign," said Manu Vunipola, who played for Tonga at the 1987, 1995, and 1999 tournaments.

"Quite a number of great Tongan players are not available to be part of this team, for one reason or another."

But Vunipola said there were better available players not selected.

And this is why Love has copped so much flak. That criticism will only increase after last night's game.

Viliami Vaka'uta, a former Tongan player, who also once coached the side, said: "There does not seem to be any definite game plan, and they don't seem to understand the style of play of their opponents. That is the job of the coach."

It could be a while before this team gets to visit King Taufa'ahau Tupou IV. They need a win before that can happen.

* Kalafi Moala publishes the NZ-based Taimi o Tonga newspaper.

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