Wynne Gray's 50 greatest rugby moments: No.40

Jonah Lomu is tackled by Semi Taupeaafe of Tonga during the 1999 Rugby World Cup. Photo / Gary M Prior-Allsport

Tonga made their way into the expanded 20-team World Cup at the 1999 tournament by winning their repechage games.

Their prize was entry into a pool containing the All Blacks, England and Italy.

They had to beg and borrow most of their squad from overseas clubs and were rated tournament outsiders at 250-1.

Their coach was New Zealand-born Dave Waterston, a man not afraid to spice up his chats with the media to gain attention for his side.

Waterston had been one of the strategists for Kitch Christie during the Springboks' triumph at the 1995 World Cup and, after this tournament with Tonga, he coached Namibia at the 2003 tournament before disappearing from the rugby limelight.

In the build-up to Tonga's start of the 1999 World Cup against the All Blacks at Bristol, Waterston was bullish about his team's ability to emulate the Springboks' style of defending bravely and using team spirit to drive them to an upset.

That template was on show at the Ashton Gate ground as a Tongan side with limited skill but huge passion shocked the All Blacks.

New Zealand were rattled and led only 16-9 when they headed for halftime and a massive rev-up from their coaches.

Tonga had shown other sides how to play the All Blacks, who made a mess of most of their work. They spilled possession in contact, hashed restarts and missed touch and their lineout targets.

They may have been thinking ahead to their next match with England but they looked intimidated by the emotional Tongan assault until deep into the test.

They kept their discipline amid an array of high shots which referee Derek Bevan dealt with, but their set-pieces made little impact on the Tongans.

Captain Taine Randell later accepted responsibility for the All Blacks' lack of tactical clarity. They did not change tactics until word came from the coaches box to kick for territory, pressure hard and force mistakes from Tonga. They finally won 45-9.