The Tongans may have been beaten 38-18 in Paris but the hosts certainly knew they had been in a battle at the end of an entertaining, and controversial, 80 minutes.
Tonga scored a brace of tries through Exeter wing Fetu’u Vainikolo, while Fangatapu ‘Apikotoa and Latiume Fosita added eight points between them from the tee, yet it was their ferocity in defence and at the breakdown, together with their indiscipline, that really stood out at the Stade de France.
The tourists lost scrum-half Taniela Moa to the sin bin after he elbowed French hooker Dimitri Szarzewski in the face during a scuffle in first-half stoppage time and then they had prop Sona Taumalolo sent off just two minutes into the second period. Taumalolo was dismissed for punching by referee Glenn Jackson, with France lock Yoann Maestri also seeing red for his part in the illegal exchange.
It means Taumalolo is set to miss the clash with Wales but Tonga are unlikely to take a step back regardless as they look to match last season’s shock win over Scotland. Tonga were superb 12 months ago as they won 21-15 in Aberdeen to bring Andy Robinson’s rein to an early end and Warren Gatland and co will surely have taken note.
And while Tonga may have lost to Romania prior to the defeat in France, they showed enough promise in Paris to suggest that Wales will have to be on their mettle to avoid another South Sea Island slip up following a loss to Samoa last season and a draw with Fiji three years ago.
Throw in the fact that Tonga beat France 19-14 at the 2011 Rugby World Cup and it becomes clear that Wales are unlikely to have things all their own way despite the impressive nature of Saturday’s 40-6 win over Argentina.
Scorers
France: Tries – Kayser, Chouly, Dulin, Guitoune; Cons – Michalak, Parra 2, Pens – Parra 4
Tonga: Tries – Vainikolo 2; Con – Fosita, Pens – Apikotoa 2
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