Wales had opened the first Rugby World Cup with a 13-6 win over Ireland at Wellington and followed that up by defeating Tonga, but it was victory at a large cost.
Wing Glen Webbe scored a hat-trick of tries, but a few head-high tackles left him concussed and sadly he was forced to come home after the match, despite the fact that he had lasted throughout the 80 minutes. There was another big blow as the powerful prop forward Stuart Evans limped out and had his right leg put into plaster up to his knee.
Wales won the match up front by destroying the Tongan scrum, though they were outfought in the loose and faded badly at the end as the Tongans ran in two late tries.
This was the first occasion that Wales played an international match wearing green jerseys.
Wales: P Thorburn (Neath); G Webbe (Bridgend), K Hopkins (Swansea), M Ring (Cardiff), A Hadley (Cardiff); M Dacey (Swansea), R Jones (Swansea); A Buchanan (Llanelli), K Phillips (Neath), Stuart Evans (Neath), R Moriarty (Swansea, capt), H Richards (Neath), P Moriarty (Swansea), P Davies (Llanelli), G Roberts (Cardiff). Reps: J Davies (Neath) for M Dacey; S Blackmore (Cardiff) for S Evans. Scorers – Tries: G Webbe 3, A Hadley. Cons: P Thorburn 2. Pens: P Thorburn 2. DG: J Davies.
Tonga: T Ere’aki; M Vunipola, S Mohi, T Fukakitekei’aho, K Fielea; A ‘Amone, T Fifita; V Lutua, A Afu Fungavaka, H Tupou, M Tu’ungafasi, K Fine, V Kakato, M Felise, F Valu (capt). Reps: A Liava’a for A ‘Amone; L Va’eono for H Tupou. Scorers – Tries: K Fielea, T Fifita. Con: A Liava’a. Pens: A Liava’a, A ‘Amone.
Referee: David Bishop (New Zealand).
