Tonga’s Ikale Tahi were beaten 32-10 by Fiji in Suva, but coach Tevita Tuʻifua insisted the result will not derail their World Cup aspirations. He said the team’s fate remains in their own hands as they look ahead to their next Pacific Nations Cup clash.
It was a setback, yet Tuʻifua remained upbeat, noting that Tonga had claimed a victory in the opening round and are heading in the right direction. “It’s in our hands. We had a victory last week. We’re heading in the right direction,” he said, underscoring the importance of consistency in the remaining fixtures to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
The defeat comes as Tonga regroup and shift focus to the next challenge in the Pacific Nations Cup schedule. The Ikale Tahi will take confidence from their early group performance, but will need to bounce back against the competition’s other heavyweights as the tournament progresses.
Meanwhile, the Fiji Water Flying Fijians, the defending Pacific Nations Cup champions, will look to build on their momentum as they prepare for their next assignment. Fiji are coming off a high-profile run in the tournament, including a semi-final win that reinforced their status as a title threat. Their upcoming match against Samoa in New Zealand is poised to test their depth and consistency as they chase back-to-back PN Cup success.
Key players to watch include Fiji captain Caleb Muntz, who has been pivotal in guiding the side after Tevita Ikanivere’s early redirections, and rookie fullback Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, who has shown promising playmaking ability alongside Muntz. For Tonga, captain Ben Tameifuna and flankers such as Siosiua Moala were among the standout performers in earlier fixtures, with winger John Tapueluelu also delivering moments of highlight quality.
Additional context from the wider Pacific Nations Cup picture shows Fiji’s continued threat at the top of the standings, while Tonga have demonstrated the capability to compete with the tournament’s best as they pursue a spot in the World Cup in Australia. The results keep both teams on track for their broader international ambitions, underscoring the competitive depth of the competition this season.
What to watch next
– Fiji’s depth and game management as they push for more consistent performances.
– Tonga’s response and how they regroup to keep their World Cup dream alive.
– The impact of key players like Muntz, Armstrong-Ravula, Canakaivata, Moala, and Tapueluelu in forthcoming fixtures.
– How teams balance forward power with developing backline cohesion as the PN Cup progresses.
Summary: The loss in Suva does not derail Tonga’s ambitions, and Fiji’s form reinforces the PN Cup’s role as a proving ground for both teams ahead of the World Cup year. Positive momentum remains possible for both sides as the tournament moves forward.
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