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Tonga scored three tries in the final quarter to beat the French Barbarians 28-27 at the Stade Des Alpes in Grenoble on Friday.
The Islanders fought back to from 27-9 down as Viliami Helu, Mateo Malupo and Ueleni Fono scored tries in the last 15 minutes to snatch victory at the death.
The Baa-baas only have themselves to blame for the loss as Benoît Baby missed an easy penalty and Benjamin Fall fluffed a try-scoring opportunity in the closing minutes.
For French Barbarians:
Tries: Caucaunibuca, Kelleher, Hayman
Cons: Baby 3
Pens: Elissalde, Baby
For Tonga:
Tries:Helu, Malupo, Fono
Cons:Fisilau 2
Pens:Fisilau 3
French Barbarians: 15 Céderic Heymans (Toulouse), 14 Rupeni Caucaunibuca (Toulouse), 13 Mathieu Basteraud (Stade Français), 12 Maxime Mermoz (Perpignan), 11 Vincent Clerc (Toulouse), 10 Jean-Baptiste Elissalde (Toulouse), 9 Byron Kelleher (Toulouse) (captain), 8 Louis Picamoles (Toulouse), 7 Chris Masoe (Castres), 6 George Smith (Toulon), 5 Yoann Maestri (Toulouse), 4 Rob Linde (Bayonne), 3 Sylvain Marconnet (Biarritz), 2 Benjamin Kayser (Castres), 1 Daan Human (Toulouse)
Replacements: 16 Benoît Cabello (Brive), 17 Lionel Faure (Clermont), 18 Loïc Jacquet (Clermont), 19 Rémy Martin (Bayonne), 20 Jérôme Fillol (), 21 Benoti Baby (Clermont), 22 Benjamin Fall (), 23 Jean-Baptiste Poux (Toulouse)
Tonga: 15 Vunga Lilo, 14 Mateo Malupo, 13 Alaska Taufa, 12 Andrew Ma'ilei, 11 Viliami Helu, 10 Kurt Morath, 9 Samisoni Fisilau, 8 Samiu Vahafolau, 7 Finau Maka (capitão), 6 Tukulua Lokotui, 5 Emosi Kauhenga, 4 Paino Hehea, 3 Kisi Pulu, 2 Ephraim Taufaka, 1 Tonga Lea'aetoa
Replacements: 16 Ilaisa Maasi, 17 Ofa Fainga'anuku, 18 Lisiate Fa'aoso, 19 Ueleni Fono, 20 Thomas Palu, 21 Soane Havea, 22 Kaiongo Tupou
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garces (France), Frank Maciello (France)
Comments
neckbones1 says...
Tonga would smash the likes of Wales and Italy
Posted 05:05 29th November 2010
papachinzo says...
So typical of the French to stop playing the last 15 mins when they have a ten point plus lead...
Posted 12:28 28th November 2010
hayj05 says...
Wow! Tonga beat a really strong team. A bit disappointing that Tonga didn't get to face stronger opposition on this November tour really, considering they were so competitive at the last world cup.
Posted 22:36 27th November 2010
7nezking says...
this game's 2nd half was a super show. The 'Ikale Tahi have shown that they are not to be taken lightly next year. Malo e va'inga kautama.
Posted 20:40 27th November 2010