TONGA
No.Name
15Vunga Lilo, -
14Telusa Veainu, -
13William Helu, -
12Siale Piutau, -
11Fetu'u Vainikolo, -
T
10Kurt Morath, -
9Sonatane Takulua, -
1Tevita Mailau, -
2Elvis Taione, -
3Halani 'Aulika, -
4Lua Lokotui, -
5Steve Mafi, -
6Sione Kalamafoni, -
7Nili Latu, -
8Viliami Ma'afu, -
Replacements
16Paula Ngauamo, -
17Sona Taumalolo, -
18Sila Puafisi, -
19Hale T-Pole, -
20Jack Ram, -
21Samisoni Fisilau, -
22Latiume Fosita, -
23Sione Piukala, -

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Kingsholm
7:00 AM, September 19, 2015
Attendance: 14,200
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

86'You can follow Ireland vs Canada here
85'Full match report
84'
83'
82'Thanks for joining our coverage of this game. Coming up very soon the second game of Day Two of RWC 2015: Ireland vs Canada.
81'Georgia celebrate wildly. Tonga look despondent.
81'10-17 End of second half
80'Georgia get a penalty and a chance to kick it deep. Georgia dawdle and hope to eat up the whole clock - they don't do that and there will be a lineout. Tonga almost grab it but they can't. GEORGIA WIN!
79'The lineout is woefully not straight and Tonga have wasted the moment. Georgia will have a scrum and a chance to relieve the pressure. Glum Tongan faces on the sidelines.
79'Substitute on - Giorgi Begadze , Georgia
79'Player substituted - Vasil Lobzhanidze , Georgia
78'Vainikolo has it on the left but can't break free. Tonga have a penalty and a chance to kick for the corner.
77'Tonga are trying to run this from their own 22. Georgia's flat defence hasn't allowed them out of the 22 yet...
76'The kick is missed and Tonga are still in this...
74'No hurry from the Georgians to take this scrum. And they use that big pack to push and keep the ball and win a penalty. A chance to extend the lead to 10 points. But the regular kicker Kvirikashvili is in the sin big.
73'Georgia boot it deep to try to relieve the pressure. Tonga do it for them by trying to be expansive and instead passing the ball forward to Vainikolo.
73'10-17 Conversion - Kurt Morath , Tonga
73'Yellow card - Merab Kvirikashvili , Georgia
72'What a great conversion! It's a one-score game and Georgia down to 14. Could this game be turned on its head in the last seven minutes?
72'Player substituted - Nili Latu , Tonga
72'Substitute on - Jack Ram , Tonga
72'8-17 Try - Fetu'u Vainikolo , Tonga
71'Can the touchline conversion be added? Tonga badly need this. Also, Georgia are now down to 14 men with a yellow card.
70'Tonga get the ball back but are still struggling to find a way through some very determined defence. They have a penalty near the halfway line but 3 points will be no good to them. Kick to touch and lineout inside the 22. The throw goes short to the front of the lineout and Tonga begin the search for a try again. Tonga probe and push. The ball finally swings wide to Vainikolo but he doesn't have enough space to maneouvre. And then it comes back to him and he gets his 15th international try - and a big one for Tonga. TRY!
68'
67'Guess what, the Tongan forwards are going to have another bash and rolling and rucking the ball into the end zone. And finally the sequence comes to an end with a knock on and Georgia will have a scrum and an opportunity to relieve the pressure.
66'Tonga still have the ball though,after an advantage, and are still close to the line but can they batter home? The Georgian forwards are under pressure and there's a warning from Nigel Owens that any more funny business and there will be a Yellow Card.
66'Player substituted - Giorgi Tkhilaishvili , Georgia
66'Substitute on - Shalva Sutiashvili , Georgia
65'We are seeing replay after replay of the ball being grounded by the player's head rather than his hand or harm or body. NO TRY.
65'Substitute on - Sila Puafisi , Tonga
65'Player substituted - Halani 'Aulika , Tonga
64'Tonga kick for touch and another lineout and another attempt to batter home from short range. But then there's a little chip through and IS THIS A TRY? TMO TIME AGAIN. Checking to see if he grounded the ball?
64'Player substituted - Konstantine Mikautadze , Georgia
64'Substitute on - Levan Datunashvili , Georgia
62'Tonga have field position but the ball is coming far too slowly for the backs to work with, So the forwards go back to rolling rucks and then an attempted chip over the top to the far wing is too far. Tonga have a penalty for offside though. Tonga really need to make that possession and position pay.
61'Georgia ring the changes with their own substitiutions. And now Tonga take the lineout and the ball is passed across the backs as they seek an opening.
61'Substitute on - Levan Chilachava , Georgia
61'Player substituted - Davit Zirakashvili , Georgia
61'Player substituted - Mikheil Nariashvili , Georgia
61'Substitute on - Karlen Asieshvili , Georgia
61'Player substituted - Jaba Bregvadze , Georgia
61'Substitute on - Shalva Mamukashvili , Georgia
60'Substitute on - Hale T-Pole , Tonga
60'Player substituted - Steve Mafi , Tonga
59'Tonga need to find a way back soon. There's some broken play in midfield that offers an opportunity but it too breaks down. Tonga have a penalty after a high tackle. They kick for touch and field position.
58'This hasn't been classic rugby by any means, but it's enthralling. And this Georgia pack could yet cause Argentina some problems.
58'3-17 Conversion - Merab Kvirikashvili , Georgia
57'3-15 Try - Giorgi Tkhilaishvili , Georgia
56'And a beautiful conversion from the left touchline (when some of his simpler efforts have looked a bit woeful) and Georgia are now 17-3 ahead.
55'Georgia have their first genuine break by the backs and are almost through. And the move is stopped but then regathers and Tkhilaishvili, who started the move, gets a little breakaway down the left and it;s a TRY!
54'Georgia's pack are making it impossible for Tonga to get consistent possession or any flow to their game. Scrum to Tonga.
53'Can Tonga's shift change improve their fortunes?
52'Georgia win the lineout but knock on as they try to drive around the back.That knock on was by Lobzhanidze, the youngest player ever in a RWC. I must say, he doesn't look like a callow youth.
52'Player substituted - William Helu , Tonga
52'Substitute on - Sione Piukala , Tonga
52'Player substituted - Tevita Mailau , Tonga
52'Substitute on - Sona Taumalolo , Tonga
52'Player substituted - Elvis Taione , Tonga
52'Substitute on - Paula Ngauamo , Tonga
51'Tonga have the ball in midfield again and again give the ball up, this time for holding on in the ruck. Georgia can kick for touch and have field position on their left. And now Tonga are bringing on a batch of subs...
50'The penalty drifts just wide - although it did have the legs. Still 10-3 and just one score separates them.
48'The Georgian pack are putting the shove on with a scrum at half-way. Tonga concede a penalty and Georgia's Kvirikashvili thinks about a long penalty. He's lining it up...
47'Tonga going forward again but every time they look like they are building something their handling lets them down and knockons are costing them.
45'Georgia go around the back on the blind side but it's snuffed out. And now the Georgians have a lineout on the 22. and then a rolling maul and then some more forward phrases but the Tongans turn it over just in front of their own posts. There's a chance of a break for Tonga but the quick hands aren't quick enough and there's a fumble.
44'A scrum to Georgia on their right, about 30 metres out.
44'Tristan Barclay is in Cardiff:
43'Coming up at 2.30pm we have Ireland vs Canada. Ireland have high hopes in this competition having been given what looks like a nice draw.
42'A lot of hard-hitting forward play to open the second half. There was a lot of that in the first half too. Tonga have a lineout in their own half. There's more pushing and shoving, a Tongan drive is halted. This Tongan pack is big, but nowhere near as big as the Georgian pack.
42'Half-time competition: Count the Zs in the Georgian line-up: Kvirikashvili, Mchedlidze, Kacharava, Sharikadze, Aptsiaure, Malagruadze, Lobzhanidze; Nariashvili, Bregvadze, Zirakashvili, Nemsadze, Mikautadze, Tkhilaishvili, Kolelishvili, Gorgodze (captain).
41'Thanks for joining me in that first half. Share your thoughts, like my Aussie colleague Andy Withers, via Twitter, to @Busfield. Back in a bit...
41'3-10 End of first half
40'And we are off again, with Georgia playing from left to right in their black with red trim kit. Tonga in red jerseys and white shorts.
40'3-10 Start of second half
39'The Georgians take the scrum down, Tonga spurn the 3-points and kick to touch and the chance to push over. TRY! NO! NO TRY! The Tongans break through with a lovely little pass but referee says it was a forward pass. Disappointing for Tonga as Georgia get the scrum and then a penalty and will kick it away and go in at half-time with a 10-3 lead.
38'
37'Another TMO - to see if there's a round-the-neck challenge. There's a suspicion that the video referee is looking at the wrong incident. This is taking a long time for something that just looks like an everyday ruck.
36'The Tongans roll the ball off the back of the scrum before they are scrunched by the big Georgian pack and now they are rolling forwards. This is the first time the Tongans have looked dangerous for quite some period. Eventually the ball reaches the backs close to the wing and after a scrappy bit of play and a knock on they have a scrum about 10-yards out. Can Tonga capitalise?
34'A strange choice by Georgian full back Kvirikashvili to try to keep the ball in play when he could just have allowed the ball to go out for a lineout gives Tonga the ball in good position. And now we have a scrum and the Tongan backs are lining up hopefully.
33'Referee Nigel Owens having a little chat with the Georgian front row. They're discussing language differences and whether it matters. I kid you not.
31'The Georgians knock on and Tonga counter. Some lovely flowing passing along the line sees them swing right and then left and then a poor knock on by Helu ends that nice little session. The big forwards are having a watering break before the scrum.
30'Tonga are working the ball through the forward phases on their right but finding the Georgian pack a formidable wall to push against. The Georgians again win a penalty and can boot the ballup the field for a lineout.
29'And with a simple conversion that's 10-3 to Georgia. What can Tonga do in response?
29'3-10 Conversion - Merab Kvirikashvili , Georgia
28'TRY! To the big No.8 Gorgodze who did a great job of reaching the ball around the post as he simultaneously crashed into the post padding.
28'3-8 Try - Mamuka Gorgodze , Georgia
27'Georgia win the lineout and are driving towards the line. Five metres out and rolling towards the posts with the pack. Georgia think they have a try! This will be going to the dreaded TMO...
26'Georgia are getting the ball to their backs a bit more and then a clever little chip through takes them deep into the Tongan 22. Tonga have the lineout, but as we've already seen, the Georgians have been stealing some of these. And now one of the players is having a piece of illegal jewellery taken from him!
25'Tonga take a quick lineout and push Georgia right back.
23'For those that love forward play there is plenty to enjoy - lots of rucking, mauling, big blokes bashing into big blokes. Tonga eventually get the ball back and give it the big boot down the field.
22'Tonga win the lineout but their pack is forced back by Georgia. Tonga switch the play from right to left but eventually give the ball away by hanging onto it in the ruck. Relief for Georgia.
21'Vainikolo senses another chance to run but it's swiftly snuffed out. Tonga then switch wings and a fumble by the Georgian full back gives Tonga a line out in good field position.
20'While these are the less glamorous games they could also be the more entertaining and tightly fought contests. Tonga in possession and working the phases.
20'3-3 Penalty goal - Merab Kvirikashvili , Georgia
18'The ball wobbles a bit but goes through the posts and it's 3-3.
17'Georgia win another lineout and get the rolling maul going. There's a clever chip wide but the ball doesn't quite reach Mchedlidze on the wing. But they have a penalty just to the side of the posts and the ball goes back to there.
16'Tonga's big pack are getting into this now and rolling the ball forward.
15'Georgia are winning the lineouts and the scrums but also making too many mistakes to capitalise.Tonga finally win a lineout but it's not clean ball and we are back to rucking.
14'Apologies for that brief break in commentary due to technical difficulties, during which Georgia missed a penalty and a lot of big men rucked a lot in midfield.
10'3-0 Penalty goal - Kurt Morath , Tonga
2'Tonga force Georgia back and win another lineout deep into the opposition territory - and then again lose it to the big Georgian pack.
1'Tonga get the first line out but Georgia win it and set it up for their big pack to go through the phases before kicking long.
1'Welcome to Game Two of Rugby World Cup 2015! After the pomp and circumstance of the opening ceremony, here we are in the west of England heartland of English rugby for Tonga vs Georgia, two of the sport's lesser lights, but enthusiastic members nonetheless. My colleague Rob Bartlett previewed the game thus: "Tonga against Georgia may be the opening fixture in Pool C, but it is already being billed as the battle for third place in the group. New Zealand and Argentina will likely hold sway in the race for a place in the World Cup quarterfinals, but with third place comes automatic qualification for Japan in 2019." The winner of this game will have ambitions of overcoming Argentina though, so this might be for more than third place. Have a look at the team line ups alongside this commentary and have a little sympathy for me when typing player names. Keep a special eye out for Georgian scrum-half Vasil Lobzhanidze - the 18-year-old will become the youngest player in World Cup history. As a South Pacific island, Tonga set themselves up for the game with their own fearsome dance. The Georgians gave them the linked arms and hard stare in return. Game on! Tonga kick off.
1'0-0 Start of first half

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