I think this qualifies as the first true upset of the Cup.
It unfortunately helps the poms but congratulations Tonga!!!
Can you imagine the party going on back home?!
Tonga upsets Samoa
Story by Sportal for the ARU
Monday, September 17, 2007 - 03:21 AM (AEST)
Tonga has caused a huge upset by beating arch rival Samoa 19-15 in a spirited Rugby World Cup match in Montpellier on Sunday night.
After trailing 12-6 at half-time, Tonga showed more enthusiasm to score the only try of the match early in the second half, and despite finishing the game with 13 men, managed to hold on for its first win over Samoa in the past nine matches and remain unbeaten after two matches in France 2007.
The result was also a blessing for Pool A rivals England with the Samoans expected to pose a stiff test to Brian Ashton's stuttering side but they were far from formidable in a match littered with ill-discipline and a host of penalties for each side.
Epeli Taione scored the only try of a match dominated by the boots of Pierre Hola and Gavin Williams but it was a fine rearguard action from the Tongans - who lost Hale T Pole to a red card and Toma Toke to a late yellow - which sealed the win.
Hola and Williams exchanged early penalties as the game started at a brisk pace before Samoa's Elvis Seveali'i burst through a pack of bodies on the far touchline and went to ground, with his team-mates claiming the try.
The decision was referred to the video referee and after a lengthy wait it was not given, with Seveali'i adjudged not to have grounded.
Play started to get scrappy at the Tonga breakdown and Joe Tekori briefly looked to have breached their defence before the referee called him back for a scrum.
With 18 minutes gone Samoa were still keeping the ball high in the opposition half with Kane Thompson breaking and Tekori also receiving some quick ball.
The pressure eventually resulted in a pair of penalties, with Williams slotting both home to make it 9-3.
Tevita Tu'ifua found space as Tonga finally created an overlap in attack but as he was charging for the line his footwork let him down and he slipped to the turf as the danger passed.
A stray boot then led to another penalty for the Samoans and Williams continued to collect points with another straight-forward effort in front of the posts.
Taione found himself sin-binned for kicking the ball away in the loose but remarkably it seemed to invigorate his team and for the first time Tonga put sustained pressure on their rivals.
Their pressure resulted in a second penalty for Hola, who reduced the difference to six points at halfway.
Samoa started the second period strongly, making 15 metres with a powerful rolling maul and allowing Saveali'i room to bound forward on the wing.
He was eventually pushed out of play but scrum-half Steve So'oialo did well to recover the ball from the lineout to keep Tonga on the defensive.
Tonga soon found their feet, though, and looked to feed captain Nili Latu and the returning Taione when they got the ball in attacking areas.
Taione earned a penalty as the ill-discipline from both sides continued and Hola was on hand to chip through the posts to make it 12-9.
Then, seconds before the hour mark, Taione capitalised on a fine lineout routine to burst through and touch down, Tonga going further ahead with the conversion.
Hola confidently kicked another three points with 13 minutes to go but a indiscretion from Hale T Pole soon gave Williams the chance to cut the deficit to four.
Pole was red carded in the closing stages for striking Leo Lafaiali'i before Toke was handed a yellow with just minutes to go.
But their remaining team-mates held on for a wonderful win and Tonga now sets its sights on South Africa and England.
Tonga 19
Tries: Taione
Conversions: Hola
Penalties: Hola 4
Samoa 15
Penalties: Williams 5
