Tonga stun New Zealand in Auckland epic to reach first final

“We wanted to fight fire with fire. We knew New Zealand had a first line and a world class team.

“They came back, it shows how brave they are. They can hold their heads high. It was a great game.”

The Tongans crushed New Zealand in the first half: their team played the first 30 minutes unchanged and easily overtook the New Zealanders.

Keano Keene was terrorized at the back while the likes of Fonua-Blake were roughed up in the middle.

Fonua-Blake scored one of Tonga’s four tries in the first half when he made a dummy and went over a huge gap as part of his 214 meters for the game.

Jason Taumalolo also topped the game with 188 metres, while Sione Katoa did his damage on the wing and crossed for Tonga’s first goal.

Siliva Havili and Sony Luke also scored dummy time goals to keep the New Zealanders on their feet.

But eventually possession began to level out and Tonga suddenly looked even more tired.

After Sitili Tupuniua made Tonga’s first error in the 35th minute, Isaiah Papali’i breathed life into New Zealand by moving to the right wing.

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Keaney picked up the pace again and began to cut into Tonga’s left side, while Johnson began to step up his attack and made a crucial try in defence.

The No. 7 set up his fullback Keeney for one try and after the break Peta Hiku sent in Phoenix Crossland for another to make it 24-18.

Joe Tapine also had a moment of brilliance as the Kiwi prop brought the loose ball forward, collected and stepped past Sione Katoa to score and make it 24-24.

At that moment, New Zealand’s victory seemed inevitable.

But Isaiah Katoa had other ideas: he delivered the greatest moment of his career and led Tonga to one of the greatest sporting victories in his country’s history.

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