'Ikale Tahi set to soar in 2023
By Thomas Airey
The ‘Ikale Tahi began their journey to the 2023 Rugby World Cup in impressive fashion but head coach Toutai Kefu insists his team are yet to scratch the surface of their potential.
In their first game at home since 2019, Tonga defeated Australia A 27-21 at Teufaiva Stadium in Nuku’alofa last Friday.
Kefu’s side have been in camp in the Kingdom for over a fortnight and he said they always get a sense of connection and belonging when they can start a campaign in Tonga.
“Off the field stuff, the boys have really engaged,” he said, noting a handful of players were visiting their ancestral homeland for the first time.
“I’ve encouraged all of them to get out amongst it, mix with family, go and see where their parents and grandparents were born.”
The centrepiece of their stay was the game against Australia A, marking both 50 years since ‘Ikale Tahi beat the Wallabies in 1973 and the 100 year jubilee of the Tonga Rugby Union.
“To play in front of our people is something really special and to have a win is the icing on the cake,” Kefu said.
It was ‘Ikale Tahi’s best performance since the last Rugby World Cup, with a mammoth forward pack making strong carries and recycling the ball quickly for fullback Salesi Piutau and company to thrive on attack.
“We did some really good things on Friday but we know the potential and the ceiling is uncapped for this group,” Kefu said.
“We’re probably operating now at 40-50 per cent.”
Expect a similar gameplan from Tonga throughout the year – Kefu said he likes picking big, aggressive forwards and Tonga boast size all over the park.
“We need to take advantage of that, to try and create go-forward ball and create momentum because we’ve got some players in the backs that have loads of x-factor and on their day they could be world class,” he said.
With just five more games scheduled before the Rugby World Cup in September and October, the team that played Australia A was Kefu’s best available lineup and there is little room for experimentation in selection going forward.
Sione Havili-Talitui will join the squad in Fiji this week, George Moala in Japan the week after, with Telusa Veainu and Adam Coleman coming later in the campaign.
All have been absent through injury or personal circumstances but will likely figure in Kefu’s best 23.
The coach said it’s crucial to build combinations and cohesion among the stars that haven’t played together before at the expense of minutes for players at the back end of the squad.
A by-product of this is building winning habits – after losing all three games at the 2022 Pacific Nations Cup, ‘Ikale Tahi have reeled off five straight victories.
“That gives us confidence and momentum going into the World Cup,” Kefu said.
“Nothing beats the feeling of winning.”
After some difficult campaigns in the last four years with limited player availability, he said it’s a pleasure to coach the current squad:
“We’ve got a real determined group and a real special group, there’s some real quality top-class players involved now. With those players come high expectations, and those players put high expectations on themselves.”
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2023 ‘Ikale Tahi fixtures (all local time)
Tonga 27-21 Australia A - July 14 in Nuku’alofa
Fiji vs Tonga - July 22 in Lautoka
Japan vs Tonga - July 29 in Osaka
Samoa vs Tonga - August 5 in Apia
Tonga vs Canada - August 10
Tonga vs Canada - August 15
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Rugby World Cup Pool B
Ireland vs Tonga - September 16 in Nantes
Scotland vs Tonga - September 24 in Nice
South Africa vs Tonga - October 1 in Marseille
Tonga vs Romania - October 8 in Lille
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