TOPS
Unlike his (almost) namesake Pita Ahki, three-quarter center of Tonga this evening, the Irish Bundee Aki played a very high level game. The three-quarter center missed almost nothing in defense and above all, shone offensively. First under the Tongan returns, where he captured the balls perfectly before being in the forward direction. Then he scored a double. Served high by Byrne, the original Samoan broke through the Tongan defense (63rd) before scoring a second six minutes later. Logically, he was elected man of the match. With a match like this, it’s hard to imagine that the powerful Connacht player won’t start against the Springboks…
Jonathan Sexton has just overtaken another Irish legend: Ronan O’Gara. The Leinster opener has just surpassed his compatriot’s 1,083 points in the selection and becomes the best scorer in the history of the Clover XV. Sexton scored a penalty, four conversions and also scored a try in the first half. He was then replaced at half-time, probably as a precaution before the clash against the Springboks next Saturday.
Out of its 21 hits, the Club XV managed… 21. And above all, it is thanks to this sector of play that the Irish managed to beat the Tongans. Doris’s try (27th) comes from a touch, like Lowe’s or Herring’s tries. Andy Farrell’s men put their evening counterparts to torture, stringing together quality carried balls. But against the Springboks, it will probably not be the same fight…
FLOPS
The Ikale Tahi expected a complicated match against Ireland. Despite some good actions and good resistance at the start of the game, the Tongans collapsed. Mentally then physically. the bench appeared too limited and the team as a whole could not do anything against the XV du Trèfle. Next Sunday, Toutai Kefu’s men will face Scotland. A new difficult challenge…
Kata, Ahki, Fekitoa, Piutau… This three-quarter line could make more than one person salivate. But this evening, she didn’t weigh in. On the wings, the solid Kata, capable of playing in the center, never managed to win a duel and was in difficulty in the kicking game and in coverage. On the other side, Perpignan player Afusipa Taumoepau almost missed everything. In the center, Ahki and Fekitoa showed some good defensive and offensive actions at times but never weighed down. At the back, Piutau often broke tackles with his supports but also isolated himself. To be reviewed in other conditions.
In the second half, the team made up of Kilcoyne, Herring and Bealham did good to Ireland. Because in the first period, the Irish suffered. Against the solid Fisi’ihoi, Ngauamo and Tameifuna, the usually impeccable trio of Porter, Kelleher and Furlong suffered, conceding numerous penalties. A sector to be better mastered before the next deadline.
