Tautahi Gold became the first Tongan side to lift the IRB Pacific Rugby Cup title with an 11-3 defeat of defending champions Upolu Samoa in the grand final, ending Samoan dominance of the competition over the previous two years.
The final, played in front of a near capacity crowd at Apia Park, was played in true Pacific style. Ruthless in the forwards, physical at the breakdown and tight throughout, something that followers of the Pacific Rugby Cup have become accustomed to. It was also a match that completed an impressive turnaround for Tautahi Gold.
Bottom of the standings a year ago, Tautahi Gold turned the tables on the defending champions, avenging their 26-10 loss at the same venue only seven days earlier in the final round robin matches with Tonga captain Nili Latu catching the eye.
“This was a big win for us and for Tongan Rugby,” said the veteran flanker Latu, one of the best players at Rugby World Cup 2007. “We came here as underdogs, but we played well and I am thankful to all the team and management that we were able to deliver a historic victory.”
In the final, Sitaleki Lu’au, the leading try-scorer in the competition, got Tautahi off to the perfect start, scoring the opening try, while ‘Apikotoa’s drop goal handed the visitors a shock 8-3 advantage at the interval.
2008: A memorable tournament
Defending champions Upolu fought back in the second half, but were frustrated by a determined Tautahi defence that refused to buckle. Yet despite their hard work, the Samoans could not find the breakthrough and it was Lu’au who put the game beyond doubt for Tautahi, landing a penalty midway through the half to seal a memorable victory.
Tautahi’s success in the final capped what had been a memorable tournament for the three participating nations and the event organisers, the International Rugby Board.
The improved performance of Fiji and Tonga and to and lesser extent, Samoa, at Rugby World Cup 2007 had proven the competition’s value as a key player development tool for rugby within the Pacific Islands, while also injecting fresh enthusiasm for provincial representative rugby in the Oceania region.
The result was a memorable 2008 competition, fiercely competitive throughout and well attended across each of the five rounds. Tautahi’s early competition form did little to suggest that they would lift the silverware as they lost to Fiji Warriors 21-19 in the opening round as both Upolu Samoa and 2006 champions Savai’i Samoa got off to characteristically good starts with victories over Tau’uta Reds and Fiji Barbarians respectively. Interestingly, the largest margin of victory across the three matches was just eight points.
The action was no less competitive in round two. Upolu Samoa outlined their championship credentials with a comprehensive 22-5 victory over Fiji Barbarians, catapulting them to the top of the standings, while Savai’i maintained their winning start, holding on for a 20-18 victory over Fiji Barbarians at Prince Edward Park. Tautahi, boosted by the return of inspirational captain Latu, defeated Tau’uta Reds 21-11, scoring two tries in the all-Tongan affair in Nuku'alofa to consign the Reds to a second consecutive defeat.
With Latu at the helm, Tautahi continued to make improvements and struck a hammer blow by defeating pre-competition favourites Savai’i Samoa 27-17 on home soil. Full back Setaleki Lu'au scoring twice as the Tongans earned a maiden bonus point. Meanwhile, Uplou Samoa, with Sevens star Uale Mai in their ranks, made it three victories in a row, holding their nerve to defeat Fiji Warriors 13-8 at Apia Park in a match that changed hands three times.
For the Fijians the defeat was another glum result in a campaign that garnered just two victories – a poor return for the Rugby World Cup 2007 quarter finalists – though the Barbarians did lift spirits with a nail-biting 25-24 victory over 2007 finalists Tau’uta Reds.
Pride, power and passion
As round four neared, speculation surrounded whether Upolu would romp through to the final. Clear at the top of the standings, victory against local rivals Savai’i would all but seal passage to the luxury of a home final. Savai’i had different ideas, though, and threw a sizeable spanner in the works by winning the crunch match in Apia 14-9 and in doing so opening the door for Tautahi Gold, who were steadily improving.
Playing the day before, the Tongans recorded an impressive 20-0 victory over an outclassed Fiji Barbarians to raise hopes of qualifying for the final, but they would have to do it the hard way by playing Upolu on Samoan soil in the final round of matches. Meanwhile, their chances were also given a boost by Tau’uta Reds’ second successive victory, a 14-13 defeat over finalist hopefuls Savai’i.
The final round was full of permutations. Victory for Upolu would guarantee the Samoans a place in the final for the second successive year. Their final round opponents Tautahi Gold would have to win or hope that countrymen Tau’uta Reds could record a famous victory against 2006 champions Savai’i.
It was to be the Gold’s weekend … just. Despite losing 26-10 to Upolu in a match where they did not get out of second gear, the match was effectively a dead rubber with nothing but a psychological marker at stake as the night before Tau’uta delivered the shock victory that booked Tautahi’s place in the final at the same venue against the same opposition a week later.
Having watched his team flattened in the dress rehearsal, Tautahi coach Liueli Lafoe Fusimalohi called for a performance of “pride, power and passion” as the Gold looked to avenge the defeat. He was not to be disappointed as his side produced an astute defensive performance to ensure Tongan hands clasped the IRB Pacific Rugby Cup trophy for the first time in the competition’s history.
RESULTS:
18/04/2008 - Savai'i Samoa 17-13 Fiji Barbarians
18/04/2008 - Fiji Warriors 21-19 Tautahi Gold
19/04/2008 - Tau'uta Reds 12-20 Upolu Samoa
25/04/2008 - Fiji Barbarians 5-22 Upolu Samoa
26/04/2008 - Savai'i Samoa 20-18 Fiji Warriors
26/04/2008 - Tau'uta Reds 11-21 Tautahi Gold
02/05/2008 - Upolu Samoa 13-8 Fiji Warriors
02/05/2008 - Tautahi Gold 27-17 Savai'i Samoa
03/05/2008 - Fiji Barbarians 25-24 Tau'uta Reds
09/05/2008 - Tautahi Gold 20-0 Fiji Barbarians
09/05/2008 - Fiji Warriors 16-23 Tau'uta Reds
10/05/2008 - Upolu Samoa 9-14 Savai'i Samoa
16/05/2008 - Tau'uta Reds 14-13 Savai'i Samoa
17/05/2008 - Upolu Samoa 26-10 Tautahi Gold
17/05/2008 - Fiji Warriors 7-29 Fiji Barbarians
FINAL: 23/05/2008 - Upolu Samoa 3-11 Tautahi Gold
This review appears in the IRB World Rugby Yearbook 2009, to purchase a copy of the Yearbook for the reduced online price of £10.99 visit the publishers' website www.visionsp.co.uk.
