Ah Whangarei, I'm very fond of the place. I directed a season of Dream Home there and was up there for about 10 weeks. I drove past this stadium many a time.
The locals jokingly call Whangerai the Land of Liquid Sunshine, but the weather today looks impecable.
Canada have tough opponents for their first game, however with World Rankings of 14th vs 12th respectively, they should have a good shot at this.
The Tongans acquitted themselves superbly well against the All Blacks 5 days ago. Although they should be weary, they might also be confident that they can play on the world stage and compete with the best.
The first five minutes are all Tonga, but they don't score any points. There is a remarkable looking blind side flanker in the Canadian team by the name of Adam Kleeberger. He looks like some kind of Yukon lumberjack, with a wool red ZZ Top style beard. He seems to be all over the park, but this might be because his look is so unique you can't help but spot him. I feel he's one to watch.
That will explain it! Canada draw first blood and score a superb try to one Jebb Sinclair, who looks like some kind of Yukon lumberjack, with a wool red ZZ Top style beard. There are two of them! No in fact closer inspection reveals there are more strange ginger-bearded lumberjacks in the Canadian forward pack. No wonder they beguiled the Tongans so! A nice conversion to James Pritchard and the maple syrup swigging Canadians can rejoice 7-0 up!
With 20 minutes gone there are just 7 points in it, as the Tongan goal kicker Kurt Morath misses two relatively straight forward penalties. I must admit I'm surprised by how competitive the Canadians are.
They are also more disciplined and Morath slots a three pointer on the 25 minute mark to make it a healthy 10-0 lead to the Maple Leaves. The Canadians are coached by stalwart ex-All Black Kieran Crowley, and they play his kind of no nonsense, no flashy rugby. It is working.
Back to the beards for a moment - the beards are one thing but it is pretty extraordinary that they are all ginger. These Canadians look like super-sized versions of my poker buddy Sam Meikle. No doubt they all listen to Bon Iver in the changing room as they psych up for the game.
Moments before halftime we have a period of scintillating rugby. The Tongans pound the Canadian try line for 19 phases over about three minutes, and just when it seems the Canadian pack have repelled the frenzy, the Tongans spin it wide to Siali Piutau who scores a richly deserved try. This is also the 50th try of the tournament to boot!
Morath's conversion makes it 10-7 to Canada at the break.
The second half begins at a cracking pace and the teams swap penalties within the first 5 minutes of the half. 13-10 Canada after 46mins. It seems at every breakdown a wooly bearded Canadian behemoth emerges with the pill. The Canadian forwards are outpointing their counterparts, and the Tongan backs have the edge out wide. Either team could win this.
It is the Tongan backs who draw blood first in the half, as the rampaging centre Piutau cuts through the Canadians like a hot knife through flapjacks to nab his second try under the sticks. 17-13 Tonga.
My beautiful wife Megan is part Tongan - you can see it in her powerful calves! And I must confess I would love to see them win this for her sake, but these big hearted Canadians are also loveable.
58 minutes in, what did I say about liquid sunshine! Whangerai is crazy, you would never have thunk that it could have been raining 60 minutes ago - what a changeable climate. This weather should suit the Canadians. But Morath puts the Tongans 7 points clear with 15 minutes to go.
Hold the phone. The Lumberjacks strike back immediately with another big old forward rumble eh, as number 8 Aaron Carpenter's try puts them back in the hunt. The conversion is missed. 20-18 Tonga 70minutes played.
O Canada! They score their third and most vital try a few minutes later. This time a winger Phil MacKenzie capitalises from the hard work of his forwards. 25-20 Canada. The Tongans look ragged - probably the result of two intense matches within 5 days, but they aren't looking for excuses. They now have 6 minutes to try and win this.
The Canadians have shown more courage and ticker up front, and that is why they are ahead. They also have scored one try more than their opponents. They graft out the last 4 minutes to earn the respect of the crowd and the notice of world rugby. This is the first upset of the World Cup - what a great start for Canada!
The man of the match, sports a bushy beard... it is that eye catching Kleeberger - I told you so!
Final score 20-25
10 games 54 tries.
Tweet of the match- "Canada vs Tonga just kicked off - but Canada's already won the "team with the biggest beards" competition."@databasedave
Nice to have a Miekle reference in a Post.
ReplyDeleteAnd apt to.
Ginger beards indeed....
Those Canadians were mighty impressive. You could grow a beard like that Mobsta! Hard to imagine.
ReplyDelete