Pool D: Stupid decisions by Tonga players had almost certainly cost the Pacific islanders any chance of reaching the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time, Tonga coach Jim Love admitted after yesterday's game.
An ill-disciplined Tonga were beaten 36-12 by Italy in what Love and Italy coach John Kirwan had both identified as their teams' most important match in pool D.
"A lot of players played to their own game plans," Love told reporters. "It's disappointing. In the heat of the moment they made a lot of stupid decisions."
The Tongans were constantly back-pedalling against an Italian pack methodically grinding away in front of their New Zealand-born flyhalf Rima Wakarua, who produced a flawless kicking display on his test debut.
Love admitted he had been taken by surprise by the committed and disciplined display by the Italians.
The win keeps alive fast-improving Italy's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time.
Tonga must now upset Wales in their next match on Sunday or favourites New Zealand on October 24th to have any hope of advancing in the tournament.
Flanker Ipolito Fenukitau was sent to the sin bin in only the second minute for a late high tackle on Italian full back Gonzalo Canale. Fenukitau suffered a dislocated shoulder and never made it back on to the field.
Wakarua kicked two of his five penalties while Fenukitau was in the sin bin.
Tongan hopes effectively ended when they lost captain Inoke Afeaki, who was taken off the field on a stretcher after being knocked out in a tackle midway through the second half.
Kirwan was delighted with his side's discipline and commitment as well as the outstanding display by Wakarua, who kicked 21 points through five penalties and three conversions.
"I'm very pleased and proud for him that he's had such a good first test match," he said.
ITALY: G Canale; N Mazzucato, C Stoica, M Dallan, D Dallan; R Wakarua, A Troncon; A Lo Cicero, F Ongaro, M Castrogiovanni, S Dellape, Bortolami, A De Rossi, A Persico, S Parisse. Replacements: A Masi for Stoica (80 mins), S Perugini for Castrogiovanni (74 mins), C Checchinato for Dellape (67 mins), C Festuccia for De Rossi (71 mins). Sin bin: Ongaro (69 mins).
TONGA: P Hola; S Fonua, G Leger, J Payne, T Tui'fua; S Tuipulotu, S Martens; T Lea'aetoa, E Taukafa, H Lavaka, V Vaki, M Ngauamo, I Afeaki, I Fenukitau, B Kivalu. Replacements: S Afeaki for Fenukitau (13 mins) J Ngauamo for Leger (54 mins), U Latu for I Afeaki (56 mins), K Pulu for Lea'aetoa (73 mins), V Ma'asi for Taukafa (70 mins), S Va'enuku for Lavaka (74 mins). Sin bin: Fenukitau (2 mins), Ngauamo (67 mins).
Referee: Steve Walsh (New Zealand).
