Canada Finish 6th in Pacific Nations Cup with Loss to Tonga, 30-17
This was definitely a winnable game for Canada, one feels that with some tweaks and a new head coach, Canada could win the 2025 rematch when it matters. The thought of brothers Kaden and Tyler Duguid in the second row and brothers Takoda and Talon in the centres, mixed with some Canadian pride and motivation in the form of a Canadian head coach, would be the formula for a nudge forward.
There were some bright spots, the individual try by Takoda McMullin, the lineout work on attack and defence, the solid scrum for most of the match, but errors at key moments stopped them from converting possession into points when they were camped inside the Tonga 22.
There are 3 match reports posted below, from Neil Davidson at Canadian Press, Rugby Canada and World Rugby.
from Canadian Press (Neil Davidson)
Tonga ran in three first-half tries and relied on some stingy second-half defence to defeat Canada 30-17 in the fifth-place match Saturday at the Pacific Nations Cup rugby tournament.
While the Canadian men fared well at set pieces, they were hurt by inopportune mistakes — often triggered by some physical Tonga defence. And the flowing Tongan attack took advantage.
The young Canadians had the ball in the Tonga end for long stretches of the second half but were unable to turn that possession into points until the 67th minute when Takoda McMullin slashed through the Tonga defence to cut the deficit to 22-15.
Canada was reduced to 10 men in the 70th minute when flanker Ethan Fryer was sin-binned for a high tackle. The ensuing Tongan penalty kick upped the lead to 25-17 and the Pacific Islanders added a last-minute try by John Tapueluelu, his second of the match.
“We’ve got to start converting in that (attacking) zone,” said Canada captain Lucas Rumball. “It’s been a theme for us all tournament.”
Canada lost its opening two games of the six-team tournament, beaten 55-28 by No. 14 Japan on Aug. 25 in Vancouver and 28-15 by the 19th-ranked U.S. on Aug. 31 in Carson, Calif. Tonga lost 43-17 to No. 13 Samoa and 50-19 to No. 10 Fiji.
The Canada-Tonga game — a 4 p.m. local time kickoff — was followed by the first semifinal with Fiji defeating the U.S. 22-3 at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium. Samoa faces Japan on Sunday in the second semifinal.
The final and third-place games are set for Sept. 21 in Higashiosaka City.
Andrew Quattrin also scored a try for Canada, which trailed 19-10 at the half. Peter Nelson kicked a penalty and two conversions.
“There’s lots of positives for us … I’m proud of the players, the way they’ve stuck to it,” said Canada coach Kingsley Jones. “Just taking those opportunities that they’ve worked so hard to create is our (task to) work on.”
Siosiua Moala and Josiah Unga also scored tries for Tonga. Patrick Pellegrini booted two conversions and two penalties.
Prior to the game, the Tongans performed their Sipi Tau war dance as the Canadians, arm-in-arm, watched impassively.
Canada started brightly in the 30-plus C Tokyo heat, winning the ball back after kicking off to the Tongans. But wing Josiah Morra knocked on Nelson’s kick to the corner to end the threat.
Canada kept the pressure on and went ahead 3-0 on a Nelson penalty kick in the sixth minute.
Tonga passed on a penalty kick for goal and opted to kick for the corner with Moala going over at the back of a powerful driving maul from the ensuing lineout, with the conversion giving the Pacific Islanders a 7-3 lead in the 10th minute.
Tapueluelu scored in the 15th minute, outpacing three Canadian defenders down the left wing for a converted try and a 14-3 advantage.
Tonga lost prop Jethro Felemi was sent to the sin-bin in the 19th minute for collapsing a Canadian maul. And Canada wasted little time taking advantage with Quattrin powering his way over from close range for a 20th-minute converted try that cut the Tonga lead to 14-10.
Unga made it 19-10 with Tonga’s third try in the 26th minute after a Pellegrini 50-22 kick moved the Tongans, still a man down, near the Canadian goal-line. A Pellegrini penalty kick in the 47th minute increased the Tonga lead to 22-10.
Tyler Matchem, a 20-year-old graduate of Rugby Canada’s Pacific Pride developmental program, came off the bench in the 62nd minute to earn his first cap for Canada. Callum Botchar entered in the 71st minute, his first appearance since November 2022.
Next year’s Pacific Nations Cup comes with World Cup qualification on the line.
World Rugby says the top three teams from the 2025 tournament will book their ticket to the 2027 World Cup in Australia. But given that No. 10 Fiji and No. 14 Japan have already qualified by virtue of their performance at last year’s World Cup, a top-five finish would do it for Canada if Fiji and Japan finish above it.
Tonga has won the last five meetings since a 36-27 loss to Canada in Kingston, Ont., in June 2013, also at the Pacific Nations Cup.
Tonga holds a 7-5-0 career edge over Canada, with the teams tied 3-3-0 in games played in neutral venues. Three of Canada’s victories came at the World Cup: 37-4 in 1987 in New Zealand, 24-7 in 2003 in Australia and 25-20 in 2011 in New Zealand.
The Canadian men’s next action is in November when they play No. 21 Chile and No. 20 Romania, with both games in Bucharest.
The Pacific Nations Cup is sponsored by Asahi.
from Rugby Canada
Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team concluded the Pacific Nations Cup on Saturday in Japan, losing 30-17 to Tonga in the fifth place play-off.
Peter Nelson put points on the board for Canada first with a good penalty kick, but it was the Ikale Tahi who scored the first try. Tonga scored a second in the 14th minute to go up 14-3, but a yellow card to Jethro Felemi in the 18th minute gave Canada an opportunity that they did not put to waste.
With a scrum at Tonga’s five metre line, captain Lucas Rumball powered the ball forwards, passing it off to Andrew Quattrin for the try. Nelson’s conversion closed the gap to 14-10.
Tonga managed one more try before half-time, putting the score at 19-10. They furthered their lead again in the 46th minute with a good penalty kick.
The ensuing 20 minutes saw both teams battling for momentum, with strong set pieces from the Canadians.
“We’ve got to start converting in that white zone. I think it’s been a theme for us all tournament. When we did put the pressure on and get the opportunities, then we lacked in our ability to finish,” said Rumball.
Canada was next to score, with Cooper Coats darting through Tonga’s defence before offloading the ball to Takoda McMullin. His try was converted by Nelson, bringing the score to 22-17.
Ethan Fryer was assessed a yellow card for a high tackle with 10 minutes remaining in the match, with Tonga taking this opportunity for another penalty kick. The Ikale Tahi scored once more before the final whistle, bringing the full-time score to 30-17.
“This bunch is diligent, they work hard,” said Head Coach Kingsley Jones. “I’m pleased with them today, I think it’s a step forward. Real opportunities were created, and a lot of possession in the second half. A big learning for our youngsters is just being clinical and taking the opportunities to take the points that are on offer.
“What we’ve looked at in the last six months is how we build strong foundations,” Jones said in regards to Canada’s set pieces. “The set pieces have been great. We’re missing about eight guys from that pack as well that had played in the July tests, so full credit to these guys here.”
Pacific Pride graduate and prop Tyler Matchem earned his first cap for Canada, coming off the bench halfway through the second half.
“I’m hugely excited,” Rumball said of the future of the team. “If you look at the results, even against Tonga from last year to this year, it’s a lot closer. For us, we’re building, and I take it as a step forward.”
Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team will next play in Romania in November, with matches set for November 9 against Chile and November 16 against Romania. Further details will be available soon.
from World Rugby
Tonga extended their winning run against Canada to five matches to end their competition on a positive note in the fifth-place play-off.
After a slow start – the first five minutes were played deep in their own half – ’Ikale Tahi, marshalled by player-of-the-match Patrick Pellegrini at 10, showed how dangerous they can be with ball in hand.
Flanker Siosiua Moala scored the game’s first try from a 5m lineout maul after 10 minutes. Winger John Tapueluelu then beat three defenders to add a spectacular finish to another lineout strike move five minutes later.
After Canada’s veteran hooker Andrew Quattrin cut the deficit, Josiah Unga extended Tonga’s lead again, Pellegrini’s pop pass giving him all the room he needed to dive over to give Tonga a 19-10 advantage at the break.
The Maple Leafs dominated the second period – but, for all their pressure, scored just once, when Takoda McMullin touched down 13 minutes from time, as Tonga’s defence clicked at the right time.
And Tapueluelu finished the match with a deserved second touchdown.
“After all our efforts in the last couple of weeks, I think we deserved a win,” captain Ben Tameifuna said immediately afterwards. “The boys worked hard for it. This is a stepping stone for ’Ikale Tahi – our main objective is the World Cup in Australia.”
Canada Name Team to Face Tonga on Saturday at 12:00am PT, 3:00am ET in Pacific Nations Cup Battle for 5th
Canada will face Tonga in a battle to claim 5th and 6th spot in the six team Pacific Nations Cup competition. Canada lost to Japan and USA, Tonga lost to Fiji and Samoa. Next year the tournament will act as a 2027 Rugby World Cup qualifier, Japan and Fiji have already qualified and 3 other teams from next year’s tournament will also qualify. Only the 6th place team will have to choose an alternate qualifying route.
Canada have stayed with the same front row Martinez, Quattrin and Young. They’ve made some changes to the second row with Mason Flesch moving from blindside flanker to lock, Kaiden Duguid remains from last match. In the loose forwards Matt Oworu takes the blindside flanker position with Fryer and Rumball retaining their spots.
The halfbacks remain the same Higgins and Nelson. In the centres Ben Lesage moves from outside to inside centre and Takoda McMullin changes place with his brother Talon and starts at outside centre. Josiah Morra gets the start on the wing, Andrew Coe returns to the wing from fullback and Cooper Coats starts at fullback.
In the reserves Dewald Kotze remains as the backup at hooker, Cole Keith at prop and Tyler Matchem gets his first taste of Pacific Nations Cup action as reserve prop. Callum Botchar finally gets a shot as reserve second row and Siôn Parry is the reserve loose forward. Brock Gallagher and Mark Balaski are the backup halfbacks and utility backs. Talon McMullin will be a reserve for the rest of the backline.
Putting Mason Flesch in the second row will give the team a bit more mobility but losing the size of Izzak Kelly and James Stockwood may give a little less push in the engine room in the scrums. Matt Oworu should provide more go forward ball in the contact area. Returning Andrew Coe and Takoda McMullin to their “normal” positions makes sense and Josiah Morra has a chance to show his pace out wide.
Hopefully we’ll see Mark Balaski get at least 30 minutes of the match at #10, he provides an attacking threat with ball in hand that Nelson doesn’t and that needs to be evaluated, sooner rather than later, at this level. If Canada could bring their top game, keep the errors to a minimum, and win their share of the collisions, they could upset the higher ranked Tonga.
CANADA’S MEN’S RUGBY TEAM MATCH DAY ROSTER vs TONGA
1. Calixto Martinez (White Rock, BC) – Earl Marriott Secondary / Bayside RFC / University of British Columbia / Old Glory DC
2. Andrew Quattrin (Holland Landing, ON) – Aurora Barbarians / New England Free Jacks
3. Conor Young (Yamba, AUS) – Southern Districts Rugby Club / RFC LA
4. Kaden Duguid (Edmonton, AB) – Nor’Westers Athletic Association / Vancouver Highlanders
5. Mason Flesch (Cobourg, ON) – Cobourg Saxons RFC / Chicago Hounds
6. Matthew Oworu (Calgary, AB) – Pacific Pride
7. Ethan Fryer (Issaquah, USA) – New England Free Jacks
8. Lucas Rumball (Scarborough, ON) – Balmy Beach RFC / Chicago Hounds
9. Jason Higgins (Cork, IRE) – Chicago Hounds
10. Peter Nelson (Dungannon, NIR) – Dungannon RFC
11. Josiah Morra (Toronto, ON) – Castaway Wanderers / Toronto Saracens
12. Ben LeSage (Calgary, AB) – Calgary Canucks / New England Free Jacks
13. Takoda McMullin (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia / Vancouver Highlanders
14. Andrew Coe (Markham, ON) – RFC LA / Markham Irish RFC
15. Cooper Coats (Halifax, NS) – Halifax Tars
FINISHERS
16. Dewald Kotze (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Dallas Jackals
17. Cole Keith (Apohaqui, NB) – Belleisle Rovers RFC / New England Free Jacks
18. Tyler Matchem (Pictou County, NS) – Pacific Pride / Pictou County RFC
19. Callum Botchar (Vancouver, BC) – NOLA Gold
20. Siôn Parry (Cardiff, Wales) – Rhiwbina RFC / Ebbw Vale RFC
21. Brock Gallagher (Edmonton, AB) – Strathcona Druids RFC / Dallas Jackals
22. Mark Balaski (Castlebar, IRE) – Castlebar RFC / Pacific Pride
23. Talon McMullin (White Rock, BC) – University of British Columbia / Vancouver Highlanders
from Rugby Canada
The match day roster for Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team’s final match of the Pacific Nations Cup against Tonga has been named by Head Coach Kingsley Jones.
Canada will kick off against Tonga in the 5th place play-off on Saturday September 14 at 12:00am PT / 3:00am ET / 4:00pm local time at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.
Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team last played the world no. 16 ranked Tonga in August 2023, with Tonga winning two tests at Teufaiva Sport Stadium in Nuku’alofa.
A number of changes have been made following Canada’s Pacific Nations Cup loss to the United States on August 31 in Los Angeles.
Matthew Oworu moves off the bench to be the team’s starting blindside flanker, with Cooper Coats also returning to the starting 15. Josiah Morra earns his first start with the team since last November’s La Vila International Rugby Cup match-up with Spain.
Starting on the bench, 20-year-old Pacific Pride graduate Tyler Matchem could earn his first cap for Canada, while Siôn Parry returns following recovery from injury and Callum Botchar could make his first appearance for the team since November 2022.
“The team has had valuable time together here in Japan since our match against the United States. Players and coaches have been working hard on improving our performances with each game we play, and we all want to come away with a performance that we are proud of,” said Head Coach Kingsley Jones. “We’re confident in the preparation we have been putting in, and the work rate from the players has been commendable. Tonga provides another really good challenge for our team that we are looking forward to.”
The match will be streamed live on TSN+. More information about the Pacific Nations Cup can be found here.