Tonga vs Reds, Nukualofa 15/08/25 @ 12:00pm AEST

[Red Runner]

bring Theo Fourie on....

 

[Wilson]

Lineout looking a lot better with Fourie on. Reds earn a penalty try, with a yellow card to the Tongan player.

31-14 to Tonga

 

[Wilson]

Quick taps from Martens off a scrum in the Reds 22 and a subsequent penalty see the Reds go all the to score in the corner.

31-19 to Tonga

 

[Red Runner]

tell us what happened there Wilson. Great break from Martens, link to Campbell and tremendous charge by Muller. And then???

 

[Red Runner]

replay showed Canham scored.

 

[Wilson]

tell us what happened there Wilson. Great break from Martens, link to Campbell and tremendous charge by Muller. And then???

McCulloch and I think Fourie with good touches in there too

 

[Wilson]

Another try to Tonga and the Reds go close off the final kick off but can't quite do it.

Final score 38-19 to Tonga.

 

[Wilson]

Kalani the best out there for the Reds, but Martens was very good replacing him for a 10 minute stint.

 

[Red Runner]

I didn't mind Robinson's work when he was on. Surprised me with his physicality and his workrate.

On the flip side, Blake and Ryan both really found out again unfortunately.

 

[Major Tom]

Looked like it twisted awkwardly. He cried out in pain when it happened so it looked pretty worrying.

He had some light strapping on already. Unless that was for scrummaging purposes?
Never good when you see them grab at the front of the knee and yell out in pain.

 

[Wilson]

Hard to comment too much on Blake, given he's usually training and playing at loose head these days and is only the 4th or 5th string hooker in the squad.

 

[Major Tom]

Kalani the best out there for the Reds, but Martens was very good replacing him for a 10 minute stint.

He looks sharp doesn’t he. Such a threat around the ruck. Pretty decent shift from King too.

 

[Dctarget]

What's the report on this? Happy with the hit out?

 

[Wilson]

What's the report on this? Happy with the hit out?

Reasonably. Not the best performance but plenty of positives still. It was a much stiffer challenge than last year and a chance to debut ~8 new guys. Should help get their heads in the game for super au

 

[TSR]

I think some of the young guys got a bruising welcome to playing next level rugby.

Which - apart from the injury to Bloomfield is a real positive IMO.

 

[Wilson]

Robinson looking more or less ready at 7 was a huge plus too, I thought he'd be a few years off, but he was well ahead of that. Offers some very legitimate 7 cover coming through