Despite the anticipated sea of Tongan supporters at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday, the New Zealand Kiwis are adamant that Auckland is their territory as they prepare to face Tonga in a high-stakes Pacific Championships clash.
Kiwis coach Stacey Jones told RNZ that the team views the fan dynamic as secondary. “We are playing at home. Regardless of what the crowd is, this is our home,” he said, recognizing the unmatched energy Tongan fans bring to international rugby.
Aware of the intensity in store, Kiwis second-rower Isaiah Papali’i emphasized an early push to quiet the Tongan supporters. “It’s obvious there will be a big red sea out there, but we can draw from that energy,” he said.
Defensive strategy has been a key focus for New Zealand following their recent loss to the Kangaroos. Jones noted the importance of physicality against Tonga’s powerful forwards, including stars Jason Taumalolo and Addin Fonua-Blake.
Kiwis centre Matt Timoko added, “We’ve got to bring an aggressive mindset… they’re a powerful side. We can’t shy away from them.”
With a place in the Pacific Championships final on the line, both teams are determined to make a strong showing following their initial defeats to Australia.
