Tonga avenged last weekend's defeat by Fiji with a 32-20 victory over their fellow Pacific Islanders.
Morath helps visitors dominate in Lautoka
Tonga bounced back from last weekend's defeat by Fiji with a 32-20 victory over their fellow Pacific Islanders on Friday.
Fly-half Kurt Morath booted 17 points with a conversion and five penalties during the two sides' final World Cup warm-up at Churchill Park in Fiji's second city Lautoka.
Tonga also ran in three tries through Vungakoto Lilo, Fetu'u Vainikolo, Alipate Fatafehi, while the hosts replied with tries from Rupeni Nasiga, Leone Nakarawa.
Nakarawa celebrated his last-minute clearance to represent Fiji at the World Cup next month with a late, late try but it was not enough to save his side from defeat.
The 23-year-old lock had been banned from travelling to New Zealand due to restrictions on Fijian soldiers entering the country, imposed by tournament hosts following the 2006 military coup on the islands.
But the New Zealand government lifted the ban on Friday after Nakarawa resigned his post in the military.
Morath grabbed the lead for the visitors in the 20th minute with a penalty and two minutes later winger Lilo extended the advantage with Tonga's first try.
Superb
Lilo crossed after collecting a superb long range crossfield pass from fellow wing Fetu'u Vainikolo after he tore open the Fijian defence.
Waisea Luveniyali pulled three back for the hosts after 28 minutes to close the gap to 8-3 and four minutes later the home side grabbed the lead through Nasiga.
Netani Talei broke down the touchline after winning a 22 metre dropout before passing back inside to Nasiga, who went over for the try.
Waisea Luveniyali converted to make it 10-8 to Fiji but their lead would last only briefly as Morath struck a penalty to take his side into half-time 11-10 in front.
Morath extended Tonga's advantage to 17-10 with two more penalties after the break before Vainikolo took pounced on a dropped pass in the Fijian backs to stretch the lead even further.
Luveniyali cut the lead to 22-13 with a second penalty but centre Alipate Fatafehi ran in Tonga's third and Morath converted to make it 29-13.
The fly-half took the scores to 32-13 with a 77th-minute penalty but the hosts managed to close the gap by seven when Nakarawa crossed in the fourth minute of injury time and Luveniyali converted.
Tonga will play New Zealand in the opening World Cup match in Auckland on Sept. 9.
