New Zealand defeats Tonga 34-10 to reach World Cup final
New Zealand beat Tonga 34-10 at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, securing a place in the tournament final. The Kiwis led 12-10 at halftime and pulled away in the second half, with a try from Briton Nikora inside four minutes and five successful goal kicks by Isaako. Kalyn Ponga returned to the field after a broken arm, and the win marks New Zealand’s first World Cup final appearance since 2013.
Key facts
- The match attracted a crowd of 29,712 spectators.
- Jojo Fifita scored two tries for Tonga.
- Dane Gagai added a try before halftime for New Zealand.
- The trophy for the final weighs more than 20 kilograms.
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Why it matters
The victory puts New Zealand back in a World Cup final after more than a decade.
What changed
First published from Yahoo Sports, The Independent, The Guardian and ABC News (Australia)