Loss a blessing, claims coach

Kiwis coach David Kidwell has labelled the team’s 28-22 loss to Tonga a ‘‘blessing in disguise’’.

It was the first time the Kiwis have ever lost a test to Tonga, and it means they’ll play Fiji in Wellington next weekend.

But of more concern is that if they win the quarterfinal in the capital, they’ll face the Kangaroos in Brisbane the following week, rather than England in Auckland.

However, given the 17 minutes of madness against Tonga in Hamilton, where they leaked four tries in a row, a win over Fiji shouldn’t be taken for granted.

But there was no despondency from Kidwell after the loss in front of 24,000 spectatorsm and he could even take positives from it.

‘‘This is a blessing in disguise for us,’’ Kidwell said.

‘‘Talking to all the guys in the shed, they still feel like they believe in what our campaign is about.’’

It seemed inconceivable that the Kiwis could lose this game at halftime.

They controlled a fired up Tongan side over the first five minutes, then took control.

Tries to Dallin WateneZelezniak, Jordan Rapana and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck helped the Kiwis get to a 16-2 lead at halftime.

Given the experience in the Kiwis side, they should have controlled the second half and strangled the life out of the game.

However, in a whirlwind 17 minutes David Fusitu’a scored two tries and there was one from Tuimoala Lolohea and Will Hopoate as Tonga stormed in front 24-16.

Tuivasa-Sheck scored a stun- ning solo try eight minutes from time to give the Kiwis hope, but when Fusitu’a brought up his hattrick five minutes later it was game over.

‘‘I thought we played very well in the first half, we completed our sets, we put Tonga under a bit of pressure,’’ reflected Kidwell.

‘‘In the second half, just our discipline, letting them out easy. Penalties, which forced us into errors.

‘‘Not taking anything away from Tonga, but we were poor with our discipline in the second half.

Of course, it will never be known how this game would have turned out had Jason Taumalolo, Manu Ma’u, David Fusitu’a and Sio Siua Taukeiaho chosen to play for the country they were born in, rather than Tonga, but you could take a calculated guess.