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Italy v Tonga © Getty Images
Italy's Nicola Mazzucato tries to break through the Tonga defence

ITA 36 v TGA 12: What they said

16/10/2003

 

Alessandro Troncon (ITA) - Captain

On winning the game:

"It was a difficult match ... important to win to continue World Cup, so I'm very happy."

"Last time we lost at World Cup 1999 so this time is our time.  We won a very difficult match because for each team it was important to win."

"So I am very happy, but now we wait for Canada."

On whether it was a rough game:

"Yes, but it's a World Cup game."

On the decisive moment of the match:

"Today we played with a lot of discipline. We took the points and scored the try when we had to score. And we had a good defence."

John Kirwan (ITA) - Coach

On the game:

"I think defensively we were very sound ... there's a few things we have to tidy up before our next game."

On team spirit:

"It is important we enjoy our win, for us rugby is a celebration."

On the game against Canada:

"Canada play a hard and disciplined style. It's a terrible cliche but we're just going to take it one game at a time."

Rima Wakarua (ITA) - Flyhalf

On being selected for the Italian World Cup squad:

"It was very surprising, one month ago I was just watching a game on TV. I was at the first World Cup final in 1987 and now I'm in Canberra playing a World Cup."

Jim Love (TGA) - Coach

On Tonga's loss to Italy:

"It's terribly sad that we lost."

On the competition:

"We definitely talked about this being a must-win game, but we can still make it if we beat Wales and get a bonus point, if Wales beat Italy and if we can knock over the All Blacks."

On Tonga's chances of making the Quarter Finals:

"We've still got opportunities and chances, we'll regroup, we're a slim chance but always a chance."

On how Italy played:

"They played very well. I didn't bank on Italy coming out with a big kicking game the way they did."

On the upcoming match against Wales:

"It's a priority for us, it's going to be full steam ahead. We don't have a lot of time especially with the injuries - it will be hard on us."

On his team's performance against Italy:

"The players played to their own game plans which in the heat of the moment wasn't good."

Gus Leger (TGA) - Centre

On losing the match against Italy:

"The boys gave it their all ... put their bodies on the line and really did themselves proud, regardless of the result."

What's next for the team:

"We'll move onto Wales next Sunday ... we'll regather, regroup, refocus and go again."


 

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