25 Jul 2015

Sport: Tonga keen to improve poor record against Canada

10:42 am on 25 July 2015

Tonga is determined to improve on their poor record against Canada in this afternoon's Pacific Nations Cup rugby clash, just outside of Vancouver.

Tonga rugby

Tonga rugby Photo: Supplied

The 'Ikale Tahi beat the Maple Leafs in their first encounter back in 1974 but last tasted victory in 1999, and have lost five of their seven international match-ups.

The North Americans prevailed 36-27 when the teams last met two years ago and Tongan coach Mana Otai, who was in charge that day, says they want to get back to winning ways.

"In my time and even beforehand we haven't been successful against Canada, yet. They went down to Japan [last week] but it's a different game - that was their first game as well and I expect them to be a different approach [against] us. It's about 20 percent towards what they're doing and 80 percent towards what we're doing. We learnt alot from the Fijian game: we've got to make our first up tackles and one on ones and also take our opportunities and minimise the basic mistakes."