Pride on the line as Kaufusi vows improved showing from Tonga

An “embarrassed” Felise Kaufusi has vowed that Tonga will be better this week when they take on New Zealand, with a big win their only chance of earning another shot at Samoa.

Tonga have a tough task ahead of them on Sunday at Eden Park and have to beat the Kiwis by 18 points if they are to feature in the final of the Pacific Cup after going down 34-6 to Samoa at a packed Suncorp Stadium.

“(I feel) kind of embarrassed to be honest; we had such a great build up to our campaign and wanted to put it out there, but we were a bit rusty, bit off the pace and obviously didn't help ourselves with our errors,” Kaufusi said.

“We weren't executing and our discipline … you can't afford to do that at this level. Maybe club level you can get away with it, but definitely internationals, and against a team like Samoa, they were on tonight and it showed.

“Luckily, we get a chance against New Zealand and we'll take some lessons from that.

“We want to start fast, start hard and be a lot more disciplined and execute a lot more, but I think we'll be better for having that run.”

While their forward pack was seen as their strength leading into the match against Samoa, Kristian Woolf’s side lost talismanic leader Jason Taumalolo on game eve after it was deemed he still needed some time to recover from post-season surgery.

They also were left without starting prop Stefano Utoikamanu for the majority of the match after he suffered a Category One head knock in the opening minutes of the match, leaving the side on the back foot against the rampaging Samoan pack.

“That’s probably one of our biggest strengths, being aggressive, being a good pack and leading off that, and we obviously didn’t do that (against Samoa),” Kaufusi said.

“It's a good challenge for us that we come up another against another great pack in New Zealand and it'll be another big one.

“Obviously losing Jase … you know what difference he makes in that red jersey and with Stef, it was just unfortunate, and we lost him so early as well.

“I know he was keen for a big game ...

"(But) that's just part of the game nowadays that we've got to prepare for and be ready for.”

The side will be hoping for a repeat of the last time Tonga and New Zealand met, with an Isaiya Katoa field goal securing them a win over their Tier One rival and saw them advance to the Pacific Cup final.

Lifted by the support from the ‘sea of red’, Kaufusi was hoping to see the fans out in force to back their team against the home side.

“Absolutely we want to see the ‘red sea’ again,” Kaufusi said.

“I know they'll be out on their numbers in their in their droves, with their parades, cars, their flags.

“Win, lose or draw, I know they'll be there, so I can't wait to see (them in) New Zealand again.”