Tonga received a warm welcome from thousands of Auckland’s Pacific island community, who blocked streets as the team arrived in the city.
Traffic was held up and the team bus required a police escort with sirens wailing from the airport to their hotel, where the fired up Tongan’s immediately set a challenge to the All Blacks.
One news reporters caught up with the captain Finau Maka and their supporters.
Tonga are in pool A with the All Blacks and the two sides will meet in the tournament opener on Friday night at 8.30pm and you can catch the exclusive live radio commentary of the match on Viti FM with the new voice of rugby Malakai Veisamasama and 2007 World Cup coach Ilivasi Tabua.
Story by: Dhanjay Deo
Thousands welcome Tongan team in Auckland
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