Ponga sends Kiwis into World Cup final after miraculous injury comeback
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Kalyn Ponga’s heroic comeback from injury has delivered the Kiwis a World Cup final berth after a 34-10 win over Tonga in the semi-finals on Saturday night.
Ponga returned to the New Zealand side 23 days after breaking his arm in the tournament opener against Australia.
Kalyn Ponga. Getty Images
In the pouring rain at his club home ground, McDonald Jones Stadium, the dynamic fullback played in jersey No.21 and contributed three try assists.
Before the match even started, the intensity was set with both teams engaging in a stand-off after New Zealand’s haka.
The Kiwis were the first to move, and it may have been to their benefit as Briton Nikora crashed over first after Ponga’s crafty work on the right edge.
Ponga was then targeted by Tonga with former Knights teammate Tyson Frizell flattening him first before Saleski Foketi followed his lead later.
The Tongans were next on the board through Jojo Fifita who finished off a long-range try.
The men in red went close to taking the lead moments later when Demitric Vaimauga looked certain to score.
However, Ponga ran across and put his body on the line to stop four points.
“That is courage,” Trent Robinson said on Seven.
“He’s done it all season, but that was probably his biggest task so far, screaming across that sideline and putting his full body on the line to save the try.”
Ponga’s tackle couldn’t stop the Tongan dominance though with Fifita scoring again to put Tonga in the lead at 10-6.
However, at half-time the Kiwis led 12-10 thanks to a controversial try for Dane Gagai. The contention came from Ponga’s contact on Tonga’s Lehi Hopoate near the ball. Despite the doubt, the Bunker gave it the green light.
After the break it was all New Zealand as the Kiwis ran in four answered tries to seal victory. Casey McLean, Jahrome Hughes, Xavier Willison and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad were the try-scorers as the Kiwis booked themselves a chance to play either Australia or Samoa in the final.
New Zealand had one concern come out of the match with star prop Naufahu Whyte leaving the field with an ankle injury in the second half.
