Coin toss decides challenge order

A simple coin toss has decided Tonga will challenge the All Blacks first at the Rugby World Cup 2011 opening match tomorrow night, before the home team responds with the haka.

Organizers have clarified the rules, after Tongan captain Finau Maka commented his team would prefer to respond to the All Blacks haka, with their own Sipi Tau.

Tournament Director Kit McConnell said it was all decided a year ago.

Managers of the two teams tossed a coin, to determine which side is Team A and which is Team B.

The outcome decided things like dressing rooms, choice of jersey, team arrivals and who lays down a cultural challenge first.

McConnell said that Team A, who in this case is Tonga, will start their challenge first and then it is up to the other team to decide when they perform their challenge.

He said the same rules apply for the cultural challenges in the Fiji versus Samoa game, later in the tournament.

The All Blacks and Tonga match kicks off at 8.30pm this Friday and you can catch the live commentary on our sister station Viti FM with Malakai Veisamasama and Ilivasi Tabua.


Story by: Dreu Vukailagi