The situation between Tonga and Aotearoa created by Jason Taumalolo's move back to represent Tonga for this Rugby League World Cup, isn't just about Taumalolo. This not only impacted a few other players, it added layers of intrigue to this weekend's fixture and like all good sporting rivalries, there's a splash of funk mixed into the tactical and competitive elements of the game. This splash of funk has been down-played by all involved and understandably so, what can't be down-played though is how Taumalolo's presence in the middle of the park will shape this contest.

In keeping with that theme, this is far greater than Taumalolo because Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Andrew Fifita and even Peni Terepo are all cut from the same cloth. These lads are robust ball-runners who make their metres via speed that big boppers shouldn't have and nimble footwork at the line. England's middle trio of Chris Hill, James Graham and Sean O'Loughlin are exceptional passers and this gives England's forward pack a style of play, an identity in the same sense that the shared mobility of Tonga's middle (starting) trio gives them a blatant way to dominate the middle.

To only highlight Taumalolo is a huge disrespect to Taukeiaho and Fifita, who are exceptional in their own right. We know this about Fifita, although people will sleep on the fact that Taukeiaho is a Taumalolo clone and Aotearoa can look forward to Taumalolo and Taukeiaho angling runs back behind the ruck, while Fifita angles his runs towards the edges. Everything Tonga do is based from this metre-eating and it's no surprise that Ata Hingano did his job against Samoa as Hingano had plenty of time to make the right play, to accurately dribble grubbers into the in-goal, or accurate drop bombs a metre out from Samoa's try-line.

There's no way you can compare Hingano vs Samoa and the Hingano you saw for the Warriors. One version of Hingano has the luxury on front-foot ball every time he touches it and the other was getting smothered when he caught a pass. There are a number of ways Aotearoa can slow down Tonga's nimble forwards and this obviously starts with the Kiwis forwards.

Aotearoa will know exactly how Taumalolo likes to run the footy and this isn't even secret knowledge as he does it every week in the NRL. Taumalolo is gun because of his vision and he is able to spot when the defenders behind the ruck have missed their assignment, then he makes them pay with speed; defenders can't adjust fast enough, then they're trying to tackle a rampaging South Auckland Rhino.

In this play below, Taumalolo steps off his left to head back behind the ruck because Zane Musgrove hasn't pushed up with his defensive line. Samoa's defensive line has left the space in behind the ruck vacant for Taumalolo and he makes them pay.

The red line/X is what I expect Aotearoa to do. Their defensive line will be aggressive, but they will also make sure to have guys working hard from marker and in that 'A' defender spot (first defender off the ruck). Note the space between Musgrove and Jarome Luai (#20 at marker); Aotearoa will have less space there.

Aotearoa will also do their best not to wait for the Tongan forwards. These two Taukeiaho carries are examples of why I'm so downbuzz about Samoa as there's no defensive energy and they are defending on their heels. That's never good, let alone when forwards with such speed are running at you. With more energy, enthusiasm and aggression, Aotearoa will move their defensive line up to the red line, thus putting their shoulders into tackles instead of waiting and (trying) catching Tongan forwards (yellow x is where Taukeiaho caught the footy):

I say obviously when referring to the Kiwis forwards because Shaun Johnson will play a key role as well, low key-key. Johnson has one of the best long-kicking games in the world and can give the footy an almighty nudge, which will allow Aotearoa to peg Tonga back down their end. Johnson's distance matters because some sets will see Tonga dominate Aotearoa defensively, they'll monster the Kiwis and limit their metres which will result in Johnson kicking from his own 40m-line or even 30m.

Johnson's a better kicker than Ben Roberts, so he can find open pastures but I think we'll see Aotearoa's fitness come into the equation here as well. Here, Roberts kicks from just beyond his 40m-line and dribbles the ball over the touchline because his team needs a rest.

Johnson will find himself in that position, we can bank on that. But we are likely to see the Kiwis keep the ball in play and force Tonga to work the footy off their own try-line, relying on a strong kick-chase and fitness to play long minutes with the ball in play. Samoa needed a rest here, so Roberts' kick is a wise play in theory, yet it gave Tonga a rest and the footy on their 20m-line via a scrum. It's different running off a scrum than the first two plays coming from outside backs who are running at a condensed, aggressive defensive line.

The tempo of this game will be an interesting wrinkle as I'd love to see Aotearoa play fast, but keep the ball in play as much as possible. Even if kicks go down Will Hopoate's throat, or Aotearoa run the ball on the last play and turn it over near the try-line, as long as a scrum of goal-line droppie doesn't slow things down. Both teams have barnstorming forwards, yet Aotearoa have more workers (who aren't celebrating 'cos their job isn't cool) and this game is perfect for the likes of Adam Blair, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Russell Packer.

Blair will be especially important because he will offload and offloads result in fast footy, he's also going to tie up that ruck area and his work from the inside will limit the opportunities of Tonga's forwards to cut back behind the ruck. A fool would judge Blair on how many metres he makes against Tonga, instead look for Blair when Tonga are running one-pass off the ruck. Blair's always going to be there and Blair will definitely be putting late shots on Hingano and Tuimoala Lolohea, forcing the two young halves to kick accurately under pressure they haven't felt yet.

One last thing to watch for is Aotearoa's attack down their left edge. I love Hingano's defence, so I don't expect Aotearoa to target him - they will definitely throw funk that way via Johnson though - and instead Aotearoa will force Lolohea into some tough defensive decisions. This will also be Konrad Hurrell's edge, so Aotearoa will be attacking Lolohea and Hurrell, more importantly though they will be doing so with a super funky attacking group; Kodi Nikorima, Dean Whare, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Simon Mannering/Joseph Tapine.

Maybe Mannering might line up on the right, to do a defensive job on Manu Ma'u. Either way, Mannering and Tapine are equally as talented with the footy, just with different styles. Mannering offers all-round skill and this will be great against Lolohea/Hurrell as it'll be a severe test of their decision making, while Tapine could cause Lolohea nightmares with his running.

This play is super basic, although because Johnson's involved at first-receiver, there's a bit of funk. Johnson passes direct to Te Maire Martin (Nikorima) and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's there as well, so look for this against Tonga's left edge as the presence of Aotearoa's three play-makers will cause headaches for Lolohea/Hurrell:

And that's because this play can lead to mayhem. From that position, Tuivasa-Sheck boosts up on Martin's inside shoulder, giving Martin an option to go inside or out to Whare. That's nearly unstoppable and as Martin passes the footy, Whare's class is evident as he drifts to the outside of his marker;

The stock-standard will be this though, with Johnson on the right and Nikorima joined by Tuivasa-Sheck on the left;

Blair and Asofa-Solomona (x) draw the forwards in-field with their decoy runs, stripping the edge of defensive numbers. Tonga will have to do what Scotland did here and cover Asofa-Solomona that close to the line, with the idea to isolate Tuivasa-Sheck against Lolohea or Hurrell. Tuivasa-Sheck is a gun because he makes the right decisions and the moment a defender makes their move, he'll either commit to running or he can fire a pass out to the winger.

Don't sleep on the connections here. Aotearoa know how Taumalolo (and Taukeiaho) go about their work, Johnson and Tuivasa-Sheck know all about Hingano and Lolohea as well. Tonga haven't been tested in this way yet and haven't really been test at all. We're going to be given a nice insight into the Tonga's chances of cracking a semi/final in this game and that will start with whether they can limit Aotearoa to less than 16 points.

Peace and love 27.

Hit an ad to show your support to the Niche Cache, if you enjoyed this yarn. You'll be making a donation and helping us continue to deliver in-depth content, without having to actually pay anything.