Match Centre

FULL TIME - New Zealand comfortable winners in the end by 34 points to 14.

Tonga race down the right side and find space - they have really come to life late - but a forward pass is ruled.

Shaun Johnson kicks ahead on the last, a small deflection sees it pull away from Briton Nikora and Tonga have it back.

Another error from Tonga and the Kiwis can heap further misery on them. It won't dampen the mood of the sea of red though, who continue to sing and celebrate a great occasion.

Jason Taumalolo smacks Esan Marsters in a rare highlight for Tonga tonight. Taumalolo ruled to have hit it out though and the home side have it back 10 out and will score.

Kenneath Bromwich with a nice kick that forces a dropout and now the pressure is turned onto Tonga. After failing to convert their field position into points, will their frustration show in defence?

Finally the Kiwis get another chance to push further ahead after defending several sets on their line. Shaun Johnson kicks ahead, straight to Daniel Tupou but he drops it and the home side has a full set 10 out.

The ball goes to the air for Daniel Tupou once more but he can't take it and the home side survive once more.

Tuimoala Lolohea with another great grubber that forces Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to take the tackle in-goal. But they still lack the polish to capitalise.

Nothing comes of it though as Tonga rush flurries of offloads trying to break the Kiwis but they can't. Tevita Pangai Junior throws it back on the last after running out of room and John Asiata can't scoop it up. Handover. But now the Kiwis drop it and hand the ball right back to Tonga.

The ball is shoved onto Sitili Tupouniua who fires up and charges towards the line, the ball is stripped out and Tonga have another full set on the line.

Penalty Tonga for a strip. 20 out now.

Tuimoala Lolohea with a lovely grubber and the chase is just as good. Lolohea forces Roger Tuivasa-Sheck back in-goal to earn another repeat set.

Manase Fainu rushes a grubber and it's a beauty, forcing a dropout.

A forward pass called coming out of trouble and Tonga have it back in the NZ half.

Tuimoala Lolohea searching for a 40-20 to shift momentum but it doesn't have the legs and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck gets to it in time.

New Zealand still finding lots of metres through the middle and getting into the Tongan half too easily. Brandon Smith short to a charging Jesse Bromwich on the last but he is held and a handover is ruled.

Tonga with first use of it. John Asiata kicks it into the air for Daniel Tupou once more - after all it worked for them in their first and only try of the game. But it is too shallow and Tupou drops it regardless.

Second half back underway.

Frantic stuff. Joseph Manu powers towards the line out of dummy-half, running 30 metres before being pulled up. Briton Nikora with a nice grubber on the last. The Tongans try to get out of their own in-goal area and Daniel Tupou's pass doesn't go to hand but Will Hopoate just gets to it and grounds the ball. Dropout to come.

Quick hands from Manu Ma'u - the ball hits the ground but sits up for David Fusitua who races towards the corner but he is shoved into touch by scrambling Kiwis.

John Asiata kicks towards Daniel Tupou's wing again but Joseph Manu hugs him and gives him no opportunity to contest for the ball. Penalty Tonga 10 out.

Fantastic set after points from the Kiwis who are just 20 out on the last. Shaun Johnson looks to run but can't find space. He chips ahead but it is caught in-goal. Tonga seven-tackle set. They nab a penalty to help them further up the field.

Jason Taumalolo with a late offload to Tevita Tatola who steams through the middle and was away but it's called back for being a forward pass.

10 out on the last. Shaun Johnson shapes to run then grubbers ahead. It sits up for Will Hopoate but still traps Tonga 10 out from their own end.

Time resumes. Tuimoala Lolohea kicks on the last and it deflects off a Kiwi and goes out 40 from the New Zealand line.

Joseph Manu back up though in a relief for both the Kiwis and Roosters fans.

Time now stopped with Joseph Manu down with a potential knee injury. He is being assessed now.

And another penalty for Tonga. They really need to capitalise to state the obvious.

Tuimoala Lolohea with a lovely grubber and he forces a dropout.

Benji Marshall comes in late to just stop Taumalolo from getting the ball down. Held up.

Jason Taumalolo charges over again and is claiming a try.

Siliva Havili short to Jason Taumalolo who surges up towards the line. A high shot from the Kiwis and they are penalised. More pressure coming.

Massive turning point here. Tonga near the NZ try line and John Asiata grubbers ahead early, fortunately for him the Kiwis drop it. Full set for them. Big chance to hit back.

Again the New Zealanders finding metres far too easily through the middle. They are just 10 out now. They shift it right from Shaun Johnson to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak who runs back inside to Benji Marshall. He bombs in-goal but it's far too deep. Seven-tackle set Tonga.

Tonga get through the set but again the Kiwis have it back on their own 40 on the first play and are winning the positional battle early.

Tuimoala Lolohea clears it on the last for Roger Tuivasa-Sheck - a great kick return and he brings it up to the 40. Ken Maumalo then over halfway. The Warriors outside backs showing exactly what they bring with strong carries out of trouble. Kiwis just 30 out on the third. Shaun Johnson to the air on the last but Daniel Tupou takes it well under pressure.

He's back up though as Tonga get us back underway working it out from inside their own half.

Jesse Bromwich now down receiving treatment.

Manu Ma'u back up. Jesse Bromwich with a lovely short ball to Kenneath Bromwich who steams towards the line and is almost there but a great tackle from Will Hopoate in the last line of defence stops him.

Tuimoala Lolohea with a bomb on the last for the towering Daniel Tupou. But Ken Maumalo does well to fly above and take it. Great runs through the middle from both Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Brandon Smith - great heads up play from both who run from dummy-half and surge into the Tonga half. Time stopped though with Manu Ma'u down in the back.

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves with a risky offload on his own 30. John Asiata pounces and knocks it forward. The fee goes to Tonga, despite replays suggesting no error from the home side. Another great chance for them nonetheless.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck fumbles the bomb on the last and Tonga are 10 out but there's a knock on from John Asiata and that's a missed opportunity for the visitors, who have been playing with plenty of energy early.

New Zealand playing it right through the middle early - simple, hard running. Tonga are also finding space through the middle but through second-phase play.

A strong start from them too as Siliva Havili darts out of dummy-half and is taken 40 out on the third. To Siosiua Taukeiaho now who goes up to the 30. John Asiata dabs it to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck on the last who has it covered. Good signs early for both sides making plenty of metres through the middle.

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves with two hit-ups in this opening set. Jesse Bromwich and Isaac Liu then with massive charges and the Kiwis are already on halfway. Great start. Shaun Johnson high into the air on the last for Daniel Tupou who is under it and offloads for Solomone Kata. Tonga start their first set on the 20.

Underway here in New Zealand.

The sea of red is in full force as Tonga now perform their pre-game war cry.

Andrew Fifita is out for Tonga after unsuccessfully overturning his ban for a crusher tackle on Canberra's Ryan Sutton. He is replaced in the starting side by Addin Fonua-Blake. Tevita Tatola comes onto the bench.

Both teams are out on the field as the respective anthems are sung.

Good afternoon and welcome to today's live coverage of the New Zealand versus Tonga clash.