Tongan fans were out in force during last night's League World Cup semifinal against England. Photo / Jason Oxenham
Tonga's giant-killing League World Cup campaign is over – with not even a sell-out Mt Smart Stadium crowd, which included the King of Tonga, Tupou VI, able to inspire the side to a semifinal win over England.
The majority of the 30,000 crowd at last night's clash – won 20-18 by England – were backing Tonga, with a huge number decked out in Tonga's red colours and also feverishly waving Tongan flags.
Tonga looked out of the running until a dramatic late second half comeback in which they scored three unanswered tries - but ultimately fell agonisingly short, despite appeals for a last second try.
England's Gareth Widdop said it was the one of the best games he had played in.
"These Tongan supporters are unbelievable. They are passionate and they kept fighting to the end."
For the past six weeks the Tonga team, and their fans, have injected some much-needed hype around the tournament.
And in the hours leading up to last night's clash their fans again made their presence felt throughout Auckland.
All roads lead to Mt Smart Stadium, in Penrose. And those travelling those roads faced a slow trip as convoys of league fans – with many of their cars also proudly featuring Tongan flags – headed to the venue.
Tongans unable to get tickets to the game also joined shared their national pride with hundreds at town centres at Otahuhu and Mangere leading up to kick-off decked out in red.
On a warm and pleasant afternoon on Otahuhu's Princess St, car horns tooted long and proud and extended cries of "Tonga!" reverberated around the town centre.
"It's exciting-as, all the Tongans representing their country," Ben Matangi said.
"England are a pretty good side but I reckon the guys are going to take the win. Jason Taumalolo, he's all we need eh. MMT – Mate Ma'a Tonga [die for Tonga]!"
Supporters started gathering at Mt Smart Stadium - sold out for the first time in 22 years – more than three hours before the 6pm kick-off.
Tonga's fans arrived in high spirits; with many backing their beloved team to beat England, and qualify for next Saturday's final against Australia, after big wins over Samoa and the Kiwis.
Mo'unga-E-Kaha'u "Mo" Kaifa, an off-duty police officer, called today's game a "clash of the Kingdoms".
"You've got two monarchist nations playing a game tonight and England and Tonga go way back — there's a strong connection there," he said.
"I saw a Tongan vehicle with England flags on it so, you know, even though the majority of supporters are Tongans, I think there's a lot of support for England as well."
His wife Jennifer Kaifa, who has Irish parents, said everyone was "Tongan by osmosis" yesterday.
In their home suburb of Mangere, the Kaifa family had found the last few weeks to be "electric".
"Flags, booming sounds, smiling faces. A handful of arrests. But overall it's been absolutely brilliant," she said.
One of the few English fans in sight, Bob Disley, who hails from the sports-mad city of Manchester and came especially for the tournament, said he'd never experienced anything like this in his life.
"It's brilliant, doesn't compare to anything I've been to before — nothing ever," he said.
"Nothing in England could compare to this. It's just a great bunch of friendly people and a great, great atmosphere."
Despite being outnumbered by at least several hundred to one, he vowed to sing as loudly as the Tongans — "Well, I'll try" — and was confident his team would come up with the goods.
After earlier crowd control issues, there was a strong police and security presence at and around Mt Smart Stadium.
Police had also rostered on extra police to monitor post-match gatherings in South Auckland after several late-night violent clashes which have resulted in two police officers being injured and multiple arrests earlier in the tournment.
Police were last night also "strictly" enforcing an alcohol ban in place around Otahuhu town centre.