Scotland v Tonga LIVE: Rugby World Cup 2023 result and reaction as Scots claim crucial win
Scotland 45-17 Tonga: Gregor Townsend’s side kept their quarter-final hopes alive with a bonus-point victory
Scotland got their Rugby World Cup campaign back on track with a bonus-point 45-17 victory over Tonga in their clash in Nice on Sunday to keep their quarter-final hopes alive in Pool B.
The win may have come at a cost too with captain Jamie Ritchie forced off in the first half following a blow to the head in a tackle from Tongan winger Afusipa Taumoepeau, who was perhaps fortunate to see the colour of his card remain yellow.
Wingers Duhan van der Merwe and Kyle Steyn each crossed for tries, along with George Turner, Rory Darge, George Horne, Blair Kinghorn and Darcy Graham, as Scotland used the width of the field and space left by some poor Tonga defending.
The Pacific Islanders put in huge hits in the tackle, but also showed they have an enterprising attack at times and managed tries through Solomone Kata and giant prop Ben Tameifuna.
Number eight Vaea Fifita was the second Tongan player to receive a bunker yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Finn Russell with three minutes remaining, with the sanction subsequently upgraded to a sending off.
TRY! Scotland 7-10 TONGA (Solomone Kata try, 20 minutes)
A marvellous offload and Solomone Kata is in!
This is much, much better from Tonga in this first 20 minutes compared to their flat first quarter against Ireland. They narrow the Scottish defence by presenting both centres as carrying options, Pita Ahki niftily flicking to a sweeping William Havili out the back door. The fly half spreads it to the right, allowing Kata to make ground up the touchline.
Tonga reload and draw penalty advantage, and Charles Piutau spots the opportunity. Piutau injects himself at first receiver on the blindside, slipping out of a tackle and forcing the last defender to step in, contorting his arms around him and setting up Kata, who does the rest. Havili’s conversion is a good’un, too.
Scotland 7-3 Tonga, 19 minutes
Punchy stuff. Sione Tuipulotu very nearly takes an uncomfortable tumble as Pita Ahki goes low in the tackle, a stabilising hand from the Scotland centre perhaps saving his opposite number from a penalty as he flipped over the Tongan tackler.
No harm done, though, and Tonga reset well defensively. They’ll have the scrum feed after the water break following another Scottish fumble.
Scotland 7-3 Tonga, 17 minutes
Scotland make initial ground after the lineout but again fail to properly keep their belongings secure. That’s a second successive 22 entry that passes without a point.
Scotland 7-3 Tonga, 15 minutes
Yeesh! Solomone Kata gets some revenge on Duhan van der Merwe, bashing the wing back some five metres or so as he takes contact. It’s a physical start in Nice.
But that’s a bit more cultured from Finn Russell, taking turnover ball and making the most of it with an intelligent 50/22, pivoting his hips to find the backfield space on Tonga’s defensive left.
Scotland 7-3 Tonga, 13 minutes
That’s more of what Duhan van der Merwe likes, stomping his way into and out of a couple of tackles in quick succession as Tonga struggle to get to grips with his enormous thighs.
Scotland play to the right, with Chris Harris pressing the accelerator and linking with Blair Kinghorn and Kyle Steyn. Steyn curves inwards but takes a tonking from a retreating Tongan, and the ball pops into Charles Piutau’s midriff, allowing the Pacific Islanders to clear.
Scotland 7-3 Tonga, 11 minutes
Scotland’s aerial work has been a bit untidy so far, getting themselves in good position to tap back Finn Russell’s floated restart but instead spilling it forward. Duhan van der Merwe just seemed to lose the ball slightly in the bright evening sunshine.
Four handling errors already for the Scots.
PENALTY! Scotland 7-3 TONGA (William Havili penalty, 10 minutes)
William Havili’s left boot is on the money from just left of centre. Tonga are on the board.
Scotland 7-0 Tonga, 8 minutes
Scotland fumble inside their own half, granting Tonga an attacking platform. Rory Sutherland collapses under the strain of the boulder-like Ben Tameifuna, and when Tonga can’t make the most of a grubber, Karl Dickson calls them back to the penalty.
Tameifuna points at the posts.
TRY! SCOTLAND 7-0 Tonga (George Turner try, 5 minutes)
What a maul! Oh, that is a thing of muscular beauty from the Scottish forwards, parting the red sea of Tonga shirts in arrow-head formation and motoring the remaining 15 metres to the line. George Turner applies the finishing touches, Finn Russell converts - crikey that is some sort of physical statement.
Scotland 0-0 Tonga, 4 minutes
Scotland’s lineout fails to function after Tonga clear their lines, but the advancing Pacific Islanders were over eager, and are pinged for offside. Finn Russell sends his forwards down into the 22.
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