England vs Tonga Rugby World Cup 2019 result: Manu Tuilagi double seals victory in misfiring display
Re-live the action from England’s opening Rugby World Cup victory as Eddie Jones’s side made a winning start to their Japan 2019 campaign
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Your support makes all the difference.Two tries by centre Manu Tuilagi helped England to a scrappy 35-3 bonus-point victory over a tough and resilient Tonga in their Rugby World Cup Pool C opener in Sapporo on Sunday.
Mindful the three-time world champions New Zealand had demolished Tonga 92-7 two weeks ago, Eddie Jones's side were keen to flex their muscles and send a message that they could match the tournament favourites with a similar performance. The Tongans, led by big-hitting loose forwards Sione Kalamafoni and Zane Kapeli, however, proved difficult to break down and it was only rampaging centre Tuilagi's tries that gave England an 18-3 advantage at half-time.
Hooker Jamie George and his replacement Luke Cowan-Dickie added second-half tries for the 2003 champions, who controlled territory and possession and had a smart tactical kicking game but could not finish off the numerous chances they created.
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36 mins: England are camped on the Tongan line but there's no breaking it for now. They do at least win a penalty, and Youngs decides to tap and go quickly. There's a bundle of bodies between the uprights and the referee stops play as there might just be a try in there somewhere...who, how or why I have no idea, but the replays will tell us shortly.
Do England have their third try?
36 mins: After a painful delay in waiting for the replays to appear, there isn't a close angle to confirm if Youngs has grounded it. It's no try, but Farrell does have the penalty and kicks at goal from right in front of the uprights to increase the lead. 18-3
40 mins: A collective gasp goes up as Watson is smashed by Kalamafoni just as he drops the ball, with his head whipping back after the collision. That's a dodgy-looking one and I'd be surprised if the referees isn't going to have a closer look at that. He is, though the delay in getting replays to show on the big screen is really killing the atmosphere of this game.
40 mins: IN fairness to Kalamafoni, Watson is already falling and I don't actually think he made contact with the head - it's just a really strong tackle. Ben O'Keefe agrees, and the will bring us to the end of the half.
England 18-3 Tonga
Half-time: Well it hasn't yet been the points-fest we anticipated, but England are certainly in control of this match. The presence of Manu Tuilgai alone has given them enough X-factor to make the difference, with the Leicester centre scoring two tries - one through brute strength as he ripped his way through the defence in the corner and one through good support play off May's shoulder to double up.
Apart from that though there isn't an awful lot to write home about. Underhill and Youngs came close to scoring only to be held up, so it could easily be a much larger lead at the break, but you feel that England are not yet firing on all cylinders. Will that change in the second half?
Half-time: The players return from the dressing rooms and we're ready to get back underway.
41 mins: England get themselves a quick penalty as Vaipulu comes around the side of the ruck, following another barn-storming run from Tuilagi. Farrell will kick for goal.
43 mins: Farrell landed his third penalty of the evening to increase the lead further. 21-3
46 mins: England are looking to bring Tuilagi into the game at every opportunity possible, with Farrell throwing a flat pass that was well disguised which nearly results in him breaking free. However, the ball is knocked forwards to give Tonga possession in the form of a scrum.
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