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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48 mins: May and Underhill hit Tuitavake, who is on for Atieli Pakalani on the right wing, with a double hit before George then takes down Fisi'ihoi. The hooker just limps away from the contact, with an issue to his ankle it seems, but it looks like he'll try to run it off.
50 mins: The colossus that is Ben Tameifuna takes into contact against Farrell and Ford - that's still not really a fair match-up given the size of the prop - but Underhill is in close company and he manages to get over the ball and win the penalty for not releasing. Farrell kicks to touch, and England send Ellis Genge on for Joe Marler.
It'll be worth keeping an eye on who comes off with a nod to whether they'll be involved against the USA on Thursday.
52 mins: Piutau gets a chance to stretch his legs and does well to dummy his way past Tuilagi. However, his offload isn't collected by Vuna and England win the ball. Ford chips ahead for one for himself to chase and he does well to tackle Takulua deep in the corner, and as England flood into the ruck they win possession five metres out. Youngs takes the ball to feed Underhill, only for the flanker to drop it much to the frustration of fans.
This will be a worry for England though. Jonny May is going off, and Henry Slade is on at full-back - not his natural position by any stretch - with Daly moving to the wing.
55 mins: Another replacement for England as Lewis Ludlam comes on for his World Cup debut, replacing Sam Underhill in the back row. You'd imagine that Curry will move to openside now and Ludlam will fill the blindside of the scrum, while that also suggests that Underhill could be in action once again on Thursday.
George Kruis and Willi Heinz also come on for Lawes and Youngs, and England have a penalty for offside that Farrell puts into the corner.
57 mins: Well that was emphatic. England set-up the rolling maul and boy is it rolling. The pack charge over the line before the backs can even get there to join them, and its Jamie George who emerges with the ball from the bottom of the pile. Farrell converts the kick and England are cruising now. 28-3
61 mins: Plenty of changes now, with George and Sinckler also heading off for Luke Cowan-Dickie and Dan Cole, while Tonga send on Siua Maile, Nasi Manu and Leon Fukofuka wor Sakalia, Tameifuna and Vaipulu.
65 mins: England knock the ball on in possession and then compound the error by conceding a penalty in the scrum, allowing Morath to send a beauty to touch on the five-metre line. Tonga finally get the lineout right, though Kruis comes mighty close to stealing it, but despite chucking everything into the maul, it comes to nothing as England hold the ball up and get the put-in.
67 mins: Interestingly, Ludlam is at seven and Curry is remaining on the blindside, with Jones happy to keep the Sale man on his unfavoured side of the scrum.
68 mins: Ludlam does well to turn the ball over and Kruis picks it up before booting it down-field for Daly to chase. It just evades him as the ball trickles into touch before he can reach it, and England make a notable substitution as Ford heads off with Jonathan Joseph on, meaning Farrell will switch to 10. I'd take that as confirmation that Ford is in line to play on Thursday in some capacity.
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