Ireland vs Tonga LIVE: Rugby World Cupresult and reaction as Johnny Sexton breaks points scoring record

Ireland 59-16 Tonga: Andy Farrell’s top Pool B after consecutive heavy victories in France

(REUTERS)

Ireland earned a second conescutive victory of the 2023 Rugby World Cup when they dispatched Tonga in Nantes on Saturday night. Andy Farrell’s men scored eight tries in total as they racked up over 50 points in a match for the second game in a row continuing to justfy why they are one of the favourites to win this tournament.

After a frustrating start to the game in which both teams exchanged penalty kicks, Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne went over the line to unlock his teams attacking quality and they added another three tries to secure a bonus point before the break. The most influential being Johnny Sexton’s as the 38-year-old broke Ronan O’Gara’s record to become the new all-time leading Irish points scorer.

Tonga responded with a try of their own right on the brink of half-time but they couldn’t muster a fight back in the second half. The Irish replacements contined the dominance and Rob Herring’s last minute try put the icing on the cake of another superb victory.

Relive all the action from the Stade de la Beaujoire below.

Ireland vs Tonga live updates

• Johnny Sexton breaks Ireland points record during impressive victory over Tonga
• Ireland hammer Tonga in a Pool B match at the Stade de la Beaujoire
• TRY! Ireland 59-16 Tonga, (Rob Herring, 80 minutes)
• TRY! Ireland 52-16 Tonga, (Bundee Aki, 69 minutes)
• TRY! Ireland 45-16 Tonga, (Bundee Aki, 63 minutes)
• TRY! Ireland 38-16 Tonga, (James Lowe, 58 minutes)
• PENALTY! Ireland 31-16 Tonga (William Havili, 43 minutes)
• TRY! Ireland 31-13 Tonga, (Vaea Fifita, 48 minutes)
• TRY! Ireland 31-6 Tonga, (Johnny Sexton, 38 minutes)
• TRY! Ireland 24-6 Tonga, (Mack Hansen, 33 minutes)
• TRY! Ireland 17-6 Tonga, (Caelan Doris, 27 minutes)
• PENALTY! Ireland 10-6 Tonga, (William Havili, 24 minutes)
• TRY! Ireland 10-3 Tonga (Tadhg Beirne, 21 minutes)
• PENALTY! Ireland 3-3 Tonga, (William Havili, 16 minutes)
• PENALTY! Ireland 3-0 Tonga (Johnny Sexton, 7 minutes)

[16 September 2023 22:34 · Mike Jones]

Johnny Sexton breaks Ireland points record during impressive victory over Tonga

Johnny Sexton smashed Ireland’s individual points record as his side edged closer to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals with a crushing 59-16 bonus-point victory over Tonga in Nantes.

The influential fly-half surpassed Ronan O’Gara’s all-time tally of 1,083 in style with the fourth of his side’s eight tries on a balmy evening at Stade de la Beaujoire.

Captain Sexton also kicked a penalty and four conversions en route to moving on to a career total of 1,090 before being withdrawn from a bruising Pool B encounter at half-time ahead of next week’s crucial clash with South Africa.

[16 September 2023 22:30 · Mike Jones]

FT Ireland 59-16 Tonga

Ireland captain Johnny Sexton, speaking to ITV:

“We’re delighted to get five points against a very good team. That’s what tonight was about and that was the main objective. We did it, we’ll move on and we’ll concentrate now on a massive game next week. Playing against the world champions is going to be really special.

On becoming Ireland’s record try scorer: “I don’t think it is about individual achievements this evening. It is about getting the next win and keep building in this tournament. It’s week-on-week in a World Cup and you have got to produce it week after week.

“It’s always nice [to score a try], I don’t get it too often. It’s a lovely personal milestone but I’d much rather a victory.”

[16 September 2023 22:24 · Mike Jones]

FT Ireland 59-16 Tonga

Ireland centre, Bundee Aki speaking to RTE: “Full credit to the boys and full respect to Tonga. They came out firing and we knew it was going to be a physical match. Much respect to them, hopefully they go out over the next couple of weeks and leave everything out there.

“I think there are a lot of things we can work on. We weren’t as clinical as we wanted to be. There were a lot of dumb penalties, you could say. I know we got the points that we wanted but we’ll go away and we’re still not happy with how we performed.

“Next week is going to be an even bigger test for us but we will go out there and give it our best.”

[16 September 2023 22:17 · Mike Jones]

FT Ireland 59-16 Tonga

Andy Farrell will know there are bigger challenges to come but he must be thrilled with how clinical and professional his side have been in their opening games.

Two games played, two wins secured, twice scored over 50 points in a game. Ireland look like one of the better teams in this World Cup.

[16 September 2023 22:06 · Mike Jones]

Full-time! Ireland 59-16 Tonga

Ireland have put on another fantastic performance in the Rugby World Cup to sweep Tonga aside with relative ease.

They were frustrated by the Pacific Islanders in the early stages of the first half but continued to go through the gears and came out on top with the added plus of a bonus point.

Andy Farrell’s men top Pool B.

[16 September 2023 22:04 · Mike Jones]

TRY! Ireland 59-16 Tonga, (Rob Herring, 80 minutes)

Rob Herring puts the icing on the cake for Ireland with a forceful drive from a lineout. He scores after having a try chalked off earlier in the match.

Ross Byrne sticks the conversion in between the uprights and ends the game.

[16 September 2023 22:01 · Mike Jones]

Ireland 52-16 Tonga, 76 minutes

Tonga are still pushing forward but Ireland’s steadfast defence is a daunting thing to run into. Pita Ahki floats a poor kick over the top as sees Hugo Keenan collect it in play for Ireland.

His return kick is a belter and William Havili is forced out of meaning leaving Ireland with fine territory near the Tongan try line.

[16 September 2023 21:55 · Mike Jones]

Ireland 52-16 Tonga, 72 minutes

Into the last 10 minutes now and the game is done. Ireland are moving to the top of Pool B with two matches in a row where they’ve scored over 50 points.

They’ve got more difficult tests ahead in South Africa and Scotland but they couldn’t be in better form ahead of these clashes.

[16 September 2023 21:52 · Mike Jones]

TRY! Ireland 52-16 Tonga, (Bundee Aki, 69 minutes)

Ireland are piling on the points as Tonga’s energy levels begin to dip and drop. A few powerful drives from close range, get the Tonga line to contract allowing Josh van der Flier to link up with Craig Casey.

Casey takes a hit abd passes the ball to Bundee Aki who bombs under the stick for his second try.

[16 September 2023 21:46 · Mike Jones]

TRY! Ireland 45-16 Tonga, (Bundee Aki, 63 minutes)

A strong Irish scrum brings them another penalty that Ross Byrne decides to kick for territory. From the lineout the ball is released out of the maul to James Lowe who passes it over to Byrne.

He holds it long enough to draw a tackle then flicks it to Bundee Aki. Aki has space to storm into and does so with ease before crossing the line.

Another seven points for Ireland.