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 17:56 · Mike Jones]

Wales 14-3 Portugal, 44 minutes

Gareth Anscombe boots the ball into touch for a lineout after Wales in a penalty in a decent position. Nicolas Martins intercepts the ball in the lineout though and boot it away to ease a bit of the pressure.

They recover the ball and Wales have wasted a decent opportunity to press their advantage.

[16 September 2023 17:51 · Mike Jones]

Second half! Wales 14-3 Portugal

Dewi Lake’s side get the second half started in Nice. Neither head coach has made any changes at the break so everything is as we were.

Can Wales dominate or will Portugal fight back over the next 40 minutes?

[16 September 2023 17:49 · Mike Jones]

HT Wales 14-3 Portugal

(REUTERS)

(Getty Images)

(PA)

[16 September 2023 17:42 · Mike Jones]

Harry Latham-Coyle at the Stade de Nice

"A superb 40 minutes of rugby. Portugal's attacking ambition has been increasingly married with an intelligent kicking game, and they will probably feel a little unfortunate to go in 11 points down.

“The concession of that Dewi Lake try will frustrate them, though - the Wales captain bundled between the bodies a little bit too easily."