South Africa 30 Tonga 25: Blushing Boks run close by outsiders
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Hail the World Cup of wonderful contrasts, and an amazing effort by Tonga in a northern French mining town. South Africa patently did not expect the fielding of a mostly reserve XV in Lens to be a gamble but be in no doubt: the tournament's second favourites were relieved to get away with a win. The Tongans did a long lap of honour to celebrate a bonus point and England, their final pool opponents in a win-or-bust meeting next Friday, will pay due attention.
Most of the crowd must have assumed it was a foregone conclusion that, when South Africa used their vastly experienced bench during the second half, Tonga would wilt. Not a bit of it. Instead, with two of those stellar South African replacements – Frans Steyn and Bryan Habana – in the sin-bin, along with Tonga's Joseph Vaka, a Springbok lead of 27-10 was whittled down to 27-22.
First, after 69 minutes, the fly-half Pierre Hola's cross-kick exploited the space for Sukanaivalu Hufanga to score. Then a speculative Hola kick in his own 22 was mis-hacked by Percy Montgomery and Tonga broke upfield with a pass off the floor by Tevita Tu'ifua, an intuitive kick ahead by Vungakoto Lilo and a hack-on for a tumultuous finish by the flanker Viliami Vaki. Hola converted Vaki's try, and although South Africa were calmed by a Montgomery penalty in the 76th minute, there was time for a Hola penalty and a chip to the touchline which very nearly ran for Aisea Havili.
The first half had been quiet by comparison, featuring a candidate for worst pass of the tournament – Wynand Olivier's decidedly non-scoring effort to Ashwin Willemse – until, in the final minute, possibly the tackle of the tournament was made by Tonga's captain Nili Latu, four-square into a charging Gurthro Steenkamp. The latter piece of bravery restricted South Africa to a 7-3 interval lead, courtesy of a quick-thinking tap-and-go try from Ruan Pienaar.
"England against Tonga willbe physical," said the Boks' captain, Bob Skinstad. "It's a top-of-the-table clash, which no one expected."
South Africa: R Pienaar; A Willemse, W Olivier, W Julies, JP Pietersen; A Pretorius, E Januarie; G Steenkamp, G Botha, CJ van der Linde; B Botha, A van den berg, W van Heerden, B Skinstad (capt), D Rossouw. Replacements: J Smith for Rossouw, 24-30 & 49; BJ Botha for Steenkamp, 46; V Matfield for Van den Berg, 46; B Habana for Willemse, 46; F Steyn for Julies, 46; P Montgomery for Pretorius, 59.
Tonga: V Lilo; T Tu'ifua, S Hufanga, E Taione, J Vaka; P Hola, S Tu'ipulotu; S Tonga'uiha, A Lutui, K Pulu, P Hehea, E Kauhenga, V Vaki, F Maka, N Latu (capt). Replacements: I Afeaki for Kauhenga, 50-66; for Hehea, 66; E Taukafa for Lutui, 66; L Filipine for Latu, 66; S Havea for Tu'ipulotu, 66; A Havili for Vaka, 73; I Tupou for Taione, 77.
Referee: W Barnes (England).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments