Scotland begin comeback trail with impressive Tonga win
NICE, FRANCE - SEPTEMBER 24: Darcy Graham of Scotland celebrates after scoring their seventh try during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 group B match between Scotland and Tonga at Stade de Nice on September 24, 2023 in Nice, France. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
By Nick Powell, Online Editor
Scotland……………………………….45
Tries: Turner 5, van der Merwe 26, Steyn 30, Darge 40+2, Horne 54, Kinghorn 68, Graham 80+2
Conversions: Russell 6, 40+3, 55, 70, 80+3
Tonga……………………………………17
Tries: Kata 20, Tamiefuna 44
Conversions: Havili 21, 45
Penalties: Havili 10
Scotland began their fightback to progress from Pool B with a solid victory over Tonga.
Darcy Graham’s late try – the last of seven with earlier scores from George Turner, Duhan van der Merwe, Kyle Steyn, Rory Darge, George Horne and Blair Kinghorn – helped Scotland record a handsome winning margin of 28 points which may be crucial as they plot an unlikely route to the quarterfinals.
Tonga battled bravely throughout and led briefly after Solomone Kata went over, but although they scored again as Ben Tameifuna crossed, they were let down throughout by the same problems that cost them in their opening game; namely poor discipline, a lack of control at the set piece and another high tally of missed tackles.
Scotland boss Gregor Townsend said: You’ve got to be happy with the win but we know we can be a lot better than that last quarter of the game. It got a bit loose.
“We pride ourselves on making sure we stay at the levels we started with. We didn’t do that today but I’m really proud of the effort that went in.
“I’m content with the game plan, the intent, and our contact work. Tonga were very physical. Some of our defensive work was outstanding. But, we got a bit greedy in that second-half. When you’re up on the scoreboard, you’ve got to be better in those situations.
“We know we have to improve from that performance to get a bonus point win against Romania.”
Scotland came into the contest knowing nothing less than a bonus point win would all but end their hopes of progressing, and defeat would likely see them finish outside the top three in the group and have to qualify for the next World Cup.
But they showed their intent inside five minutes as Turner crashed over for Scotland’s first try of the tournament, with the side having previously failed to score one in their opener against South Africa, on the back of a 15-metre driving maul, with Tonga responding through a William Havilli penalty.
Havilli then showed his open play skills by providing a beautiful misspass to set Kata free, and though the big winger didn’t score initially, he was in a few phases later thanks to a brilliant Salesi Piutau offload.
Tonga’s lead would be wiped out all too quickly though, with a cheap penalty for a no-arms tackle providing Scotland with the field position for Kinghorn to give van der Merwe a simple walk-in, before Finn Russell fed opposite winger Steyn with a well-timed pass for their third.
Scotland had the bonus point by the break as Darge tenaciously carried from the base and wriggled his way over, and Tonga were lucky not to go down to 14 men for the rest of the contest as Afusipa Taumoepeau was reprieved in the TMO bunker for a challenge on Jamie Ritchie, receiving only a yellow as the Scotland captain was deemed to have dipped just before the contact.
Tameifuna’s barrelling carry early in the second period cut the gap to seven and gave Tonga a ray of hope, but a terrific burst through two tackles from van der Merwe was followed by the South African-born flyer feeding Horne to restore Scotland’s half-time buffer.
And though Tonga continued to play with spirit, basic errors at the lineout caused good chances to be missed and they were ruthlessly punished as Scotland chose the perfect moment to go wide when in their opponents’ 22, with another perfectly executed pass from Russell feeding Kinghorn for a sixth.
Having survived an earlier bunker review, Tonga would not be so lucky the second time around as Vaea Fifita’s high, no-arms tackle was rightfully punished with a red card.
But they looked as if they would have the last attack of the game, though when it broke down Scotland chose to keep playing upon regaining possession in their own 22.
It paid dividends beautifully as Huw Jones broke through and found George Horne, who offloaded to Graham before the replacement back powered his way past the Tonga defence to run a seventh try in from 50 metres, and give Scotland a winning margin that may yet prove crucial in their mission to escape the pool of death.
Scotland: Kinghorn, Steyn, Harris, Tuipulotu, Van der Merwe, Russell, White; Sutherland, Turner, Z Fagerson, Gray, Cummings, Ritchie (capt), Darge, Dempsey
Replacements: Ashman, Schoeman, Nel, Skinner, M Fagerson, Horne, Jones, Graham
Tonga: Piutau, Kata, Fekitoa, Ahki, Taumoepeau, Havili, Pulu, Fisi’ihoi, Ngauamo, Tameifuna (capt), Fifita, Lousi, Halaifonua, Talitui, Fifita.
Replacements: Moli, Koloamatangi, Apikotoa, Coleman, Paea, Vailanu, Takulua, Pellegrini
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