Springboks thump Tonga to put them on the brink of quarterfinals

The Springboks were made to work hard but eventually clinched a bonus point 49-18 win over Tonga in their final Rugby World Cup pool match at the Stade de Marseille on Sunday night to put them on the brink of qualification for the quarterfinals.

They still need to wait for the final pool match between Ireland and Scotland next weekend to make 100% sure, but it would take an improbable result to deny the Boks a place in the next round.

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In the match it was Tonga who got off to a fast start as they earned an early penalty which was knocked over by flyhalf William Havili.

But the Boks struck back immediately as a penalty deep in Tonga’s 22m was taken quickly by scrumhalf Cobus Reinach to catch the defence napping and snipe over in the corner, with flyhalf Handre Pollard nailing the touchline conversion for a 7-3 lead after four minutes.

Tonga then enjoyed a good 15 minute period of dominance in the Boks territory, but were unable to convert.

Further ahead

This allowed the Boks to go further ahead in the 19^th minute as on attack in Tonga’s half the ball came off prop Vincent Koch’s shoulder, but bounced kindly for outside centre Canan Moodie to pick it up and sprint away to go over for a converted score.

After setting up the lineout in Tonga’s 22m in the 31^st minute a big maul was rumbled over, with hooker Deon Fourie dotting down and Pollard converting for a 21-3 lead.

With three minutes left in the half Tonga found themselves in the Bok 22m where a number of crash balls ended with big prop Ben Tamiefuna smashing over to score, with Havili’s miss leaving the score 21-8 at the break.

The Boks got off to a good start in the second half and clinched their bonus point score in the 48^th minute as they attacked from a lineout on Tonga’s 22m, went through the phases and replacement wing Jesse Kriel powered over to score.

Pollard job done

Pollard slotted his fourth conversion of the night to put them 28-8 up and was then immediately replaced having made a strong return to international rugby, by Manie Libbok.

It was now Tonga’s turn to hit back as they earned the ball back after the kick-off, attacked into the Bok 22m and earned space out wide where a skip pass gave right wing Fine Inisi an easy unconverted score in the right hand corner.

Tonga were then punished trying to attack on their own 22m, as they knocked on allowing the Boks to quickly swing the ball wide where fullback Willie le Roux did superbly to score in the corner and Libbok converted for a 35-13 lead after 57 minutes.

The Boks were now in charge and in the 62^nd minute a top break from replacement loose forward Kwagga Smith ended with Marco van Staden reaching over to score, with Libbok again on target for a 42-13 lead.

It was then Tonga’s turn to profit off a Bok mistake in the 72^nd minute as Grant Williams lost the ball in Tonga’s half, allowing replacement back Patrick Pelligrini to pick up the ball, kick ahead and gather to score making it 42-18.

The Boks however had the final say after the 80 minutes were up as replacement loose forward Kwagga Smith crashed over under the posts to seal the big win.

Scorers

Springboks: Tries – Cobus Reinach, Canan Moodie, Deon Fourie, Jesse Kriel, Willie le Roux, Marco van Staden, Kwagga Smith; Conversions – Handre Pollard (4), Manie Libbok (3)

Tonga: Tries – Ben Tameifuna, Fine Inisi, Patrick Pelligrini; Penalty – William Havili