Scotland secured a seven-try 45-17 bonus point win against Tonga in their Pool B match on Sunday in Nice. Scotland absorbed the initial physicality from Tonga and scored several tries out wide following some sublime handling by their backs, creating brilliant scoring opportunities.
It took Scotland four minutes to score their first points of the match. George Turner scored from the back of a twenty-meter lineout-maul to take an early 07-00 lead.
Tonga's William Havili converted a penalty minutes later to reduce Scotland's lead to four points. Tonga continued to physically attack Scotland's defence which opened several gaps and try scoring opportunities for Tonga. With twenty minutes to play in the first half, Solomone Kata scored Tonga's first try of the match to lead 10-07.
Scotland took five minutes to reply when Duhan van der Merwe scored after silky handling by the Scots after a scrum. Scotland retook the lead, leading 12-10 with fifteen minutes of play left in the first half. Shortly thereafter Kyle Steyn broke through several Tonga tackles to score Scotland's third try to lead 17-05.
Scotland scored their bonus point try when Rory Darge barged his way over the Tonga tryline to go into the second half with a 24-05 lead.
Tonga captain Ben Tameifuna opened the scoring in the second half, bulldozing his way over and past several Scottish defenders to reduce Scotland's lead to 24-12.
Brilliant and physical work by Duhan vd Merwe opened up space for George Horne to score in the corner after fifteen minutes of play in the second half. This was followed by a well-worked try by Blair Kinghorn to increase Scotland's lead to 38-17 with ten minutes still to play.
Tonga chose to play after time was up on the clock and paid the price when Darcy Graham cut their defence in pieces to score a great long-distance try to win 45-17.
Scorers:
Scotland: Tries: George Turner, Duhan van der Merwe, Kyle Steyn, Rory Darge, George Horne, Blair Kinghorn. Conversions: Finn Russell (5).
Tonga: Tries: Solomone Kata, Ben Tameifuna. Conversions: William Havili (2). Penalty: William Havili.
Teams:
Scotland: 1 Rory Sutherland, 2 George Turner, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Richie Gray, 5 Scott Cummings, 6 Jamie Ritchie (c), 7 Rory Darge, 8 Jack Dempsey, 9 Ben White, 10 Finn Russell, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 13 Chris Harris, 14 Kyle Steyn, 15 Blair Kinghorn. Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 WP Nel, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Matt Fagerson, 21 George Horne, 22 Huw Jones, 23 Darcy Graham.
Tonga: 1 Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, 2 Paula Ngauamo, 3 Ben Tameifuna (c), 4 Halaleva Fifita, 5 Sam Lousi, 6 Tanginoa Halaifonua, 7 Sione Talitui, 8 Vaea Fifita, 9 Augustine Pulu, 10 William Havili, 11 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 12 Pita Ahki, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 14 Solomone Kata, 15 Salesi Piutau. Replacements: 16 Sam Moli, 17 Tau Koloamatangi, 18 Sosefo Apikotoa, 19 Adam Coleman, 20 Semisi Paea, 21 Sione Vailanu, 22 Sonatane Takulua, 23 Patrick Pellegrini.
