The Springboks secured their place in the 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final playoff with a seven try 49-13 bonus point win on Sunday in Marseille.
Despite a shaky start by the Springboks that resulted in a converted penalty by William Havili, the Springboks struck back almost immediately. Cobus Reinach took a quick tap from a penalty five meters from the Tonga tryline and strolled over for the Springboks' first try to lead 07-03 after six minutes of play in the first half.
Although Tonga set up camp in the Springboks 22m for a lengthy period, they could not add points to the scoreboard. However, Canan Moodie mastered a loose pass by Tonga and ran thirty-odd meters to score the Springboks' second try to extend their lead to 14-03 after twenty minutes of play in the first half.
Twelve minutes later, Deon Fourie scored the Springboks' second try from the back of a lineout maul to extend the Springboks lead to 21-03. At this stage, the battle between the two sides was extremely physical, however, the Springboks were slowly taking control of the action.
Eight minutes later, captain Ben Tameifuna scored Tonga's first try. Tonga launched wave after wave of attacks following a lineout maul until the Springboks' defence ran out of big enough defenders to stop the 150kg captain.
The Springboks led 21-08 at the halftime break. The energy-sapping battle of the forwards was the main attraction during the first half, with no dominant winner at the end of the first half.
Despite the Springboks' good start in the second half, the number of errors made on the attack kept them from scoring any points. Eventually, Jesse Kriel crashed over to score the Springboks' bonus point try after fifty minutes of play. The Springboks led 28-08 at that stage.
Tonga struck back with a try by winger Fine Inisi which was followed almost immediately by a Willie le Roux try out wide, to restore the Springboks' lead to 22 points and twenty minutes to play in the second half.
The Springboks upped the pace of play with a great break by Canan Moodie, which led to a Marco van Staden try. Therafter the match degraded into excitement with no intelligence, resulting in Tonga's third try scored by Patrick Pellegrini. The Springboks' Kwagga Smith scored their seventh try with time already up to win 49-18.
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 (2).
Tonga: Tries: Ben Tameifuna, Fine Inisi, Patrick Pellegrini. Penalty: William Havili.
Teams:
Springboks: 1 Ox Nche, 2 Deon Fourie, 3 Vincent Koch, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Marvin Orie, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 7 Duane Vermeulen, 8 Jasper Wiese, 9 Cobus Reinach, 10 Handre Pollard, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 13 Canan Moodie, 14 Grant Williams, 15 Willie Le Roux. Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Franco Mostert, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Jesse Kriel.
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 Semisi Paea, 9 Augustine Pulu, 10 William Havili, 11 Anzelo Tuitavuki, 12 Pita Ahki, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 14 Fine Inisi, 15 Salesi Piutau. Replacements: 16 Sam Moli, 17 Tau Koloamatangi, 18 Sosefo Apikotoa, 19 Adam Coleman, 20 Sione Vailanu, 21 Sonatane Takulua, 22 Patrick Pellegrini, 23 Afusipa Taumoepeau.