Defending champions South Africa scored seven tries and moved a step closer to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals with a bruising 49-18 victory over impressive Tonga in their Pool B clash yesterday.
Many of the 60,387 in the crowd were rooting for the Pacific Islanders, but while Tonga put on a brave showing, South Africa fed off their errors and had too much guile and experience.
The Boks scored tries through Cobus Reinach, Canan Moodie, Jessie Kriel, Deon Fourie, Willie le Roux, Marco van Staden and Kwagga Smith, but put in an error-strewn display, in part forced by the physicality of the Tongans.
The latter crossed for three scores through barrelling captain Ben Tameifuna, Fine Inisi and Patrick Pellegrini, the first time in 17 World Cup games the Boks have conceded three tries.
South Africa’s win took them top of the pool with 15 points and into a strong position to qualify for the last eight, but they are not confirmed yet and must wait for the outcome of the clash between Ireland and Scotland next Saturday.
The only way the Boks can fail to progress is if Scotland get five points and Ireland one, leaving all three teams on 15 points and the top two sides decided by points difference from their four matches.
“We knew they weren’t just going to lay down and give it to us. We made a couple of mistakes but we fought to the end,” South Africa captain Siya Kolisi said.
“They’re a great team, really hard to play against, they put everything on the line. We knew it was going to be a tough game. Hopefully, we’ve done enough to qualify for the next round.”
There was another positive for South Africa on the day they were led by Kolisi for the 50th time. Flyhalf Handre Pollard made a successful return in his first test in 13 months as he kicked all his conversions and lasted 50 minutes.
His replacement Manie Libbok also converted three from three to give the Boks a 100 per cent kicking record, something that has been an issue in their game.
Earlier, Australia did just enough to keep their miniscule hopes alive with an unconvincing but hardfought 34-14 bonus-point win over a lively Portugal team in their final Pool C match.
Losses to Fiji and Wales had left Australia’s campaign on life support and the Wallabies now need Portugal to beat Fiji next week without allowing the Pacific islanders a bonus point.
Richie Arnold, David Porecki and Angus Bell crossed for Australia in the first half and a fourth forward, Fraser McReight, secured the all-important bonus point early in the second half.
Marika Koroibete finally got the Australian backs on the board in the 74th minute but only after the Wallabies had weathered a storm playing with 13 men for the best part of 10 minutes.
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