Blair Kinghorn scored Scotland’s final try. VALERY HACHE / AFP
Beaten from the start by the South African world champions, the Scots raised their heads to quite easily defeat the Tongans who were not up to the level (45-17).
For Scotland but also for Tonga, only one outcome was possible this Sunday in Nice: winning to continue their dream of qualifying for the quarter-finals. And it’s done for Finn Russell’s teammates. Facing the Tongan power, the Chardon XV largely won against Ikale Tahi (45-17). While the Tongans are already eliminated, Scotland will have to deal with the modest Romanian team on Saturday September 30 before their last meeting of the group stages against the Irish ogre, who defeated the South African world champions on Saturday. (13-8).
The Tongans started the game badly. Despite a much more powerful pack than its counterpart (70 kilos deficit for Scotland), the Chardon XV inflicted an impressive ball carried by Turner (5th). However, the teammates of Pita Ahki, the Fijian center three-quarter from Stade Toulousain, reacted with a beautiful movement in the closed space created by Charles Piutau.
A messy end to the match
The Tongan fullback served his teammate Kata for his team’s first try (20th). On a poor defense from Ikale Tahi – nickname of the Tongan selection – winger van der Merwe scored another try after a good start to the game around Russell and Kinghorn (26th). Five minutes later, the other winger Kyle Steyn overwhelmed the defense of the Pacific men (30th) before Darge, in force, scored the last try of the first period.
At the start of the second act, Ben Tameifuna’s teammates thought they were coming back. The latter is also at the conclusion of a beautiful test marked in power (44th). But the hope was only short-lived since the new entrant Horne flattened a corner on a breakthrough from van der Merwe (55th). Served by Russell, Kinghorn also took advantage of Tongan passivity (69th). At the end of a choppy end to the match, Graham planted the last banderilla and Scotland won with the offensive bonus and can still qualify for the quarter-finals.
