South Africa emerged victorious with a resounding 49-18 win over Tonga at Stade de Marseille in their final pool match of the Rugby World Cup 2023 on Sunday. The Springboks secured seven tries during the game, showcasing their dominance.
The first half saw South Africa taking the lead with tries from Cobus Reinach, Canan Moodie, and Deon Fourie, finishing the half at 21-8 in their favour. However, Tonga managed to respond with a try of their own.
The second half continued South Africa’s strong performance, with Jesse Kriel, Willie le Roux, Marco van Staden, and Kwagga Smith all adding to the scoreline with tries. What made their performance even more impressive was that all seven tries were converted by fly-half Handre Pollard and his replacement Manie Libbok.
Tonga determined not to go down without a fight and managed to score three tries of their own, thanks to Ben Tameifuna, Fine Inisi, and Patrick Pellegrini. While they made the defending champions work hard for their victory, it was not enough to secure the win.
Following this bonus-point victory, South Africa climbed to the top of Pool B. However, their advancement to the quarter-finals depends on the outcome of the match between Ireland and Scotland in Paris on October 7.
South Africa’s head coach, Jacques Nienaber, acknowledged that they would need to wait for the results of the other pool matches to determine their quarter-final fate and opponents.
Deon Fourie, who received the Mastercard Player of the Match award, played a pivotal role in the game despite his unusual switch from back-row to hooker. He expressed satisfaction with his performance and adaptation to the new position, crediting their training approach.
Siya Kolisi, South Africa’s captain, marked his 50th test match in style and commended his team’s effort in a hard-fought match. He emphasized the team’s determination to go far in the tournament.
The exchange of jerseys between Kolisi and Tonga’s captain, Tameifuna, marked a touching moment of sportsmanship, with both captains acknowledging each other’s teams’ efforts.
Tonga’s captain, Tameifuna, praised his side’s display, highlighting the tough battle they had against the reigning world champions. He appreciated the support from the crowd and looked ahead to their upcoming matches.
Toutai Kefu, Tonga’s head coach, lauded his team’s performance, emphasizing the importance of putting on a proud and competitive display. He recognized that rugby is about challenging oneself against the best teams, and this experience was valuable for everyone involved.
Source: Rugby World Cup
