In the the third and final Sunday game, England opened their campaign against Tonga in a Pool C clash at the Sapporo Dome.
Coming into the game, England had opened each of the last six World Cups with a win and today would prove to be no exception. By stark contrast, Tonga had lost seven of their last 10 games at the Rugby World Cup. Regardless of their past, the Tongans were fired up for the game belting out their traditional challenge just before kick-off.
England met that challenge head on and Manu Tuilagi was the inspiration, but this was more of a grind than anything else for Eddie Jones’ men:
England 35-3 Tonga
Eight minutes into the game and England were pushing forward testing Tonga’s defence on occasion revealing a few frailties in their opponent’s defense. England were rewarded for their efforts with a penalty as Tonga were deemed offside in midfield and Owen Farrell stepped up to drill the ball through the middle from 30m out.
14 minutes in and Billy Vunipola was thumped to the turf with a strong challenge from Zane Kapeli. The act invoked cheers from the crowd and from the Tongan bench.
Zane Kapeli > Billy V 💥💥💥https://t.co/rcQhOyP1jB
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) September 22, 2019
Promptly after that, Tonga were awarded a penalty which Sonatane Takulua converted to level the score to 3-3.
As the minutes ticked by, Tonga slowly began to impose their well-known physicality on the game and it was up to England to maintain their discipline.
In the 22nd minute, England had a try reviewed after Manu Tuilagi shot through the Tonga midfield who then passed to Sam Underhill who bundled over the line but the move was eventually ruled out as the ball was not deemed to have hit the turf.
Just seconds later however, England had another try reviewed after Tuilagi who was up for the fight bundled over the line, and this time, it stood. Farrell converted to bring the score to 8-3.
Manu Tuilagi is an absolute animal of a man pic.twitter.com/xju4NrFoCN
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) September 22, 2019
28 minutes in and Tonga rued a missed penalty as Sonatane Takulua smashed the ball left of the posts. England then delivered a blow with the precision of a Samurai sword to slice open the Tongan defense as Tuilagi fed by Jonny May trotted in to score a second try and again, Farrell gathered up the extras.
As half-time loomed, England for the third time in the first half had a try reviewed which was later disallowed but a consolation arrived in the form of a penalty which Farrell converted to take the score to 18-3 as halftime ensued.
England finished the half with a far more efficient defence even though the discipline was lacking at certain moments. Tuilagi proved to be force to be reckoned with his quick feet, rapid change of direction and strength
The second half kicked off and three minutes in and Tuilagi stormed into the midfield with the Tongans forced to concede a penalty. Once again, Farrell stepped up to convert as the points ramped up to 21-3. It was getting embarrassing for the Tongans and it would be get worse.
In the 56th minute, Jamie George added to their misery with a brilliant try after great work from George Kruis to push the driving maul over the line. Once again, in a flawless effort, Farrell converts to push the score to 28-3 to England.
63 minutes in and the stats portrayed a telling story wherein England had carried the ball for 419m in glaring contrast to Tonga’s 116m.
As the game entered the final 10 minutes, Luke Cowan-Dickie smashed in a try after a gliding run from Jospeh past some tired Tongan midfielders. The score stood at 35-3 following a successful conversion.
Full-time arrived, signalling a strong 32 point deficit between the sides.
5 – England have won five games by 30+ points in 2019, no other side competing at this year's Rugby World Cup has managed that on more than two occasions this year. Ruthless.#RWC2019 #ENGvTGA pic.twitter.com/s4P5as38aQ
— OptaJonny (@OptaJonny) September 22, 2019
Tonga didn’t do much to warrant any confidence going forward in this tournament. As for England, while they did put in a solid shift, their lack of defensive discipline and tendency to concede penalties might come back to haunt them against the big boys.
