Match report
I’ll leave you with Luke McLaughlin’s report from another good night for Ireland. Next up: South Africa. It’s heating up. Thanks for joining me, and goodnight.
Here’s Johnny … Sexton! “We’re delighted to get five points against a very strong team. Now we’re concentrating on a big game, facing the world champions.” He doesn’t want to talk about the points record, admitting it’s a “lovely personal milestone”, but that it wouldn’t count for anything without the win.
Here’s the official man of the match, Bundee Aki.
He's had a #RWC2023 to remember so far ✨
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 16, 2023
Bundee Aki is the @Mastercard #POTM#IREvTGA | #Priceless pic.twitter.com/yTLD8SEiFl
On ITV, Brian O’Driscoll and Rory Best are in agreement that South Africa will be a totally different game – but Ireland couldn’t really ask for any more from their first two matches here.
Full time! Ireland 59-16 Tonga
Ross Byrne converts, and that’s job done – a tough and tenacious Tonga side put away by an excellent attacking display from Ireland.
Updated
TRY! Ireland 57-16 Tonga (Herring 79')
The Tonga lineout isn’t accurate enough and Ireland can steal, setting up Rob Herring for Ireland’s eighth try – and 20th of the tournament.
77 mins: One last attacking charge for Ireland, with Keenan and Lowe bustling downfield and winning a penalty. Can They bag an eighth try? The maul breaks up and Byrne plays the quick ball out wide, but Lowe isn’t prepared …
74 mins: The Fields of Athenry echoes around the stands as Ireland play this one out. You wonder what damage Tonga might do in a weaker pool – it’s hard to see them putting in a complete enough display to trouble South Africa or Scotland.
72 mins: Fine Inisi is on at full-back for Tonga, with Charles Piutau moving to the wing. They almost combine on the right flank but Inisi lets the ball slip away, a sixth handling error from Tonga. Somewhat surprisingly, Ireland have committed seven.
TRY! Ireland 52-16 Tonga (Aki 69')
Ireland rumble towards the line with Furlong forcing the defence back, before Craig Casey comes up short with a twisting dive for the line. The try feels inevitable though, and a neat move allows Casey to find Aki, who skips between the posts for his fourth try of the tournament. Byrne converts.
Updated
67 mins: Another penalty conceded by Tonga for not moving away – the count is now at 13-all.
65 mins: Another Tongan attack comes unstuck due to a handling error. This is a talented team clearly still finding their rhythm, not helped by a lack of games in the buildup.
TRY! Ireland 45-16 Tonga (Aki 63')
Another dominant lineout from Ireland, and then a welcome bit of attacking swagger as Byrne combines with Lowe before slipping a pass to Bundee Aki, who is too quick for the covering defender. Byrne converts, and the lead is up to 29 points.
Updated
61 mins: A sweeping move from Ireland comes undone as Lowe misses the catch, drawing groans from the crowd.
60 mins: The Tonga captain, Ben Tameifuna, is replaced in the front row by Sosefo Apikotoa, with Tau Koloamatangi and Sione Vailanu also on, for try-scorer Fifita and another front-rower, Fisi’ihoi.
TRY! Ireland 38-16 Tonga (Lowe 59')
Ireland get the job done at the set-piece again, with James Lowe spinning to score and get his name on the board. Byrne adds the conversion, and Ryan Baird is on for Doris at No 8.
Updated
58 mins: Ireland penalty, kicked to the corner for a lineout deep in Tonga territory. Ireland have won 14 lineouts to Tonga’s three; on scrums, it’s 7-2 in the Pacific islanders’ favour.
56 mins: Conor Murray is replaced at scrum-half by Craig Casey. All the changes are also adding to a staccato rhythm at the moment, a different story to the more free-flowing first half.
“Does Mr Barnes give the most penalties in a game?” asks Phil Haran. “He has given one every two minutes in the 2nd half and it felt the same in the first.” I don’t have any stats to hand, but it has been very stop-start since the half-time break.
54 mins: Funaki makes an impact with a line break, and Fifita looks to break clear – but he spills the ball forward.
“Why aren’t Ireland allowed to play in green with Tonga in red?” asks Ger. I think it may be because red and green shirts would be indistinguishable to colour-blind viewers, though I haven’t seen anything official.
52 mins: Rob Herring gets over the line, but the TMO rules that he was tackled and then lunged forward a second time. For Tonga, Solomone Funaki is on, replacing Halaifonua. In the front row, Sam Moli is on for Paula Ngauamo.
Updated
50 mins: Changes aplenty here: Robbie Henshaw and Iain Henderson are on for Ireland, replacing Ryan and Ringrose. Finlay Bealham is going off injured, sadly – so Tadhg Furlong has to come back into the front row.
49 mins: An Irish attack breaks down and Tonga clear away, but Keenan collects and sets off on a wide arc along the left touchline before running into traffic. He turns the ball back to Murray, and Tonga stray offside.
Updated
46 mins: Oof! From an Ireland lineout, Murray’s toe-punt through looks a little ambitious – but the ball squirms away from Tongan hands and into the path of Ringrose, who can’t ground the ball just beyond the line. He slams his hands on the turf in frustration, and Tonga escape.
Ireland 31-16 Tonga (Havili pen) The first penalty of the second half goes Tonga’s way, and Havili delivers another clean kick to cut the deficit. For Tonga, scrum-half Augustine Pulu has gone off at half-time, replaced by Sonatane Takulua.
42 mins: With the bonus point in the books, Ireland have made plenty of changes. Ross Byrne is on for Sexton, and the entire front row is changed – Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne and Finlay Bealham come on for the second half.
Peep!
The second half is under way, with Ireland leading 31-13, but still a man down with O’Mahony in the sin-bin.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s action, here’s Ugo Monye on England.
Half time! Ireland 31-13 Tonga
Well, that was thoroughly enjoyable. Four tries for Ireland, but Tonga have held their own, and got over the line themselves to end the half. More soon …
Updated
TRY! Ireland 31-13 Tonga (Fifita 48')
After all that effort, this is pretty simple – with Fifita darting from the back of the scrum, into the gap where O’Mahony would be, and lunging over the line. Havili adds the conversion.
Updated
47 mins: A superb dummy from Pita Ahki opens a gap for Fekitoa, who reaches for the line but is held up by Sexton. Tonga will get another chance from the scrum. Can they make the pressure count?
45 mins: Tonga keep pushing, gaining a penalty advantage. We’re more than five minutes past the 40-minute mark now. Ireland still holding firm …
Ireland yellow card!
It’s Peter O’Mahony heading for the sin bin, after Ireland give away three quick penalties in succession. It’s their first yellow card for 14 months!
40 mins: Tonga have a late chance to get a try on the board before the break, with a scrum on the Irish 5m line …
TRY! Ireland 31-6 (Sexton 38')
Johnny Sexton becomes Ireland’s record points-scorer! Doris leads the charge downfield and Ireland, now finding holes late in the half, break through with Ringrose and then Sexton, who avoids running into his teammate and cruises in under the posts. He converts the try himself, and the bonus point is secure before half time!
Updated
37 mins: From the lineout, Kelleher thinks he has added a fourth try – but he doesn’t get the ball down. No matter …
36 mins: This is the type of thing Ireland do so well; a clinical kick from Murray, Mack Hansen there to apply pressure on the catcher and the forwards quickly swarm, forcing the penalty. High-fives and back-slaps after that move, which worked perfectly.
TRY! Ireland 24-6 Tonga (Hansen 33')
The move seems to be slowing down but Ringrose, and then Keenan, shift the ball out wide to Hansen. In a pocket of space, he still has a lot to do but sidesteps infield, dances past a defender and lets his sheer speed carry him through the last-ditch tackles on the line. Sexton converts, and the scoreline is looking much healthier for Ireland.
Updated
30 mins: Clean hands from Andrew Porter – sporting one of this World Cup’s many exceptional mullets – to win a penalty after Keenan tackles Piutau. A pair of Irish lineouts lead to a strange semi-ruck which ends with Murray flinging the ball right …
TRY! Ireland 17-6 Tonga (Doris 26')
The lineout ball is well placed, shifting the point of attack and Ireland force their way through, Doris shearing off to score. Secton converts from 40m, out near the left touchline.
Updated
25 mins: A costly penalty conceded by Solomone Kata, who clatters James Lowe after a kick-through. “Play the ball, not the man” is Barnes’ sage advice – and Ireland will have a great chance to set up a scoring chance …
Ireland 10-6 Tonga (Havili pen) It’s another excellent long-range effort from Havili, and keeps Tonga very much in touch despite their limited time spent upfield.
22 mins: After holding firm in defence, Tonga now need to show a bit more attacking intent – and it doesn’t take long. Charles Piatau launches a slalom run downfield and Ireland concede a penalty in their haste to stop him…
TRY! Ireland 10-3 Tonga (Beirne 20')
Now Ireland have the breakthrough, courtesy of a lovely switch of play from Sexton. Collecting Murray’s pass, he shapes right and offloads to Caelan Doris to his left. He finds Tadhg Beirne, who stays onside and hauls himself to touch down under the post! Sexton converts from close range.
Updated
18 mins: Now Conor Murray leads a surge through the middle from the scrum – but the ball gets away from Keenan, continuing the early theme of Irish errors in sight of the try line.
No try! Andrew Porter thinks he has Ireland’s first score after a drop from Afusipa Taumoepeau – but replays show that Mack Hansen knocked on when collecting the loose ball.
Updated
Ireland 3-3 Tonga (Havili pen) William Havili’s kick has the distance, but is it drifting too far left? No, it sneaks inside the far upright and Tonga are level!
15 mins: From a swirling high kick upfield, Ronan Kelleher collects and turns to move upfield – but behind him, Peter O’Mahony is penalised for an obstruction. Tonga penalty – and they’re going for the posts from 47 metres!
13 mins: It’s been an attacking start from Ireland, with 78% of possession and bodies being thrown in at the breakdown. They aren’t really unsettling their opponents yet, though.
A fair assessment; getting the bonus point will be hard work, particularly given that Tonga have not played yet, and look fresh and very much up for the physical battle.
@niallmcveigh the bonus point win we want will be hard work,Tonga with lots of power & a few ballers in their XV won’t fear us. JS will get 60mins if he’s not injured before that. Heart & head say BP win but it’ll be physical carnage just hope no extra injuries ahead of The Boks
— John McEnerney (@MackerOnTheMed) September 16, 2023
12 mins: Ireland find a bit of width through James Lowe, who deftly hands off to Hugo Keenan – who is dumped unceremoniously into touch. The Tonga No 8, Fifita, is getting treatment after hurting himself in a collision with Sexton.
10 mins: After an exchange of clinical kicks, an Ireland lineout sets up another attack – but Tonga hold firm at the breakdown and wrestle back possession. Their defence has stood up well in this opening spell.
Ireland 3-0 Tonga (Sexton pen) Sexton does indeed convert the penalty, but takes his sweet time. Some Tonga players are unhappy, believing he went over the shot clock. Wayne Barnes assures them he didn’t, but accepts it was “really close”.
4 mins: Ireland advance into the Tongan 22 for the first time, led by Bundee Aki. They’re pushed back, but scrum-half Augustine Pulu – one of four former All Blacks starting for Tonga – gives away a penalty. Sexton will go for goal from 28 metres …
3 min: A first scrum – Tonga have a 60kg advantage in pack size – and Ireland are forced down. The crowd break into an impromptu rendition of La Marseillaise. Everyone’s up for this one.
1 min: Tonga steal possession and Solomone Kata is in space down the right – but there was a forward pass in the build-up. Kata doesn’t hear the whistle, and has to be bundled into touch by two men in white.
Kick-off
Tonga get the game under way amid a wall of noise. An early offside from Vaea Fifita will give Johnny Sexton the chance to kick downfield for territory.
Updated
There’s a big Irish contingent in Nantes tonight, and “Ireland’s Call” is belted out around the stadium. Then the Tonga players gather for the pre-game sipi tau, which is a thing of wonder. Let’s go!
The teams are out at the Stade de la Beaujoire – the venue where Fiji eliminated Wales back in 2007. Time for the anthems, with Tonga in red and Ireland in their white second strip.
Here’s Andy Farrell, and he brushes off any questions about the strength of his starting XV. “The game’s important to us. Completely different type of game to last week, we’re respecting the opposition and the competition. The start’s always important, [but] it’s an 80-minute game. They [Tonga] are a big side, they’ve got very good set pieces and maul.”
Some pre-game reading from Luke McLaughlin.
Here’s a window into another world: Ireland and Tonga’s only other World Cup meeting, in 1987 at a not-exactly-packed Ballymore in Brisbane. Ireland reached the quarter-finals in the inaugural tournament and it remains their joint-highest finish, matched in 1991, 1995, 2003, 2011, 2015 and 2019.
The teams
Ireland: Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Johnny Sexton (c), Conor Murray; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, James Ryan, Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird, Craig Casey, Ross Byrne, Robbie Henshaw.
Tonga: Charles Piutau, Afusipa Taumoepeau, Malakai Fekitoa, Pita Ahki, Solomone Kata, William Havili, Augustine Pulu; Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, Paula Ngauamo, Ben Tameifuna (c), Sam Lousi, Halaleva Fifita, Tanginoa Halaifonua, Sione Talitui, Vaea Fifita.
Replacements: Sam Moli, Tau Koloamatangi, Sosefo Apikotoa, Semisi Paea, Solomone Funaki, Sione Vailanu, Sonatane Takul, Fine Inisi.
Updated
Preamble
In a tournament where the underdogs have caused plenty of problems, Ireland enjoyed an old-fashioned rout of Romania in their first game, conceding the first try but running in 12 of their own in retribution. It was a statement start for the world’s No 1 team, but the gradient from here is steep.
After tonight’s clash with Tonga – who are a tough proposition in their own right – it’s a Tier 1 battle royale for as long as Andy Farrell’s side can stay in the game. South Africa, then Scotland – and if they advance, either France or New Zealand in the quarter-finals.
It says something for the threat Tonga pose that despite the looming fixture list, Farrell has gone with a strong team tonight, not willing to run the risk of a slip-up. Like their island neighbours Samoa, Tonga are strengthened by former All Blacks, and have had to wait a full week to make their mark on this tournament.
Ireland need only look back to their narrow warm-up win over Samoa to recognise the danger Tonga will pose. There are no more easy games at the World Cup, particularly for Farrell’s trophy chasers. Kick-off is at 8pm (BST) in Nantes.
Updated
