 October 1, 2023 This works because Ireland also have the head-to-head over South Africa if they finish level on points, which is the first part of the criteria. 9:58PM We expected a tough game. I played hooker in my earlier career so it wasn't too bad, but it went well today. I trained there for the last two years with the Springboks and in the Bok camp we train hard like in a game. That paid dividends today. 9:55PM 9:49PM And that's a wrap. South Africa's depth good enough to handle Tonga, valuable minutes for Pollard, no major injuries hopefully - bar Mapimpi's HIA - and a job well done. But Tonga were enjoyable, their best performance of the tournament. Also, a nudge that Daniel Schofield spoke to Pellegrini before the tournament about his remarkable journey. 9:47PM Springboks going through the phases, Etzebeth still out there hammering away. South Africa want another and they'll get one as Smith pinballs over under the posts. Libbok with the easy conversion. 9:43PM Tonga now full of beans, making a break through Piutau, but South Africa's defence holds and earns a turnover too. Final minutes now in Marseille. 9:39PM Now that's fun. South Africa break dangerously, Williams passing inside to no one and Tonga scoop it up. Pellegrini chips ahead, Libbok and Le Roux can't bring it in and Pellegrini is there quickest, beating Van Staden for pace to score. Pellegrini can't convert. 9:37PM Monster scrum from the Springboks earns a penalty which they stick to touch in Tonga's 22. Good work from Tonga stopping the maul and then they earn a penalty through an Esterhuizen error. Pellegrini, who plays for Coventry, now on for Tonga. 9:33PM Tuitavuki with a drop, South Africa clear, but Tonga respond with a 50:22 (effectively, after it goes into touch off Le Roux). Few phases of attack from Tonga off the lineout but that'){kind=link}
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South Africa have done all they can. The reigning world champions, after this bonus-point victory – and second-half rearguard – over an obdurate Tonga, have one foot in the quarter-finals and a probable meeting with France. For the Springboks, all eyes turn to Ireland’s clash with Scotland in Paris next Saturday, where only an extraordinary turn of events would see them depart the World Cup, on points difference.
Despite the seven-try victory and the Springboks topping Pool B as things stand, the South African goal-kicking and hooker depth have been two subplots clouding their tournament so far. Both passed the Tongan test with flying colours. Handre Pollard, the Leicester fly-half, kicked all four conversions in his 50 minutes on the Marseille field, a first international appearance since August 2022; and the line-out throwing of Deon Fourie, nominally a back-rower, was immaculate.
The fact that these teams had not met since the Pacific Islanders scared the eventual trophy-lifting Springboks at the 2007 World Cup initially inspired the Tongans more than the reigning world champions. Ben Tameifuna, Tonga’s captain, carried the weight of a nation on his considerable shoulders; which, if anyone could, it was the Bordeaux prop – at 150kg. Tameifuna blasted through Siya Kolisi early on, forcing Andre Esterhuizen to stray offside and giving William Havili the chance to give Tonga an early lead from the tee.
Cobus Reinach, one of the world’s fastest scrum-halves, moments later proved that his brain worked as swiftly as his feet, catching Tonga napping. Reinach sprinted to the mark, tapped the penalty, and darted to the corner to score. Somewhat against the run of play, South Africa were in front – and Pollard nailed the touchline conversion.