Tonga take second place after beating Namibia

A final scoreline of 35-21 in a game contested between the sides ranked 12th and 20th in the world , doesn’t necessarily suggest Tuesday afternoon’s clash between Tonga and Namibia was one for the ages, however in actuality, the two sides treated the 12,500 strong crowd at Sandy Park to one of the most exciting games in this year’s World Cup, period.

It certainly wasn’t a game for the rugby purist with handling errors, missed tackles, knock-ons and errant passes ruling the day, however the ambitious attacking play exhibited by both nations made this a game, even if it was eventually to be comfortably one-sided on Tonga’s behalf, one of the more entertaining rugby outings England has been treated to in the last week-and-a-half.

Telusa Veainu and Jack Ram both notched two tries apiece as Tonga put their surprise defeat to Georgia 10 days ago far behind them to secure a bonus-point victory that they seemed destined to attain for the entire 80 minutes, never once falling behind on the scoreboard.

But credit must go to Namibia, who, despite yet again failing to record their first World Cup point, were magnanimous in defeat, scoring three tries of their own and stringing together some incisive passages of open and intrusive attacking play alongside some fundamentally excellent tight-five strategm that resulted in captain Jacques Burger also score a pair of tries.

In a match representative of the unique way in which rugby’s biggest international tournament brings together players of all grades and background - Tonga featured representatives from National League 1 (Aleki Lutui - Ampthill) and the Championship (Samisoni Fisilau - Jersey) whilst Namibia fielded players predominately from the second tier of South Africa’s domestic leagues – Tonga held the ascendancy from the start, moving the ball quickly and decisively into the wide channels which in turned allowed the opening for the Melbourne Rebels winger Veainu to dot down.

Tonga further pushed their way in front following a galloping run from Jack Ram – a towering force of a ballcarrier all afternoon – although fullback Vunga Lilo began one of the sliced his conversion horribly (and it was not to be the first time either on Tuesday) to keep the score at 12-0.

Namibian however responded admirably, showing the same spirit of determination that had made them such an annoyance to New Zealand last week, with  winger Johan Tromp touching down on 17 minutes following a delicious run and off-load from lock Tjiuee Uanivi. With Namibia’s fly-half Theuns Kotze – who also impressed across the 80 minutes in Exeter – converting to bring the scores to 12-7, whispers began to emerge that surely another shock Tongan defeat wasn’t going to transpire?

Luckily for followers of ‘Ikale Tahi, Tonga kept their composure well in the face of the Namibian onslaught and 8 minutes later stand-in fly-half Latiume Fosita crossed unopposed to extend Tonga’s lead with Vunga Lilo’s subsequent conversion and a further penalty allowing Namibia some breathing room going into the half-time break, 22-7 to the good. 

A quick score only four minutes into the second half – another bulldozing close-range effort from flanker Jack Ram – secured Tonga that much-needed bonus point right from the second half’s off and although Jacque Burger rumbled over at the back of a Namibian rolling maul four minutes later to once again chip away at the Tongan lead, a dizzying counterattack instigated and finished by the ever-dangerous Veaniu meant Tonga’s five-point, five-try win was all wrapped up after only 55 minutes. 

Still Namibia pressed however, and with the vast majority of those neutral in attendance at Sandy Park willing them onwards, the Welwitschias captain Burger found himself on the right side of the try-line for a second time on 66 minutes, once again at the back of a disciplined and well-executed rolling maul to bring the scores to 32-21. 

However despite a hearty final-quarter effort, that elusive first tournament point continues to elude the nation from Africa’s South-West, with some impressive goal-line defence from Tonga (and some admittedly dire handling and unforced mistakes on their own behalf) preventing Namibia from securing a consolatory bonus point (or two).