Tonga 45-24 Romania: Tonga leave with heads held high

Tonga finished their Rugby World Cup 2023 campaign on a high with an entertaining 45-24 Pool B victory over Romania in front of 45,000 fans at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille.

The Ikale Tahi swept into a 21-3 lead after winger Solomone Kata collected an offload from Salesi Piutau for the opening try, ex-All Blacks centre George Moala went over and winger Afusipa Taumoepeau added a third after Alin Conache’s penalty for Romania.

But the Oaks came back with two tries before the interval from flanker Cristi Boboc and scrum-half Florin Surugiu, the second with Tonga a man down after second-row Halaleva Fifita’s yellow card.

Sione Vailanu’s score extended Tonga’s lead to 11 points on the resumption but Romania again rallied, full-back Marius Simionescu’s try bringing up their record points tally in a Rugby World Cup match before further tries from Pita Ahki, Kata and Kyren Taumoefolau embellished Tonga’s winning margin.