Tonga, playing the final minutes two men down, broke a nine-match losing sequence to derail Samoa’s hopes of reaching the quarterfinals at the Rugby World Cup with a fighting 19-15 win on Sunday.
The Tongan Sea Eagles followed up their opening 25-15 win over United States to remain unbeaten in the tournament and lie second in Pool A one point behind South Africa and four points ahead of England.
Tonga now have a great opportunity of reaching their first quarterfinals at the World Cup if they can beat faltering holders England in their last group match in Paris on September 28 after they next play South Africa.
But the Tongans almost beat themselves through their ill-discipline and playing out the remaining four minutes two players short.
Flanker Hale T Pole was red-carded in the 72nd minute and replacement Toma Toke was yellow-carded with four minutes left.
Tonga had to withstand a determined finish from Samoa, but they clung on to the full-time whistle.
It was a momentous day for Tongan rugby — winning their first World Cup meeting against Samoa and their first win over their island rivals since 2000, ending a run of nine defeats.
At the same time it was damaging blow to winless Samoa, quarterfinalists in 1991 and 1995, who were looking to continue their winning run over Tonga to set up an enticing crack at England in Nantes next Saturday for a place in the quarterfinals.
The winning break came midway through a grimly fought second half off a driving maul.
Taione came up with the try under a pile of bodies to Tongan jubilation as they sensed the breaking of a seven-year losing sequence against their great rivals.
Flyhalf Pierre Hola converted for a 16-12 lead with 20 minutes with the French crowd roaring encouragement for the Tongans.
Hola kicked another penalty to stretch the lead to seven points before the Samoa clawed it back to 19-15 after Pole was cautioned for a head-high tackle on opposite number Daniel Leo.
Pole was sent off by South African referee Jonathan Kaplan shortly afterwards after another incident when he elbowed a Samoa forward in the face at a ruck and he was followed to the sidelines by Toke with a yellow card.
The first half was a frustrating stop-start affair with Kaplan constantly whistling up for penalties.
Samoa had the better of most of the opening half, fullback Gavin Williams kicking them to a 12-3 lead after 28 minutes, but they failed to take advantage of Tongan centre Taione’s yellow card as Tonga enjoyed their best territory of the half.
Hola kicked points for Tonga to trail 12-6 two minutes out from half-time and missed another long-range effort right on the interval.
Try-scoring opportunities were scarce with scrumhalf Steve So’oialo going close for Samoa midway through the term and centre Elvis Seveali’i having a try disallowed by the video referee after several replays in the eighth minute.
The Samoans caught Tonga napping with a quick tap penalty and Seveali interchanged passes with midfield partner Seilala Mapusua before he was judged to have failed to ground the ball underneath three tacklers.
Hola kicked Tonga to within three points 12-9 with a 47th-minute penalty as the game continued to meander along. — AFP
