For honor. In a duel between two teams eliminated before kick-off, the Tongans dominated Romania (45-24) this Sunday, in Villeneuve d’Ascq. They left last place in Pool B to the Romanians, who finished with both the worst attack and worst defense in the competition.
The Tongans took this meeting in the right direction by scoring three tries in the first twenty minutes through Kata (10th), Moala (15th) and Taumoepeau (21st). Before experiencing a big gap at the half-hour mark, conceding two tries by Boboc (30th) and Surugiu (36th). Add to that the yellow card received by Fifita (33rd) for a high tackle and it is full of doubts that the Tongans returned to the locker room with only four points in advance (21-17) and suspense reignited.
The start of the second act is balanced. The Romanian full-back Simionescu, receiving a low-footed play (54th), responding to Vailanu’s try (48th), at the conclusion of a devastating carried ball. Worn out by their best score delivered in this World Cup, the Romanians ended up breaking down in the last 20 minutes by conceding three new tries scored by Akhi (61st), Kata (65th), and Taumoefolau (71st). At the end of this spectacular match, with 10 tries scored, it was Tonga who left the unenviable place of last in Pool B to Romania.
