Tops
End on a good note. This was the Tongans’ credo at kick-off. In a match without stakes, where neither team could hope to grab third place in Group B, synonymous with direct qualification for the 2027 World Cup, Tonga overcame the valiant Romanians (45-24), with seven meter tests. Despite a gap at the half-hour mark, marked by the two Romanian tries scored by Boboc (30th) and Surugiu (36th) as well as the yellow card from Fifita (33rd) for a high tackle, Ben’s teammates Tameifuna generally mastered their subject, scoring four other tries after returning from the locker room by Sione Vailanu (48th), Pita Akhi (61st), Solomone Kata (65th) and Kyren Taumoefolau (71st). Including three in the last 20 minutes, one sided in their favor, while the score was only 28 to 24.
Suspended since the start of the competition for having made a dangerous tackle in a preparation match, the ASM Clermont center had ants in his legs before making his World Cup debut. Constantly advancing against the Romanian defenders, George Moala also stood out by scoring his team’s second try a quarter of an hour into the game, after having completed the hard work of his upwind forwards.
Flops
Full suitcases to go home. Designated Tom Thumb of the pool of death, Romania ends the World Cup as the worst defense in the competition, with no less than 287 points conceded after being swept away by Ireland (82-0), Africa South (76-0), Scotland (84-0) and therefore Tonga (45-24). Relegated to the rank of simple foils, they were also very close to finishing as the worst attack in the World Cup with only 32 points scored and four tries in as many matches. But Chile (last in Group D), which scored 27 points, did worse than her. A way of the cross which ended on Sunday afternoon at the Pierre-Mauroy stadium in Lille following their best performance in the competition.
If the observation is less glaring than during its first three matches, Romania once again struggled in the defensive sector. With more than 40 missed tackles, captain Ovidiu Cojocariu’s teammates were repeatedly pierced by the Tongan attacking waves, which could have made things worse without several approximate passes within the opposing 22 meters. Offensively, the Romanians, however, managed to show a completely different side. While they had not scored a single point for more than 200 minutes in the competition, the yellow and blue scored three tries against Tonga through Cristi Boboc (30th), Florin Surugiu (36th) and Marius Simionescu (54th), best player in the Romanian XV this afternoon. A great way to thank their audience, who came in large numbers to support them in Lille.