Higashiosaka (Japan) (AFP)
Tonga finished their World Cup on a rather positive note by dominating the United States (31-19), Sunday in Hanazono.
The region of Osaka, in the south of Japan, was relatively spared by Typhoon Hagibis and this match, between two teams already eliminated, maintained: after three defeats of rank, against England (35-3), the Argentina (28-12) and France (23-21), the Tongans clinch their first win of the World Cup, bonus that is more.
As in 1995, 1999 and 2015, they end with one success. It's not as good as at the 2007 and 2011 editions when they had won twice.
But, like their first three encounters, the Tongans chained hand-offs (15 in total) while they seemed to have done the hardest. With a little more application, they could have won an even wider victory.
In-front, past touch, incongruous decisions ... all the panoply has passed. The Pacific players chained the wrong choices and made it difficult for a team that has not beaten them since 1999.
Result, the Americans, who have not been imposed in a World Cup since 2011, have even turned in the lead at the break (12-7), thanks to their substitute winger Mike Te'o, author of a double (21st, 26th) .
The Eagles held for nearly an hour but eventually cracked the physical impact imposed by Tonga, conceding three tries in the last twenty-five minutes including one of captain Siale Piutau (63).
The center (34), like his teammate Sione Kalamafoni, was playing his third World Cup and his twelfth match in the finals of a World Cup. His last. A nice way to say goodbye.
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