Tonga wrapped up their 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign with a bonus-point 45-24 success against Romania at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille on Sunday.
After defeats to Ireland, Scotland and South Africa, victory will taste sweet for the 'Ikale Tahi as they finish in fourth spot in Pool B ahead of the Romanians.
Solomone Kata (two), George Moala, Afusipa Taumoepeau, Sione Vailanu, Pita Ahki and Kyren Taumoefolau went over in Tonga's ruthless seven-try triumph.
Cristi Boboc, Florin Surugio and Marius Simionescu crossed for Romania as their Rugby World Cup unfortunately wraps up with zero points on the board.
The teams came into the clash without a point between them but the Pacific Islanders finished strongly to ensure they exited the competition with a win.
Although Alin Conache missed an early penalty for Romania, Tonga started with purpose and were rewarded through tries from Kata and Moala, the latter of which was converted by William Havili.
Conache kicked a penalty to make it 14-3 to Tonga after 20 minutes but Taumoepeau went over soon after and Havili again converted.
However, Romania scored a try of their own in the 31st minute when Boboc touched down after a well worked line-out. Conache converted to reduce the deficit to 11 points.
After Tonga's Leva Fifita was shown yellow for a shoulder charge, Romania used the extra man to score again.
Surugiu, in his last international game before retiring, broke away after a scrum and evaded the defenders to cross the whitewash. Conache again converted and the deficit was just four points.
10 minutes after the turnaround Tonga had breathing space when Vailanu's try was converted by Havili.
However, battling Romania responded well with a try from Simionescu. Conache added the extras and the gap was down to four points again.
That was as good as it got for them though, as Ahki crossed for a try which Havili again converted with 18 minutes remaining.
Four minutes later Kata had his second try and, after Conache had been sin-binned, Taumoefolau got Tonga's seventh try to round off the scoring in an entertaining contest.
🇹🇴🙌 It has been a pleasure, Tonga! #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/DDKGXhSDJj
― Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) October 8, 2023
The teams
Tonga: 15 Salesi Piutau, 14 Solomone Kata, 13 George Moala, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Afusipa Taumoepeau, 10 William Havili, 9 Sonatane Takulua (c), 8 Sione Vailanu, 7 Sione Talitui, 6 Semisi Paea, 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Halaleva Fifita, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Paula Ngauamo, 1 Siegfried Fisi'ihoi
Replacements: 16 Sione Anga'aelangi, 17 Paula Latu, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Sitiveni Mafi, 20 Penitoa Finau, 21 Manusiu Paea, 22 Patrick Pellegrini, 23 Kyren Taumoefolau
Romania: 15 Marius Simionescu, 14 Nicholas Onutu, 13 Tevita Manumua, 12 Fonovai Tangimana, 11 Taliauli Sikuea, 10 Alin Conache, 9 Florin Surugiu, 8 Andre Gorin, 7 Cristi Boboc, 6 Vlad Neculau, 5 Marius Iftimiciuc, 4 Adrian Motoc, 3 Alexandru Gordas, 2 Ovidiu Cojocaru (c), 1 Alexandru Savin
Replacements: 16 Robert Irimescu, 17 Iulian Hartig, 18 Costel Burtila, 19 Florian Rosu, 20 Damian Stratila, 21 Gabriel Rupanu, 22 Alexandru Bucur, 23 Mihai Graure
Referee: Angus Gardner (RA)
Assistant Referees: Mathieu Raynal (FFR), Christophe Ridley (RFU)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (WRU)
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