Tonga are going to France

On a hot, sunny day in Auckland, New Zealand, Tonga qualified for the second World Cup in a row.  They qualifying to compete at the RWC in France in September by giving Korea a thumping -- this time 85-3.  At half-time Tonga led 38-0.

Korea have not narrowed the gap, for in the 2003 qualifier they lost 75-0 and 119-0.

The report is from the International Rugby Board.

Tonga's qualification means that all but one of the 20 teams for next year's Tournament have been filled.  Tonga qualifies as Répechage 2 and joins the automatic qualifiers from RWC 2003 in Australia -- quarter-finalists England, Australia, New Zealand, France, Ireland, Scotland, South Africa and Wales -- and Samoa (Oceania 1), Fiji (Oceania 2), Argentina (Americas 1), Canada (Americas 2), USA (Americas 3), Italy (Europe 1), Romania (Europe 2), Namibia (Africa 1), Georgia (Europe 3) and Japan (Asia 1) in France.

Tonga will play in Pool in Pool A in France alongside champions England, South Africa, Samoa and USA in Pool A and will kick-off its finals campaign against USA in Montpellier on September 12.

The atmosphere before kick-off at Waitemata Park was electric as both sets of fans within the 2 800 crowd eagerly awaited a match that would determine the penultimate team to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2007.  Indeed, as the two teams took to the field they were greeted by a crescendo of noise from the travelling supporters who put their drums and horns to good use.

The Tongans were clinical, powerful and patient, running in 13 tries against a Korea side that struggled to match the physicality of their opponents at both the set piece and the breakdown.  Without any decent possession and trapped within their own 22 for much of the game, Korea had withstand waves of attacks from a Tongan side that was determined to blow away the cobwebs after a couple of months without a match.

Making good use of explosive runners like lock Teu'imuli Kaufusi, fullback Vungakoto Lilo and centre Hudson Tonga'uiha to punch holes in a tiring Korea defence, Tonga soon started running in the tries.  Indeed the game was effectively over as a contest before the interval as the Pacific Island team raced into a 38-0 lead.

There was no relenting after the break as Tonga made the most of every opportunity presented with Hudson Tonga'uiha, first five Fangatapu Apikotoa and wingers Vaea Poteki and Sione Fonua all scoring their second try of the match in the second half to secure safe passage to Rugby World Cup 2007.

Tonga's qualification means that just one place remains to be filled for the Tournament in France with Portugal and Uruguay playing home and away fixtures next month to determine who will qualify as Repechage 1 and join New Zealand, Scotland, Italy and Romania in Pool C.

Scorers:

For Tonga:
Tries:  S Fonua 2, V Poteki 2, H Tonga'uiha 2, F Apikotoa 2, H T-Pole, T Kaufusi, V Lilo, H Paea, S Kalamafoni
Cons:  F Apikotoa 10

For Korea:
Pen:  Jun-Ki Hong