Lapse in French focus creates a frantic finish
FRANCE overcame a battling Tonga last Sunday but coach Jaques Brunel admitted there is serious work to be done ahead of the knockout stage.
France raced into a 17-point lead before being reeled in, then rallying before a late Tonga try set up a frantic finale.
“We wanted a bigger scoreline but because of handling errors we were not able to achieve that,” Brunel said.
“It was quite a hard game, but the most important thing is that we got our ticket to the quarterfinals, so I’m happy about that.”
France started the game in style as powerful centre Virimi Vakatawa went over from Alivereti Raka’s one-handed pass. Raka added a second try from a quickly-tapped Baptiste Serin penalty and a Romain Ntamack penalty made it 17-0 with half-time approaching.
However, just as in their opening match against Argentina – when they allowed the Pumas back in the match from 20-3 down – France’s concentration wavered.
Newcastle scrum-half Sonatane Takulua dived over from close range just before the break and Malietoa Hingano powered over shortly after the restart to close within three points.
With a repeat of Tonga’s upset victory in the 2011 pool stages threatening, Ntamack landed two more penalties for 23-14.
Damian Penaud looked to have extended the lead but referee Nic Berry ruled out that score for a knock-on by Maxime Medard, and then Tonga flanker Zane Kapeli claimed a cross-field kick and dotted down.
Replacement Latiume Fosita slotted the conversion, putting Tonga within two points with less than a minute to go, but Penaud won the restart for France and the ball was kicked to touch to end the game.
Tonga coach Toutai Kefu: “We’re frustrated; again we didn’t get off to the best of starts and that told in the end.
“There was a period in the second half when the game was in the balance and the guys hung in and hung in. You can’t question their effort.”