France vs Tonga, Rugby World Cup 2019 LIVE result: Les Bleus survive Tonga scare to secure quarter-final berth
Follow all the live action from the Kumamoto Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.France survived a serious scare from Tonga to progress through to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals in Kumamoto.
With the Pacific Islanders evoking memories of their triumph in New Zealand over the French eight years ago, Toutai Kefu's side pushed Les Bleus all the way, falling by two points as France secured a tight 23-21 victory,
France have thus secured qualification for the knockout stages, but another lacklustre showing leaves them looking vulnerable ahead of a Pool C decider against England, and likely quarter-final meeting with Wales. Relive all of the action as it happened below:
What time is it?
France vs Tonga kicks off at 4.45pm Japan Standard Time, which is 8.45am BST, on Sunday 6 October.
Where can I watch it?
The match will be broadcast on ITV, with coverage starting at 8.15am. Alternatively, you can live stream it via the ITV Hub on your smartphone, laptop and tablet.
1 minute
An efficient exit as Tonga take down a lineout and work the ball back for Sonatane Takulua to box from the back.
Not his deepest clearance, and decent attacking position for France to work from.
2 minutes
Lovely stuff from Romain Ntamack, seeing his outside support marked and dropping the ball onto his boot, prodding a lovely little grubber into the corner to push Tonga back. Lineout, five metres out.
Tonga throw it well, but fail to resource a midfield ruck and allow the mammoth chest of Camille Chat to latch over the top. Holding on, penalty bang in front, and Jefferson Poirot deduces that they should go for the posts.
PENALTY!
Romain Ntamack makes no mistake from ten metres out. A simple starter.
France 3-0 Tonga
5 minutes
Tonga have ball in the French half for the first time after Romain Ntamack boots the ball into touch, but can't find too much joy, with France cohesive in defence, not jumping out of the line and surviving some heavy collisions.
Kicked through to Maxime Medard, who clears well, to beyond halfway.
TRY! What a score for France!
A try made in Fiji! Tonga overthrow the lineout and Camille Chat is fastest to the bouncing ball, recognising space on the left and shifting the ball swiftly on. The ball is whizzed wide to Alivereti Raka, who cuts back in field and brushes a couple of would-be tacklers away, putting the gas on and sprinting towards the line.
He is just hauled back by a superb last-ditch tackle but manages to fling a one-handed offload to Virimi Vakatawa, broad grin spreading across his face as he canters over for a brilliant try.
France 10-0 Tonga
9 minutes
Tonga know they can't give this French side ball in the broken field. They have so many dangerous runners, as Maxime Medard shows with a counter-attack that gains 20 metres. Baptiste Serin nearly slips Sebastien Vahaamahina away and the offload back to the scrum-half keeps the movement going.
10 minutes
Damian Penaud is so good in the air, and he gets up incredibly early and high here to get his hands to the ball above James Faiva, but after injuring himself in such a collision in France's opener it is a little worrying when he initially stays down after falling heavily.
He's alright, thankfully, but has knocked the ball on. Tonga scrum.
12 minutes
Solid first effort from Tonga. France have picked their two best scrummagers at prop, but the Tongan front row holds firm and allows the ball to be cleared.
France look to play, with Alivereti Raka and Virimi Vakatawa released in the open field, but the latter lets the ball slip from his grasp as he tries to wriggle through a tackle on the left touchline.
14 minutes
Telusa Veainu looks up and sees open space, but curiously decides to kick rather than set off on one of his trademark rambling runs from the back.
He chases his kick well and makes a superb hit on Romain Ntamack, and Tonga win the ball at the breakdown! Space on the left, worked wide to Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, but the loosehead knocks on as he tries to launch a wide pass.
15 minutes
Brilliant from France! Sofiane Guitoune scythes through a double tackle and moves onwards with a spin, and something is really starting to build when Tonga manage to slow the ball at the breakdown. Sam Lousi comes charging in to attempt to pry the ball free but he hasn't used his arms in his clearout, and that'll be a French penalty.
Poirot points to the posts again.
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