France lose to Tonga but still make last eight

Tonga 19 France 14

Saturday 01 October 2011 03:13 EDT
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Tonga produced the upset of the rugby World Cup when they beat France 19-14 today but were unable to advance to the quarter-finals as they failed to secure a bonus point after some poor decision-making cost them at least five tries.

Tonga flyhalf Kurth Morath slotted four penalties and converted Sukanaivalu Hufanga's try for the Pacific islanders, who had needed to win and score four tries to give them a chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals.

Winger Vincent Clerc scored an injury-time try for France to give them the bonus point that ensured they reached the quarter-finals as scrumhalf Dimitri Yachvili slotted three penalties for France, who were outplayed in the second half.

Pool A winners New Zealand play Canada tomorrow. REUTERS

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