Summary

  • Scotland 45-17 Tonga: Turner gets early try for Scotland; Kata then sneaks in at the corner but Van der Merwe & Steyn promptly reply;

  • Darge darts in between posts just before break; Tameifuna storms over just after break to give Tonga hope with Horne & Kinghorn responding as Graham runs in at death

  • Scotland face Romania on Saturday 30 September (20:00 BST)

  1. G'nightpublished at 19:32 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Scotland 45-17 Tonga

    That's all from me on live text duties today, as Scotland secure the bonus-point win that they needed against Tonga.

    Thanks for your company this afternoon. You can read Colin Moffat's match report here, and if you want to relive the action, you can do so through this page.

    Scotland are back in action on Saturday against Romania - see you all then.

    Rory Darge at full-timeImage source, Getty Images
  2. Postpublished at 19:29 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Scotland 45-17 Tonga

    Fraser Brown
    Glasgow and Scotland hooker on BBC Radio Scotland

    It's hard to sum up - I'm still quite frustrated. If Scotland had been more clinical, they could have scored 60 or 70 points. That would've been a fair reflection on the game.

    They didn't convert enough opportunities when they got into Tonga's 22m. A lot of the opportunities came from nothing - loose balls or individual bits of skill.

    Scotland's attack didn't break down the Tongan defence. I wanted to see a direct Scotland, tying in defenders, moving it wide into the space.

    Scotland were slow into contact - that's why there weren't many turnovers.

  3. get involved

    Get Involved - 'work to be done'published at 19:22 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Scotland 45-17 Tonga

    Plenty of you got in touch about Scotland's level of performance today:

    Archie: Solid win but felt we left about 20 points out there which we absolutely have to convert against the Irish. Line out in my opinion hasn’t got much better either and a couple of extra kicks and offloads we really didn’t need to make. Job done but we need better accuracy.

    Mark: Job done. Still work to be done on set piece and handling. We can still get out the group but need to be perfect against the Irish. Focus on Romania first BP win a must but rotate and protect the most important players.

    Keith: We got a win. The match was scrappy in parts but for much of the match we did see the attacking Scots team which we have come to expect. I saw no mitigation with the two yellow cards, and they should be upgraded to red. I’m looking forward to my trip to Paris for the match against Ireland.

  4. Postpublished at 19:19 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Scotland 45-17 Tonga

    Fraser Brown
    Glasgow and Scotland hooker on BBC Radio Scotland

    I don't understand why it has to go to the bunker. It's clear as a day. Why can a referee not make that decision on the pitch?

    If World Rugby have told referees to put everything to the bunker, why has that not been communicated to the public? It's farcical.

  5. 'We need to get better' - Russellpublished at 19:15 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Scotland 45-17 Tonga

    Scotland fly-half Finn Russell tells the BBC:

    "Great to be back out there tonight. It's a long time to wait - two weeks in the middle of a competition.

    "We need to grow and get better if we're going to stay in the sompetition beyond the group stages.

    "The forwards were good tonight, they gave us some good quick ball. They style of rugby is good fun."

    Russell thumbs-upImage source, Getty Images
  6. 'So frustrated with the officials'published at 19:10 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Scotland 45-17 Tonga

    Peter Wright
    Former Scotland prop on BBC Radio Scotland

    I'm just so frustrated with the ineptitude of the officials. How that is not upgraded to a red card... Ritchie does dip, but not much.

    Nobody can understand that decision. Fifita - that was criminal assault for me. A shoulder to the face. Russell can't do anything.

    We didn't break Tonga down like we wanted to. The two things that concern me are the breakdown - which was scrappy - and the line-out. When Ashman came on, the line-out imploded. We were so poor in those aspects of the game.

  7. 'We know we can be a lot better' - Townsendpublished at 19:07 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Scotland 45-17 Tonga

    Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend tells BBC Scotland: "You've got to be happy with the win but we know we can be a lot better than that last quarter of the game. It got a bit loose.

    "We pride ourselves on making sure we stay at the levels we started with. We didn't do that today but I'm really proud of the effort that went in.

    "I'm content with the game plan, the intent, and our contact work. Tonga were very physical. Some of our defensive work was outstanding. But, we got a bit greedy in that second-half. When you're up on the scoreboard, you've got to be better in those situations.

    "We know we have to improve from that performance to get a bonus point win against Romania."

    Gregor TownsendImage source, BBC Sport
  8. Postpublished at 19:05 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Scotland 45-17 Tonga

    Tom English
    BBC Scotland's chief sports writer on BBC Scotland

    The bonus point is all that counts for Scotland. They butchered a lot of chances, despite getting seven tries.

    They dominated the second-half. If they scored another four tries, it wouldn't have flattered them.

    Some of the Tongan shots were outrageous.

  9. get involved

    Get Involved - 'shambles of a decision'published at 19:02 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Scotland 45-17 Tonga

    It's fair to say that you're not best pleased with the officials' decision to not upgrade Afusipa Taumoepeau's yellow to red:

    Stephen: World Cup can drop the pretence that they're interested in the welfare of players if that isn't a red card. It ticks all the boxes. Absolute shambles of a decision.

    Andrew: I'm incensed at the clear shoulder-to-head collision on Jamie Ritchie - it's red instantaneously, no decision to make. Yet again the officials make a complete mess of it - dance around it, chicken out - a complete fudge with a yellow. It's gone way beyond ridicule and disbelief, this cannot go on. Get a grip WR - for all our sanities.

    Jack: That yellow card decision is an embarrassment to world rugby and the sport overall. Proves that player safety is not the priority at all. That would be the case for any player of any team.

    Andrew: World Rugby needs to have a serious inward look at themselves and how their officials are judging dangerous tackles, because at the moment they are just shooting themselves in the foot with the appalling inconsistency in decision-making.

  10. As it standspublished at 18:58 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Scotland 45-17 Tonga

    Graphic pool tableImage source, BBC Sport
  11. Postpublished at 18:55 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Scotland 45-17 Tonga

    Just in case you were wondering, Vaea Fifita's yellow card has been upgraded to red post-match.

    Quite right too.

  12. 'I've never been hit like that' - Van Der Merwepublished at 18:53 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Scotland 45-17 Tonga

    Scotland star Duhan van der Merwe tells BBC Scotland:

    "We've been based here for a few weeks and it's an amazing night seeing our fans here - we really enjoyed it tonight.

    "To be honest, it was tough out there. The first half hour, I've never been hit like that before. The body will be sore tomorrow. With boys like Finn, Sione and Blair giving me opportunities, it's amazing."

    Duhan van der Merwe runsImage source, Getty Images
  13. Duhan the destroyerpublished at 18:50 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Scotland 45-17 Tonga

    Duhan van der Merwe became more and more influential as that game went on, getting Scotland over the gainline regularly.

    He beat 14 defenders out there, which is the most ever by a Scotland player in a World Cup game.

    Van der Merwe carryImage source, Getty Images
  14. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 18:47 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Scotland 45-17 Tonga

    A wee bit nervy, a few controversial yellow cards, but ultimately Scotland come through that test. Not quite unscathed though - we'll have to see what the outcome of Jamie Ritchie's HIA is.

    Let us know your thoughts on the game here.

  15. Job donepublished at 18:44 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    FT: Scotland 45-17 Tonga

    Johnnie Beattie
    Former Scotland back row on BBC Radio Sports Extra

    It wasn't easy, it wasn't pretty but Scotland have done what was required. They will take great confidence from this.

  16. 'Wonderful' finishpublished at 18:42 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    Scotland 45-17 Tonga

    Johnnie Beattie
    Former Scotland back row on BBC Radio Sports Extra

    The finish is absolutely wonderful. Darcy Graham is so good with ball in hand.

    Graham tryImage source, Getty Images
  17. converted try

    Converted try Scotland 45-17 Tongapublished at 83 mins

    Darcy Graham

    Darcy Graham is so, so good - a stunning try to finish things off for Scotland!

    Huw Jones makes the initial break, before popping the ball up to George Horne.

    Graham is on Horne's shoulder, and slaloms away from several Tongan defenders to score under the posts, and nicely boost Scotland's points difference.

    Finn Russell splits the posts off the tee to wrap up the action in Nice.

  18. Postpublished at 82 min

    Scotland 38-17 Tonga

    We're well past the 80-minute mark, but Tonga have possession and want to finish with a flourish.

  19. Postpublished at 18:37 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    Scotland 38-17 Tonga

    Post on XImage source, X
  20. Postpublished at 78 mins

    Scotland 38-17 Tonga

    Scotland have a scrum just five metres out from the Tonga line.

    A big chance for a seventh try, but Tonga get a nudge on and win a penalty.