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. try

    Try Scotland 17-10 Tongapublished at 30 mins

    Kyle Steyn

    Russell did indeed fancy it, and Scotland have their third try of the contest!

    Scotland's fly-half is so flat to the line, and he picks out Kyle Steyn with a perfectly judged pass.

    The Glasgow winger bursts through a hole, and goes over to score.

    The conversion bounces clear of the post, and so the lead stays at seven points.

    Steyn tryImage source, PA Media
  2. Postpublished at 29 mins

    Scotland 12-10 Tonga

    Tonga were really disciplined in defence early on, but they're becoming increasingly ragged here.

    Rory Darge is taken out off the ball, and Finn Russell kicks the resulting penalty into the opposition 22.

    Russell will fancy this.

  3. Russell causing Tonga problemspublished at 17:17 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    Scotland 12-10 Tonga

    Johnnie Beattie
    Former Scotland back row on BBC Radio Sports Extra

    That is really well executed by Scotland. Russell causes the Tonga defensive line all sorts of issues.

  4. try

    Try Scotland 12-10 Tongapublished at 26 mins

    Duhan van der Merwe

    Gorgeous hands open Tonga up, and Duhan van der Merwe pins his ears back to score in the corner.

    Sione Tuipulotu is at first receiver, and throws a delightfully deft pass out the back to Finn Russell.

    Scotland's fly-half finds Blair Kinghorn out wide, who draws the final defender to release Van der Merwe.

    Russell's conversion is just wide, but Scotland lead once more.

    Van der Merwe tryImage source, Getty Images
  5. Postpublished at 25 mins

    Scotland 7-10 Tonga

    A no-arms tackle gifts Scotland a penalty, and allows Finn Russell to kick to touch.

    Can they get that maul working again?

  6. Van Der Merwe in the firing linepublished at 17:14 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    Scotland 7-10 Tonga

    Paul Williams TweetImage source, X
  7. Tonga show their qualitypublished at 17:11 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    Scotland 7-10 Tonga

    Johnnie Beattie
    Former Scotland back row on BBC Radio Sports Extra

    The individual quality that they have, that sprinkle of stardust, it is so precious in rugby.

  8. converted try

    Converted try Scotland 7-10 Tongapublished at 20 mins

    Solomone Kata

    Brilliant rugby from Tonga, who take the lead.

    William Havili throws a big miss pass to release Solomone Kata, and Scotland's defence can't slow the ball down in time to nullify the threat.

    Salesi Piutau offloads brilliantly, and it's Kata who's on hand to score in the corner.

    Havili adds the extras, and if Scotland didn't know they were in a contest, they do now.

  9. Postpublished at 16 mins

    Scotland 7-3 Tonga

    Superb from Finn Russell, who gets his head up and spots acres of space in behind the Tongan defensive line.

    His kick trickles out of play for a 50-22, and Scotland have the lineout in opposition territory.

  10. Postpublished at 15 mins

    Scotland 7-3 Tonga

    Duhan van der Merwe has just been hammered backwards in contact, which doesn't happen very often.

    There's some serious power in this Tongan outfit.

  11. Postpublished at 13 mins

    Scotland 7-3 Tonga

    Finn Russell is enjoying far more time and space than he did against South Africa, which allows the Scotland playmaker to put Chris Harris away down the right-hand side.

    Tonga just about scramble back in defence, and a fumble allows them to hack clear.

    Positive signs in attack though for Scotland.

  12. Scots find their voicepublished at 16:57 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    Scotland 7-3 Tonga

    Andy Burke
    BBC Scotland at Stade de Nice

    There's a great Scottish support in the stadium and the team have given them something to cheer with that early try.

    The bagpipes are striking up now, Flower of Scotland is growing louder and those Scottish fans, who may have been deflated by Ireland's win last night, are now enjoying themselves.

  13. Penalty Scotland 7-3 Tongapublished at 10 mins

    William Havili

    It sails through, and Tonga hit back.

  14. Postpublished at 9 mins

    Scotland 7-0 Tonga

    Scotland's set-piece came under massive pressure against South Africa, and they concede a scrum penalty here after the front row collapsed.

    William Havili has called for his kicking tee.

  15. 'Perfect start' to proceedingspublished at 16:56 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    Scotland 7-0 Tonga

    Johnnie Beattie
    Former Scotland back row on BBC Radio Sports Extra

    That was the perfect start for Scotland.

    George Turner tryImage source, Reuters
  16. converted try

    Converted try Scotland 7-0 Tongapublished at 5 mins

    George Turner

    Scotland open their try-scoring account at the World Cup!

    George Turner finds his jumper at the lineout, and from their, it's all about forward power.

    Tonga have no answers to Scotland's perfectly set maul, and George Turner dots down under relatively little pressure.

    Finn Russell adds the extras, and Gregor Townsend nods his approval in the stands.

  17. Postpublished at 4 mins

    Scotland 0-0 Tonga

    Tonga are pinged for offside from Scotland's lineout, and Finn Russell kicks to touch.

    This is a good platform to attack from.

  18. No trypublished at 2 mins

    Scotland 0-0 Tonga

    It's almost the perfect start for Scotland, as Blair Kinghorn puts on the afterburners and reaches his own kick through ahead of the scrambling Tongan defence.

    However, the Edinburgh full back knocks on just inches from the try-line.

    Tonga win their scrum and clear downfield.

    Blair Kinghorn failed to touch down over the lineImage source, Getty Images
  19. Graham v Steyn? Ashman v McInally?published at 16:47 British Summer Time 24 September 2023

    Scotland 0-0 Tonga

    Peter Wright
    Former Scotland prop on BBC Radio Scotland

    It's a really strong Scotland squad. The argument is do you start your best players to try and get a 20-point lead or do you bring your best players off the bench to try and finish off a game? You need a happy medium.

    I would always start Darcy Graham if he's fit. He's a quality player. That was a surprise, but it's tempered by the fact that Kyle Steyn is also a really good player. It doesn't hurt much.

    Hooker is an interesting one for me. I don't think Ashman is there yet - he's an international player in the making. But if Townsend picks McInally in the squad, he's admitting he got it wrong.

  20. Kick-offpublished at 1 min

    Scotland 0-0 Tonga

    Karl Dickson peeps his whistle, and we are off...