Summary

  • Tonga get first victory of Rugby World Cup 2023 over winless Romania but both nations eliminated

  • Sione Vailanu scored fourth Tonga try in second half to clinch bonus point

  • Solomone Kata (2), George Moala, Afusipa Taumoepeau, Pita Ahki and Kyren Taumoefolau also touched down for Tonga

  • Cristi Boboc, Florin Surugiu and Marius Simionescu crossed for Romania

Live Reporting

Emma Smith

  1. This is game two of three on the final Sunday of the 2023 Rugby World Cup pool stage.

    Let's have a look back on the thrilling action we saw earlier - and the intriguing match we have still to come.

  2. 'Yellow card has cost Tonga'

    HT: Tonga 21-17 Romania

    Rocky Clark
    Former England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Halaleva Fifita of Tonga is shown a yellow card by Referee Angus GardnerGetty Images

    Romania have been fantastic, they have shown resilience to come back from such a deficit.

    The yellow card has cost two tries, that gave the opportunity for Romania to go through and play with a high tempo. Romania seem to have layers and this was always going to be their World Cup final today.

    A massive momentum shift to Romania, they have grown in confidence, I cannot wait for the second half!

  3. Half-time

    Tonga 21-17 Romania

    Tonga try to go through the hands all the way across the pitch - but Afusipa Taumoepeau mishandles and the ball spins into touch.

    Well that was really good fun! Another 40 minutes like that, please.

  4. Tonga 21-17 Romania

    Tonga have the ball for the final play of the half, from a line-out in a good position.

  5. Tonga 21-17 Romania

    Leva Fifita is a lucky boy.

    His yellow card has not been upgraded, as "a lot of the force went through the body as well as the head," according to the TMO.

  6. Tonga 21-17 Romania

    I told you this would be a low key thriller!

  7. 'Surugiu used all his experience'

    Tonga 21-17 Romania

    Rocky Clark
    Former England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Romania's scrum-half Florin Surugiu dives across the lineGetty Images

    Florin Surugiu has used all of his experience to snipe down that blindside, the players were not able to get across and he just slipped through. The 38-year-old backs himself and he scores in his final game.

  8. converted try

    Converted try - Tonga 21-17 Romania

    Florin Surugiu (con Alin Conache)

    Florin Surugiu of Romania runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Siegfried Fisi'ihoiGetty Images

    HELLO.

    Florin Surugiu, who is retiring from international rugby after this World Cup and is winning his 104th cap today, has a try to say goodbye with.

    From another scrum which Romania dominated, Surugiu burst away with impressive pace and power, scoring then celebrating with a goofy grin on his face.

    Another conversion, and the gap is down to four.

  9. Tonga 21-10 Romania

    Romania continue to ask interesting questions. Full-back Marius Simionescu almost deceived the defenders with a grubber kick but the bounce was kind to Tonga.

    Another Romanian score before the break would really turn up the heat.

  10. Sin-bin

    Tonga 21-10 Romania

    Things are suddenly a bit shaky for Tonga, they are down to 14 men.

    Leva Fifita caught an opponent in the head with his shoulder, that's a yellow card and could be upgraded to red.

    It's a very poor tackle, I think Fifita could be in trouble.

  11. Tonga 21-10 Romania

    Cristian Boboc dives across the lineGetty Images

    That try ensures Romania have surpassed their 1995 total and Canada in 2019, so they will not be the lowest scorers in World Cup history.

  12. 'Brilliant one-two from the lineout'

    Tonga 21-10 Romania

    Rocky Clark
    Former England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    This is fantastic for Romania, everyone was wanting them to get a try. Brilliant one-two from the line-out, very quick pick-and-go from Cristi Boboc who got them the score.

  13. converted try

    Converted try - Tonga 21-10 Romania

    Cristi Boboc (con Alin Conache)

    Cristi Boboc of Romania scores as Ben Tameifuna attempts to tackle himGetty Images

    Romania have a try!

    A cleverly worked line-out allows them to start moving the ball through phases, and number seven Cristi Boboc is the man to score.

    The kick is good too, and now we have a game again!

  14. Tonga 21-3 Romania

    Ovidiu Cojocaru of Romania is tackled by Adam Coleman of TongaGetty Images

    Former Australia lock Adam Coleman is making his first start of this World Cup for Tonga after two bench appearances, the day after his 32nd birthday.

    He's made a few crunching tackles to celebrate so far.

  15. Tonga 21-3 Romania

    Ovidiu Cojocaru of Romania applauds supportersGetty Images

    Head coach Eugen Apjok made nine changes to his Romania XV today, the most notable being to hand the captaincy to hooker Ovidiu Cojocaru.

    This is the first time the 26-year-old has led Romania, in his 34th test.

    Number eight Cristi Chirica, who captained Romania in their three previous games, is out of the matchday 23 altogether.

    None of those changes seem to have improved the Romanian fortunes so far, I'm afraid.

  16. Tonga 21-3 Romania

    Ben Tameifuna takes the ball into contactReuters

    Ben Tameifuna is an absolute unit. He sends Romania captain Ovidiu Cojocaru flying with a crunching hit.

    You do start to fear for this Romanian team, they look very lightweight in defence.

  17. Tonga 21-3 Romania

    Rocky Clark
    Former England World Cup winner on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    You could not have threaded that pass through a needle any better. An outstanding pass to Afusipa Taumoepeau to go through, crashing run from Sione Talitui and then a quick pass for a simple dot down for Taumoepeau.

  18. converted try

    Converted try - Tonga 21-3 Romania

    Afusipa Taumoepeau (con William Havili)

    Tonga's left wing Afusipa Taumoepeau runs to scoreGetty Images

    Tonga mean business.

    This time they completely overpower Romania to the left, forward Sione Talitui brushing off contacts from front row players.

    He hands off to winger Afusipa Taumoepeau for a simple score.

    William Havili is three from three for kicks so far.

  19. Penalty - Tonga 14-3 Romania

    Alin Conache

    Romania get a penalty for an offside in a very kickable position - and Alin Conache gets it.

    The men in yellow are on the board!

  20. Tonga 14-0 Romania

    Romania look disorganised and uncomfortable in defence, but they do have something going forward.

    Alin Conache aims an ambitious high kick out towards the right wing which flies too long, but the intent was good.