Tonga's wing Kyren Taumoefolau (second left) celebrates with teammates after scoring a try during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between Tonga and Romania at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, near Lille, northern France. Photo: AFP
The 'Ikale Tahi sent coach Toutai Kefu off with a bonus point 45-24 win at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille on Monday morning, to record their only win at the Rugby World Cup.
Tonga scored seven tries in total in the game against Romania, with winger Solomone Kata claiming a double, one in each half.
They also dedicated the win to their fans and families.
Kefu, who has been at the helm for the Tongans since 2016, told the media at the post-match press conference it was an emotional game for him and the players, adding he was pleased for the team.
He hoped the momentum could continue and that more was done to help Tonga and other Tier-2 teams to get more game time together.
"You could feel it was there. It will probably be more tonight and maybe tomorrow. The boys were pretty focused on really finishing the job," Kefu, the former Wallaby number eight, said.
"I think we don't win much, we win 50 percent, so when you put a programme together, you have got to see what winning is like when you're not winning.
"We have built some capacity around local staff, the boys who have come in have had a really good journey, so those two things mean a lot if you're not winning and they are important.
"I knew if we practised the things we did we were building up to our best performance - and I thought tonight was probably our best performance."
His captain Sonatane Takulua said it was great to send Kefu off with a win.
"I am very happy with the win. Credit to all the boys, our families, our fans. All the brothers that helped Tonga get into the World Cup. Thank you," he said.
"It will mean a lot to our players and especially our coach, finishing up after this World Cup - it is his last game."
Tonga fans head to the Rugby World Cup Pool B match against Romania in Lille. Photo: RNZ / Iliesa Tora
Player of the match George Moala, who scored a try and put up a strong performance with some great runs and good defence, was proud to have contributed to the win, having lost three earlier pool matches because of a suspension.
"The boys dug in deep. I am just really happy, great effort from the boys. A really physical game and really happy to finish with a win," he said.
"It was pretty fun. Really happy to be back out there with the boys."
Disappointed, but happy for future
Coach Kefu said the tournament was tough for them, especially playing against Tier 1 teams like Ireland, Scotland and South Africa.
"I think the campaign has been disappointing. We expected more, we would have loved to have got one more win," he said.
"We competed in those three games at various times, just not for the whole 80 minutes. We continue to make those what I call tier-two errors, just simple mistakes the tier-one teams don't make.
"They have time to iron out those mistakes, we don't, and that's what our campaign has been about - simple errors, simple penalties. But it was good to finish off with a win."
But he was happy with the future prospects, after young guns Kyren Taumoefolau and Pat Pellegrini showed some glimpses of their talents in the later stages of the game.
"I expect huge things from Kyren. We don't have that profile of player coming through in Tonga, so he is very valuable for us," he said.
"Young Patrick doesn't lack confidence either, taking the line on. If he had scored that try, when he was just held short, his parents were right in front of me, and they were ecstatic.
"I don't think they slept for three nights after he scored last week. They would have stayed up the whole week if he had scored a second try. But that's what rugby is about. That moment last week for Patrick will be etched in his memory forever."
Tonga scores three in first half
Tonga outscored Romania with three tries to two in the first spell after a good start to the game.
They led 21-17 after the first spell of 40 minutes.
Kata, Moala then Afusipa Taumoepeau scored a try each, converted by William Havili for Tonga's 21 points.
Romania got across twice, through flanker Cristi Boboc and halfback Florin Suguriu.
Tonga's inside centre Pita Ahki dives across the line to score a try during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between Tonga and Romania at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, near Lille. Photo: AFP
Flyhalf Alin Conache converted both tries and a penalty attempt, for a personal tally of seven points.
While Romania won the first lineout and scrum of the match, it was Tonga who made the most moves in the first half.
Big Ben Tameifuna, Andrew Coleman, Sione Havili Talitui, Siegred Fisi'ihoi, Halaleva Fifita and Sione Vailanu made some good grounds with telling runs through the Romanian defence.
Captain Sonatane Takulua combined with Havili, Charles Piutau, Pita Ahki and Moala to set some lightning moves that resulted in their tries.
But Romania also had their own share of possession and their three Tongans Taliauli Sikuea, Fonovai Tangimana and Tevita Manumua were heavily involved with their moves.
Their forward pack shoved their Tongan counterparts back with two telling mauls, one ending in a try.
Tonga were reduced to 14 players after Fifita was sent off the field with a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on a Romanian player, which gave Romania an extra man to use.
Romania crumbles more in second spell
Romania showed some hopes with some good drives in the second spell.
But the consistent Tongan tackles and power runs slowly got them pacing off as the game progressed.
Sione Vailanu scored a try from a lineout take maul before Marius Simionec finished a move from Romania, a grubber kick doing the damage as the Tongan defence was caught napping.
Then it was Ahki, Kata and Taumoefolau adding their tries as Tonga looked to have sealed the game going into the last minute of play.
Portugal's head coach Eugen Apjok said it was a tough clash and congratulated Tonga for the win.
"We stayed in the game but we made too many mistakes, especially in the second half," he said.
"In the first half it was three individual mistakes that cost us and after we came back we believed we could win but, again, it was a couple of mistakes and we lost control.
"Well done to Tonga. Congratulations to them."
He also echoed sentiments made by Kefu, saying they need more game time and matches against top teams.
"We need [to play] more tough games, intensity games. [Clubs] need to start working and put everything in place - a programme in the club," he said.
"Everything starts at the club: in the international game you don't have much time to prepare players for fitness. It's very hard to prepare in a short amount of time.
"I hope they understand what it is about now in these game and I hope Romania Rugby take the right steps to put a programme in place to develop the boys to make them understand what they need to play international rugby."
Both teams are leaving France in the new week on their return home.
