Springboks v Tonga: Five takeaways from a Rugby World Cup game filled with pride and respect

James While
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South Africa and Tonga players huddle after game.

South Africa and Tonga players huddle after game.

Following a 49-18 victory for South Africa against Tonga in their Rugby World Cup Pool B clash, here’s our five takeaways from the game at Stade de Marseille.

The top line

A fabulous display of powerful carrying by the charismatic Tongans gave the Springboks precisely the runout they needed as they almost certainly move into the quarter-final stages of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Seven tries for South Africa on the day of Siya Kolisi‘s 50th cap, showed a marked improvement in their finishing accuracy as they spent a large amount of this match defending against Tonga’s obvious ambition and it’s to the Boks’ credit that they maximised virtually every visit into the Tongan red zone. Accuracy was also the order of the day off the tee, another area of concern prior to this match, as both Handre Pollard and Manie Libbok nailed their conversions, a welcome turnaround given the kicking issues against Ireland.

But Tonga played a huge part in the attractive spectacle of this match, giving the Boks a formidable challenge with their powerful running and inventive ambition. Toutai Kefu had said before this game that when they switched the lights off in the dressing room post-match that they wanted to feel good about themselves – and a three-try display that pushed the world champions hard should allow his side to flick that light switch with immense pride this evening.

Testing systems

South Africa are growing in this tournament. They have a squad where every single player is contributing, whether it be off the bench or in the starting line-up. Today they had the luxury of experimenting with combinations; in the back-row alone, we saw seven different combinations of players over the 80 minutes with a significant shift at blindside by Duane Vermeulen, surely a sign that the Boks are considering starting him during the knockout stages.

With Deon Fourie claiming Player of the Match playing firstly in his secondary role, South Africa’s hooking berth, and in the latter stages on the openside flank, we saw Marco van Staden have an important 20 minutes at hooker whilst Kwagga Smith made a big impact in his 20 try-scoring minutes off the bench. But it wasn’t all about personnel. We saw more kicking variety coming from the South African midfield, looking to get their powerful wings into the match via the aerial route as well as with ball in hand, and with Canan Moodie showing his immense versatility across the backline.

All in all, the Boks were pushed hard in this game, and it’s testimony to the test Tonga gave them that they can put so many ticks in so many boxes after this match.

Tongan pressure

Tonga were absolutely wonderful at times with ball in hand and shoulder into contact. They play a style of rugby that South Africans respect – powerful, direct and abrasive. With a threatening lineout and clever interplay, the first half saw them test the mighty Springbok defence to its absolute limits, with the fans favourite Ben Tameifuna crashing over from a short range ruck for his second try of the tournament.

The Tongan tighthead is the sort of player that’s lauded in the Highveldt and his shift today underlined the fact he’s a much better rugby player than many first think, with intellect and energy at the heart of his game. Not only has he been one of the outstanding props of the tournament but he’s also been one of its most colourful characters, his leadership a key component of Tonga’s DNA.

Perhaps they lack direction and game control at half-back; the inconsistency of their exit and attacking kicking really held them back at times, but with ball in hand, the talents of Leva Fifita, Salesi Piutau and Fine Inisi are able to shine. With a little more control and more structure in defence, Tonga are able to compete with most sides in the world and they gave South Africa a series of welcome tests in Marseille.

Returning Springboks

This game was significant for a number of returning Springboks and both the fans and team management will have learned a lot about form and fitness.

Vincent Koch, arguably the best all round tighthead in the world, has spent the tournament on the sidelines and, after showing a little bit of rust in carry and open play, he found his feet in the scrummage to demonstrate his technical brilliance as he gave Siegfried Fisiihoi, a man some nine kilos heavier, a torrid time in the set-piece. However, the moment of his match game when a fortuitous bounce off his shoulder found Moodie who sprinted over for South Africa’s second try. One wonders if he and England’s Joe Marler might exchange a few texts on who provided the best assist as the Koch shoulder became the Springbok’s answer to the Marler head.

Pollard too had an assured match at 10. His presence is essential for South Africa as the tournament moves into knockout stages and the need to own the scoreboard becomes greater. Pollard showed well in defence, off the tee and in attack, quite remarkable given he’s only played 31 minutes this season.

Add in that confident try-scoring display from the Bok’s makeshift hooker Fourie, who hit his men with variety and intelligence and you’ll conclude that the South African management will be pretty pleased at the contributions of both Fourie and their returning players.

Forward look

Tonga have only one more game left in this tournament when they play Romania in Toulouse on October 8. This is a game where they need to show just how far ahead of the other Tier Two nations they are and Kefu’s team will be looking to turn their lights off finally by building on their performance in Marseille. They showed the ability to break down the world’s finest defence on three occasions on Sunday, something few sides are able to do.

South Africa will now have a welcome two-week break until their quarter-final, with the likelihood they will qualify in second place to meet France, a massive test in every way. On tonight’s information the more orthodox bench configuration gave them far more variation and impact than the 7:1 we saw against Ireland and the biggest question mark they have is who to start at 10? Libbok might be the punchy choice and the neutral’s favourite, but the Springbok DNA is one of natural conservatism and it may very well be that Pollard will be the man to lead them into the knockout stages as they seek to defend their crown as world champions.

READ MORE: Springboks player ratings: Phenomenal Deon Fourie and Handre Pollard’s 100% return

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