England vs Tonga Rugby World Cup 2019 result: Manu Tuilagi double seals victory in misfiring display

Re-live the action from England’s opening Rugby World Cup victory as Eddie Jones’s side made a winning start to their Japan 2019 campaign

Rugby World Cup: England vs Tonga preview

Two tries by centre Manu Tuilagi helped England to a scrappy 35-3 bonus-point victory over a tough and resilient Tonga in their Rugby World Cup Pool C opener in Sapporo on Sunday.

Mindful the three-time world champions New Zealand had demolished Tonga 92-7 two weeks ago, Eddie Jones's side were keen to flex their muscles and send a message that they could match the tournament favourites with a similar performance. The Tongans, led by big-hitting loose forwards Sione Kalamafoni and Zane Kapeli, however, proved difficult to break down and it was only rampaging centre Tuilagi's tries that gave England an 18-3 advantage at half-time.

Hooker Jamie George and his replacement Luke Cowan-Dickie added second-half tries for the 2003 champions, who controlled territory and possession and had a smart tactical kicking game but could not finish off the numerous chances they created.

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Key Points

• England 35-3 Tonga
• Manu Tuilagi scored England's first try of the World Cup
• Centre adds his second midway through the first half
• Jamie George scores England's third from a driving maul
• Luke Cowan-Dickie try seals victory late on

[22 September 2019 11:39 · Jack de Menezes]

21 mins: England are caught short on the blindside and Sakalia, the hooker, makes a break for about 20 metres down the wing. England are doing a good job defensively though of getting off the line to push Tonga back, and it forces them into kicking away possession. 

[22 September 2019 11:41 · Jack de Menezes]

22 mins: England counter with Daly leading the charge, beating the first man and then releasing Farrell up-field. But Youngs gets caught he tries to take the ball away and Tonga hack the ball deep.

England have to rebuild but Farrell bursts straight through the defence. The skipper offloads to Sinckler, who throws a lively pass deep to Tuilagi on the charge. he breaks the tackle of three players, and offloads to Underhill who goes for the line...has he scored?!

We go to the TMO...

[22 September 2019 11:44 · Jack de Menezes]

22 mins: No try! Underhill doesn't get the ball grounded, and actually it looks like he might have wedged it onto his own bicep as he rolled over. England get the five-metre put-in though, so the chance isn't gone.

[22 September 2019 11:46 · Jack de Menezes]

24 mins: TMO No 2. Tuilagi rumbles over the line with plenty of Tongan defenders for company, breaking the tackle attempt by Kalamafoni and having Lolohea, Vuna and Vaipulu all trying to prevent him.

The replays aren't showing much, but the decision comes.

TRY FOR ENGLAND!

[22 September 2019 11:48 · Jack de Menezes]

25 mins:  Well that was a bit of an odd one. There were no cheers from the England fans as there didn't seem to be a clear grounding, but the TMO Ben Skeen gave referee Paul Williams the thumbs up to award the try. Farrell misses the conversion but England are back into the lead. 8-3

[22 September 2019 11:49 · Jack de Menezes]

26 mins: From the good to the not so good. Itoje takes the restart, only for an attempt to start a maul leading to Sinckler going offside and handing Tonga the penalty. The TV cameras catch Eddie Jones slamming his fist on his table not once but twice, screaming out an expletive in the process, but England are let off the hook as Takulua pushes the penalty effort wide of the uprights.

A let-off there that should have been punished, given how amateur the error was.

[22 September 2019 11:52 · Jack de Menezes]

29 mins: England finally get a penalty of their own as Piutau is pinged for not rolling away after the Bristol man's tackle on Anthony Watson. Farrell sends the ball to touch, but an attempt to work something down the narrow side with George only ends in the hooker being shoved back into touch. This isn't great stuff from England so far, and it all feels a bit Fiji 2015 if you ask me.

[22 September 2019 11:53 · Jack de Menezes]

31 mins: TRY FOR ENGLAND!

[22 September 2019 11:54 · Jack de Menezes]

31 mins: England attack from the edge of their own half, with the ball thrown long to Daly who produces a nice pass for may to take in front of him at full pelt. The wing beats opposite man Pakalani, and has Manu Tuilagi on his inside shoulder to takes the offload when last man Halaifonua is committed and go over unopposed for England's second try! Farrell this time makes no mistake with the conversion to increase the lead. 15-3

[22 September 2019 11:57 · Jack de Menezes]

34 mins: England are starting to click into gear now, and they win another swift penalty as Curry gets over the ball following Marler's tackle. Will Farrell go for goal? Nope. He turns down the shot after a quick chat with Ford and sends it to the corner.