South Africa vs Tonga LIVE: Rugby World Cup result and final score as Springboks go top of Pool B

South Africa 49-18 Tonga: The Springboks bounced back from last weekend’s defeat to Ireland to move to the top of the table on 15 points

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South Africa were firmly on track for the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals as they ran in seven tries to knock Tonga out with a 49-18 victory in their last Pool B game on Sunday.

Cobus Reinach, Canan Moodie, Deon Fourie, Jesse Kriel, Willie Le Roux, Marco van Staden and Kwagga Smith went over the line and Handre Pollard (4) and Manie Libbok (3) converted to put the defending champions top of their group on 15 points.

It was, however, the first time since the 2015 World Cup that the Springboks conceded three tries in a match as Ben Tameifuna, Fine Inisi and Patrick Pellegrini touched down in a fierce performance by Tonga.

South Africa will go through if Scotland fail to beat Ireland, who overcame the Springboks in the first game of the group and have 14 points, with a bonus point.

Follow all the latest from the Pool B match below. Get all the Rugby World Cup odds here, plus the latest tips and free bets on the World Cup here.

South Africa vs Tonga LIVE: Rugby World Cup latest score and updates

• FULL TIME: South Africa 49-18 Tonga
• Try! Reinach scores! South Africa 7-3 Tonga
• Try! Moodie scores! South Africa 14-3 Tonga
• Try! Fourie scores! South Africa 21-3 Tonga
• Try! Tameifuna scores! South Africa 21-8 Tonga
• HT: South Africa 21-8 Tonga
• Try! Kriel scores! South Africa 26-8 Tonga
• Try! Inisi scores! South Africa 26-13 Tonga
• Try! Le Roux scores! South Africa 35-13 Tonga
• Try! Van Staden scores! South Africa 42-13 Tonga
• Try! Pellegrini scores! South Africa 42-18 Tonga
• Try! Smith scores! South Africa 49-18 Tonga

[1 October 2023 21:25 · Sonia Twigg]

Conversion! South Africa 35-13 Tonga - 59 minutes

Libbok is up to take his first kick of the game after Pollock finished with a flawless record.

This one is quite wide but he makes no mistakes, almost hitting it perfectly into the middle of the posts.

[1 October 2023 21:24 · Sonia Twigg]

Try! South Africa 33-13 Tonga - 58 minutes

South Africa try! Tonga spill the ball too close to their touchline and South Africa make them pay the ultimate price for a simple mistake.

Le Roux was the player on the wing who evaded the defender to put the ball over the line just before crossing into touch, he holds off the defenders.

[1 October 2023 21:22 · Sonia Twigg]

South Africa 28-13 Tonga - 57 minutes

South Africa have not been perfect in this match, despite some clever innovative play for the tries, they have made nine handling errors.

But they have three bonus points and only one defeat - against Ireland - so far in the World Cup.

[1 October 2023 21:20 · Sonia Twigg]

South Africa 28-13 Tonga - 55 minutes

After that try it’s Tonga’s turn to defend and try and keep the Springboks at bay.

Both sides have just been making a lot of changes, it almost feels like new teams, but that has kept the level of intensity high so far in this second half.

[1 October 2023 21:19 · Sonia Twigg]

Conversion missed! South Africa 28-13 Tonga - 53 minutes

After a defeat to Scotland in Nice, Tonga have pulled out a special performance here, despite missing the chance for a conversion on that try with a kick that skewed wide of the posts.

[1 October 2023 21:17 · Sonia Twigg]

Try! South Africa 28-13 Tonga - 53 minutes

Tonga now with a chance to attack after that penalty, and they get to within metres of the try line but South Africa drive to try and win the ball back.

They almost got there but were driven back by a wall and had to regroup before Inisi ran down the wing to score the try!

[1 October 2023 21:15 · Sonia Twigg]

South Africa 28-8 Tonga - 52 minutes

Fifita was the player who looked to have made the tackle and there is a move towards the player in the air.

After the TMO review, Tonga have been awarded a penalty, and South Africa might count themselves lucky for how that was decided.

[1 October 2023 21:14 · Sonia Twigg]

South Africa 28-8 Tonga - 51 minutes

South Africa have a number of fresh legs, but almost immediately there is a high tackle that will have to be looked at.

The medic is on the field, for the tackle when Piutau was already in the air.

[1 October 2023 21:12 · Sonia Twigg]

Conversion! South Africa 28-8 Tonga - 50 minutes

That bonus point try has rung in the changes, including Pollard, so his last act of the game will have been that conversion, but his kicking game has been perfect in this clash.

[1 October 2023 21:11 · Sonia Twigg]

Try! South Africa 26-8 Tonga - 49 minutes

South Africa strike again, Wiese had driven for the line and been held back but Kriel puts the ball over the line to secure that bonus point already for his side.