Johnny Sexton became Ireland’s all-time top points scorer as his side’s dominant performance sealed a 59-16 victory over Tonga in the 2023 Rugby World Cup match at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, France on Saturday.
Sexton’s 16 points in the first half helped him surpass Ronan O’Gara’s 1,083-point record, tries from Tadhg Beirne, Caelan Doris, Mack Hansen helped Ireland cruise into a lead and earn their bonus point within the first 40 minutes.
Tonga responded in the first half twice from William Havili’s boot and a Vaea Fifita try, a Peter O’Mahoney yellow card giving Tonga the opportunity to reduce the deficit to 31-13 at the break.
In the second half, Ireland kept control through James Lowe, Rob Herring and a Bundee Aki double, Tonga’s only score coming again from the boot of Havili as the world No. 1 side secured a 59-16 victory.
The crowd was in fine voice as the match got under way and it was the man of the moment Sexton who got the first points of the game, Havili responding with an incredible conversion from over halfway to bring the game level at 3-3 in what looked to be shaping into a tight contest.
However, it was not long until Ireland regained the lead and showed their class in attack to romp in front, a brilliant pass from Sexton setting Caelan Doris free, Beirne finishing off the move before the captain added the extras to make it 10-3.
After Havili then added another penalty for Tonga on the 24th minute, Doris went from assisting to getting name on the scoresheet, powering over off the back of the maul to help extend Ireland’s lead to 17-6 with just over 10 minutes left of the first half.
From there Ireland really took control as Tonga fatigued, Hansen showing some incredible pace and foot work to evade the Tonga defences and score, Sexton adding the extras to make it 24-6 with just under 10 minutes left of the first half.
It was then Sexton himself who got in under the sticks after taking the final pass from a brilliant Garry Ringrose break, converting his own score to give Ireland a 31-6 lead and make history to become Ireland’s top points scorer. (C.D)
