England 35-3 Tonga
Date:
Venue: Sapporo Dome, Sapporo
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Attendance: 35,923
England v Tonga Match Reports
A brace of first-half tries from Manu Tuilagi helped England to a 35-3 bonus-point victory over Tonga in their opening World Cup match at the Sapporo Dome. Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie added two further tries in the second half to give England's campaign a solid, if not spectacular, start. A selection of match reports is listed below:
- Autumn Internationals: Tuilagi shines but England fail to hit top gear against Tonga
- BBC: England start World Cup with scrappy win
- Guardian: Tuilagi double helps England kick off with bonus-point win against Tonga
- Telegraph: Manu Tuilagi stars as England secure bonus-point win against Tonga in underwhelming Rugby World Cup opener
- Daily Mail: England make a faltering start to World Cup campaign as late Cowan-Dickie try sees Eddie Jones' side belatedly clinch bonus point win in Sapporo
- England Rugby: England defeat Tonga in Rugby World Cup opener
England v Tonga - Match Highlights
England v Tonga - Match Stats
England: (18) 35
Try: Tuilagi (24', 31'), George (57'), Cowan-Dickie (77')
Conversion: Farrell (33', 58', 78')
Penalty: Farrell (11', 37', 43')
Tonga: (3) 3
Penalty: Takulua (9')
Man of the match: Manu Tuilagi (England)
England v Tonga - Team Line-ups
England Team
Forwards
- 1 Joe Marler
- 2 Jamie George
- 3 Kyle Sinckler
- 4 Courtney Lawes
- 5 Maro Itoje
- 6 Tom Curry
- 7 Sam Underhill
- 8 Billy Vunipola
Backs
- 9 Ben Youngs
- 10 George Ford
- 11 Jonny May
- 12 Owen Farrell (Captain)
- 13 Manu Tuilagi
- 14 Anthony Watson
- 15 Elliot Daly
Replacements
- 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie
- 17 Ellis Genge
- 18 Dan Cole
- 19 George Kruis
- 20 Lewis Ludlam
- 21 Willi Heinz
- 22 Henry Slade
- 23 Jonathan Joseph
Tonga Team
Forwards
- 1 Siegfried 'Fisiihoi
- 2 Sosefo Sakalia
- 3 Ben Tameifuna
- 4 Sam Lousi
- 5 Halaleva Fifita
- 6 Sione Kalamafoni
- 7 Zane Kapeli
- 8 Maama Vaipulu
Backs
- 9 Sonatane Takulua
- 10 Kurt Morath
- 11 Viliami Lolohea
- 12 Cooper Vuna
- 13 Siale Piutau (Captain)
- 14 Atieli Pakalani
- 15 David Halaifonua
Replacements
- 16 Siua Maile
- 17 Latu Talakai
- 18 Ma'afu Fia
- 19 Dan Faleafa
- 20 Nasi Manu
- 21 Leon Fukofuka
- 22 James Faiva
- 23 Nafi Tu'itavake