France too strong for Tonga
Morgan Parra guided a listless France to a 38-18 victory over Tonga in an ill-tempered one-off Test match in Le Havre on Saturday.
The victory will go some way to avenging the shock 19-14 pool loss Les Bleus suffered at the hands of the South Sea Islanders at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
But France coach Philippe Saint-Andre will doubtless have much to pore over as his side failed to put away a Tongan team which featured a raft of players competing at a much lower club level than their French counterparts.
Both sides lost a player to a red card after a second-half dust-up as Parra's metronomical efficiency with the boot kept things ticking over for a French team that outscored the Tongans by four tries to two.
Parra notched up an early penalty to kick the scoring off and debutant Algerian-born wing Sofiane Guitoune soon after crossed for the game's first try.
Guitoune, only this season making his name for Perpignan in the Top 14 at the age of 24, latched on to a cross-kick from flyhalf Remi Tales in the Tongan 22m area to touch down, Parra missing the extras.
The Clermont scrumhalf was on target, however, with his second and third penalty attempts.
Flyhalf Fangatapu 'Apikotoa got Tonga on the board with a 32nd minute penalty.
The visitors were happy to throw the ball around and got some reward with a second Apikotoa penalty as they bucked a predicted folding under the more experienced French team.
Their cause was not helped when scrumhalf Taniela Moa, who plays his club rugby at French side Pau, saw yellow just before half-time for elbowing France hooker Dimitri Szarzewski in the face.
From the resulting scrum, No 8 Damien Chouly crashed over from short range, Parra getting the conversion for a 21-6 half-time lead.
The second period got started in equally fractious fashion, Kiwi referee Glen Jackson brandishing two red cards for Tonga prop Sona Taumalolo (who plays for Perpignan in the Top 14) and France lock Yoann Maestri after a punch-up.
France stretched their lead through Brice Dulin, the fullback played in over the line by a delicately-weighted pass from Guitoune with the Tongan defence at sixes and sevens.
But the South Sea Islanders came roaring back, wing Fetu'u Vainikolo streaking into the corner after a great looping pass from inspirational Japan-based captain and flank Nili Latu Langilangi.
Parra claimed a fourth penalty for his 16 points in the match, before replacement hooker Benjamin Kayser was driven over seven minutes from time, his try converted by Frederic Michalak.
Vainikolo snagged a consolation second try on the hooter, catching a cramped-up Guitoune snoozing down the wing to crash over in the corner for a very well-taken try, converted wide out by Latiume Fosita.
The scorers:
For France
Tries: Guitoune, Chouly, Dulin, Kayser
Cons: Parra 2, Michalak
Pens: Morgan Parra 4
For Tonga
Tries: Vainikolo 2
Con: Fosita
Pens: Apikotoa 2
Yellow card: Taniela Moa (Tonga, 38 – Foul play)
Red cards: Alisona Taumalolo (Tonga, 45 – foul play), Yoann Maestri (France, 45 – foul play)
Teams:
France: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Sofiane Guitoune, 13 Gaël Fickou, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Maxime Medard, 10 Remi Tales, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Damien Chouly, 7 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 6 Thierry Dusautoir (captain), 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Sebastian Vahaamahina, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Yannick Forestier.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Pascal Pape, 20 Bernard Le Roux, 21 Jonathan Pelissie, 22 Frederic Michalak, 23 Mathieu Bastareaud.
Tonga: 15 Vungakoto Lilo, 14 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 13 Siale Piutau, 12 Sione Piukala, 11 Will Helu, 10 Fangatapu 'Apikotoa, 9 Taniela Moa, 8 'Opeti Fonua, 7 Nili Latu (captain), 6 Sione Kalamafoni, 5 Joe Tu'ineau, 4 Tukulua Lokotui, 3 Tevita Mailau, 2 Elvis Taione, 1 Alisona Taumalolo.
Replacements: 16 'Ilaisa Ma'asi, 17 Taione Vea, 18 Sila Puafisi, 19 Viliami Ma'afu, 20 Hale T Pole, 21 Samisoni Fisilau, 22 Latiume Fosita, 23 Tevita Halaifonua.
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Juan Sylvestre (Argentina)
TMO: Alan Falzone (Italy)
