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MONTPELLIER - Reduced to 13 men at the death, a gutsy Tonga sent Samoa's rugby World Cup aspirations spiralling with 19-15 win here on Monday.
In the first all-Pacific island clash in the tournament's 20-year history, Tonga scored the only try of the match in the second half to upset their fierce rivals in a bruising encounter.
Tongan flanker Hale T-Pole became the first player in the tournament to be shown a red card, apparently for punching, in the 72nd minute.
The Southland forward was then joined on the Stade de la Mosson sideline by reserve prop Toma Toke, who was sinbinned with 5min remaining.
However, Samoa couldn't take advantage of their numerical advantage, with a high error count robbing them of scoring chances. The Tongans charged into a joyous huddle at the sound of the final whistle.
The result is a massive reversal of when the teams last met in June at Apia, when the Samoans romped to a 50-3 triumph.
Another Samoan win was anticipated, which would have set up a key pool match against England next weekend.
While that match remains important, unbeaten Tonga have now entered the race to be the second qualifiers from group A behind South Africa.
Tongan coach Quddus Fielea said it would be up to the rugby community of his nation to decide where the result ranked in their history.
"But I would say it is one of the tops," he said.
"To win two games at the World Cup is a major achievement."
Samoan counterpart Michael Jones said he and his players were disappointed.
"We are a better than how we played in that second half," the former All Blacks great said.
"We didn't have the mental toughness to push through in that last 5-10 minutes when they were down.
"We just needed to keep our composure but at the end of the day we were beaten by a team who were hungrier, and it hurts to say that."
Already with a defeat of the United States to their credit, Tonga face the Springboks in Lens this Sunday (NZ time) and finish with a huge showdown against England in Paris six days later.
They will take confidence from their first win over Samoa in 10 meetings.
It was based around more cohesive forward play, power running from loose forwards Finau Maka and T-Pole and superior tactical kicking from first five-eighth Pierre Hola.
Samoa, who were flattered to 12-6 lead after a dour first half, relied solely on the boot of fullback Gavin Williams for their points. He landed five of his six penalty attempts.
That seemed to be enough as they pulled clear in the first half but Tonga dominated the third quarter of the match and thoroughly deserved their close-quarter try to second five-eighth Epeli Taione after a series of drives.
Late in the first half Taione became the first of three Tongans to be shown a card, sinbinned for a high tackle.
Samoa, who lost 7-59 to South Africa last week, will need to topple England to have any chance of qualifying second in the pool and reaching the tournament quarterfinals for a third time.
They have far great World Cup pedigree than Tonga, who had won just two World Cup games in their history before coming to France.
- NZPA
