Tongans’ power and precision subdue brave Namibia

Tonga’s Jack Ram celebrates scoring their fourth try against Namibia in the Rugby World Cup 2015 on Tuesday - Action Images via Reuters

Tonga picked two captains for this Pool C encounter with Namibia but by the end there was no doubt who was in charge. The Pacific Islanders’ 35-21 win at Sandy Park made up for some of the hurt they had suffered in their opening defeat to Georgia 10 days earlier.

Namibia were brave in defeat and, as they had last week against the All Blacks, they rallied in the second half.

Their marvellous captain, Jacques Burger, who scored two tries after the break, epitomised that defiance. Both were scored from drives by the pack from the lineouts. The first was awarded to the Saracens flanker by the referee Glen Jackson, a former Saracens fly-half, after a decision by the TMO Ben Skeen.

There was no doubt about the second score and it brought the house down but defeat still leaves Namibia looking for their first win in World Cup finals.

Tonga’s win was forged on the anvil of their forward power. The decision by their head coach Mana Otai to pick the two veterans Soane Tonga’Uiha and Aleki Lutui in his front row was fully justified and the Namibian pack was often shunted backwards before the break.

Namibia stretched the Tongan defence in the second half and their right-wing Johan Tromp, who scored early in the first, was a constant menace. Georgia will need to be on their mettle here next Wednesday when they meet Phil Davies’s side.