Impressive Scotland roared to an emphatic bonus-point victory over Tonga in the Stade de Nice to keep their World Cup progression dreams alive.
Gregor Townsend's side rushed into an early lead thanks to George Turner's early try before Duhan van der Merwe added another after Tonga replied through a Solomone Kata try.
Kyle Steyn and Rory Darge stretched the Scots' lead before Ben Tameifuna snuck another try in for the opposition but it was soon out of sight thanks to tries from George Horne, Blair Kinghorn, and Darcy Graham.
World Cup progression is still. tangible reward but some confusing arithmetic will be worked out by Scotland fans now as that bonus point likely sets up a final pool game showdown with Ireland if Romania are dealt with by Townsend's men.
Make no mistake about it running up a big score and winning the bonus point was key for Scotland no matter how much it was played down pre-match. Job done in Nice then with Romania to come in less than a week.
Stick with us for all of the reaction LIVE right here.
Key Events
Permutations, permutations, permutations
Somehow, Scotland, Ireland, and South Africa could all end up on the same points come the conclusion of the Pool games.
Points difference would then be the deciding factor so racking up a big score here, and hopefully against Romania, could be key.
Darcy Graham's spectacular solo effort
#SCO finish with a flourish!
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) September 24, 2023
Twinkle toes from Darcy Graham!#RWC2023 | #SCOvTGA pic.twitter.com/YEVjoMTkp3
A red card after all
Vaea Fifita received a late yellow card and it has now been upgraded to a red card.
Only one red card for Tonga this afternoon...somehow.
FULL-TIME: Scotland 45-17 Tonga
A convincing win in the end for Scotland as they ultimately see off Tonga with room to spare.
The last ten minutes or so of the clash were pretty dull but the work had already been done until Darcy Graham perked up and shot away from anyone trying to spot him at the death.
A plethora of tries gives them a crucial bonus point and they add a healthy amount to their positive points difference.
Scotland 43-17 Tonga
Darcy Graham finishes off this one with a flurry for Scotland.
Tremendous running to find the space from inside his own half!
Sin bin for Tonga
Vaea Fifita dives in on Finn Russell's head with his shoulder and it is of interest to the TMO.
A review follows and he is sent to the sin bin...
Mercurial Van der Merwe
That man again Van der Merwe weaves in and out of tackling Tongans, reminiscent of that try at Twickenham, before passing it out.
It all gets a bit crowded and there's not another score to some yet as Fekitoa recovers to fore a knock-on.
Scotland 38- 17 Tonga
Russell converts with his cultured right boot.
21 points now added to the positive points difference, which may be crucial in a couple of weeks' time...
Scotland 36- 17 Tonga
Blair Kinghorn finishes off some more patient build-up from Scotland.
Smart pull-back bass from Tuipoloto to Russel and a flat pass follows from the number 10 to free Kinghorn.
Tremendous.
Scotland standing firm
A slight lull in the action just now...
Tonga scrum currently that they break form smartly but can't find a way through the Scots, particularly Sione Tuipulotu.
Flying Van der Merwe
Duhan, by the way.
We all know he's good but every now and then you realise just *how* good he is.
Scotland 29-17 Tonga
Patient. Composed. Determined.
George Horne gets in on the act after Scotland stretch the Tongan defence and Duhan van der Merwe powers through the defence like it wasn't even there, before offloading to Horne.
Four Scottish changes
Rory Sutherland, Ben White, Chris Harris and Kyle Steyn are all off.
Pierre Schoeman, George Horne, Huw Jones and Darcy Graham replace them.
Cagey affair
Tonga are enjoying plenty of the ball for now but Scotland are standing relatively resolute.
They lose out during a lineout and Scotland get the five-metre scrum.
Scotland 24-17 Tonga
Havili converts and we have a seven-point game in Nice.
A roaring start form Tonga to this half.
Scotland 24-15 Tonga
They're back in it as Ben Tameifuna, the tighthead gets it over for his side's second try of the day.
Full strength contingents restored
Taumoepeau is back on as his yellow isn't upgraded to a red following the off-field review.
An interesting call.
Jamie Ritchie is now off too, replaced by Matt Fagerson.
Second half commences
Under way for the second half. Here we go.
More of the same please Scotland...
Scotland's bonus point try
#SCO have that all important bonus point!
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) September 24, 2023
Rory Darge goes over to score!#RWC2023 | #SCOvTGA pic.twitter.com/oQ30dqTnNL
HALF-TIME: Scotland 24-10 Tonga
A tremendous opening half fro Gregor Townsend's XV.
A flurry of tries from Turner, Steyn, Van der Merwe and Darge and the score could even be greater as Russell missed two consecutive conversions.
Bonus point secured already too. C'mon!
Scotland 22-10 Tonga
Try bonus point! Rory Darge gets it over the line.
RIght on the stroke of the interval...
Scotland surging
Salesi Piutau gets dragged into touch and Scotland have a lineout deep in Tonga's half.
Smart, disciplined play from the Scots.
High tackle
Jamie Ritchie takes a shoulder right into the mouth...'sore one' doesn't quite cut it.
Jeez, that looked powerful.
Taumoepeau is in the sin bin for now with an off-field review taking place.
An upgrade to a red card seems more likely than not right now.
Scotland 17-10 Tonga
Kyle Steyn loves a try against Tonga!
Four the last time he faced them, one so far this afternoon as Scotland extend their lead.
A slick Finn Russell pass set him on course to scoring there.
Scotland 12-10 Tonga
Duhan van der Merwe puts us back in the lead.
Sione Tuipulotu shows fast hands to turn it out for Kinghorn, who in turn feeds it across to Van Der Merwe to trot over the line calmy and unchallenged.
