Johnny Sexton smashed Ireland’s particular person factors document as his facet edged nearer to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals with a crushing 59-16 bonus-point victory over Tonga in Nantes.
The influential fly-half surpassed Ronan O’Gara’s all-time tally of 1,083 in fashion with the fourth of his facet’s eight tries on a balmy night at Stade de la Beaujoire.
Captain Sexton additionally kicked a penalty and 4 conversions en path to shifting on to a profession complete of 1,090 earlier than being withdrawn from a bruising Pool B encounter at half-time forward of subsequent week’s essential conflict with South Africa.
Tries from Tadhg Beirne, Caelan Doris and Mack Hansen paved the best way to victory, with Bundee Aki’s double and second-half scores from James Lowe and Rob Herring capping Sexton’s landmark second.
Johnny Sexton grew to become Ireland’s all-time main factors scorer after his first half strive
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Vaea Fifita crossed simply earlier than half-time to provide Tonga hope within the aftermath of Peter O’Mahony’s yellow card, whereas William Havili contributed three penalties and a conversion.
But the world’s top-ranked nation comfortably maintained their 100 per cent begin to the match and emerged comparatively unscathed shifting in direction of pivotal Paris appointments with the Springboks and Scotland.
Despite the looming risk of the reigning world champions, head coach Andy Farrell named a particularly sturdy beginning XV displaying simply 4 personnel adjustments from final weekend’s thumping 12-try conquer Romania.
His facet, unfamiliar in white shirts, had been as soon as once more closely backed on the terraces and met Tonga’s Sipi Tau by taking a collective step forwards.
Sexton slotted an early penalty to extend the amount, however Havili landed a long-range reply to stage earlier than Ireland had been pissed off to have an Andrew Porter strive disallowed for a knock-on by Hansen.
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The disappointment proved to be fleeting as Farrell’s males remained on the entrance foot, culminating in Beirne gathering Doris’ cross and touching down beneath the posts for his third rating of the match.
Havili landed one other audacious penalty from near midway to chop Tonga’s deficit, however their hopes of a primary win over the Six Nations champions had been swiftly diminished by pricey indiscipline.
Lowe was clattered in his personal 22 by opposing wing Solomone Kata, gifting Ireland a penalty on the different finish of the sector from which Doris powered over.
Hansen – certainly one of 4 males recalled by Farrell – then fantastically danced via the opposition defence broad on the best to stretch the scoreboard, resulting in Sexton equalling O’Gara’s earlier nationwide document.
Sexton overtook his former fly-half rival in memorable vogue to safe the bonus level.
The evergreen 38-year-old rolled again the years by effortlessly slipping via Tonga’s defence to the touch down after which celebrated jubilantly with followers seated behind the posts, earlier than regaining his composure so as to add a easy conversion.
Ireland had been threatening to blitz the shocked underdogs.
Andy Farrell’s males have two wins from two, scoring 50 factors plus in every sport
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Yet Tonga roared again and, throughout a sequence of penalties near the Irish line, O’Mahony was sin-binned earlier than former All Black Fifita shrugged off an early harm concern to energy over.
Ireland modified their complete entrance row on the break, whereas wrapping Sexton in cotton wool.
Yet alternative tighthead prop Finlay Bealham departed for a head harm evaluation after Havili kicked his third penalty of the night, requiring the swift return of Tahdg Furlong, earlier than substitute hooker Herring had a strive chalked off on assessment.
Lowe ultimately claimed Ireland’s fifth and official man-on-the-match Aki then propelled himself to the highest of the match’s embryonic try-scoring charts with a quick-fire brace, each transformed by Sexton’s alternative Ross Byrne.
Ireland had been comparatively untroubled within the second interval and Herring sealed one other assertion win – a fifteenth in succession general – forward of two essential fixtures within the French capital.
