Tonga beat Namibia to keep alive Rugby World Cup qualification hopes

Tonga got their World Cup campaign back on course with a victory over Namibia in Exeter ©Getty Images

Tonga gained their first win of the Rugby World Cup today with a bonus-point earning 35-21 victory over Namibia at Exeter's Sandy Park to keep alive their slim hopes of quarter-final qualfication.

In an entertaining encounter, packed full of attacking rugby even if it was lacking some of the quality of other matches, the Pacific island nation took control from the outset.

Playing with far greater control than in last week's 17-10 defeat to Georgia, Telusa Veainu, Jack Ram and Latiume Fosita all crossed the line in the first half, while Johan Tromp scored for Namibia.

The match appeared to have ended in the second half when Ram scored a second but Namibian captain Jacques Burger, who plays for top English club-side Saracens and is considered among the greatest players in the African nation's history, then pulled one back.

Veainu crossed again to ensure Tonga stayed comfortably ahead, before Burger grabbed the final try of the match for his second.

It marked a 17th successive World Cup defeat for Namibia, although they will be pleased to have scored three tries.

Tonga, meanwhile, face the tough task of needing to beat either Argentina or defending champions New Zealand to keep alive their chances.

Namibia provided plucky opposition but were ultimately outclassed over 80 minutes ©AFP/Getty Images — Namibia provided plucky opposition but were ultimately beaten over 80 minutes ©AFP/Getty Images

The win came after Tonga Rugby chairman Epi Taione accused the sport's governing body World Rugby of being "out of touch colonialists" due to not giving the Pacific Island nations the same money and voting rights as some other nations.

Elsewhere, the day was dominated by injury concerns ahead of crunch matches later in the week.

Full-back Matthew Morgan, centre Tyler Morgan and wing Alex Cuthbert have all been drafted into the Wales team to replace respective casualities Liam Williams, who is recovering from concussion, and Scott Williams and Hallam Amos, who have each been ruled out for the rest of the tournament.

They will face Fiji on Thursday (October 1) at home in Cardiff fresh from a stunning 28-25 victory over England.

Group A rivals Australia will also be without forwards Will Skelton and Wycliff Palu for their crunch match against England on Saturday (October 3) while Blair Cowan has been added to the Scotland squad to replace injured lock Grant Gilchrist.