Rugby World Cup: France survives scare against battling Tonga

France’s Alivereti Raka touches the ball down to score an early try against Tonga in his side’s narrow 23-21 win in Pool C.

Tonga’s Atieli Pakalani, left, is tackled by a French defender at the Kumamoto Stadium.

France’s number 8 Gregory Alldritt (R) is tackled by Tonga’s prop Ma’afu Fia.

Tonga’s centre Mali Hingano (C) is held up by France’s fly-half Romain Ntamack (L) and France’s scrum-half Antoine Dupont (R).

France’s Antoine Dupont runs at the Tongan defense during a hard-fought encounter.

Jordie Barrett of New Zealand dives to score his side’s tenth try a 71-9 win for the All Blacks over Namibia in Pool B at the Tokyo Stadium.

Tjiuee Uanivi of Namibia and Shannon Frizell of New Zealand compete at a line out.

New Zealand’s T J Perenara is about to score a try as he is tackled by Namibia’s Helarius Kisting.

New Zealand’s wing George Bridge is tackled by Namibia’s wing Lesley Klim.

Japan’s Kotaro Matsushima reacts after scoring his side’s vital fourth bonus-point try in the 39-18 win over Samoa in Pool A.

Japan’s number 8 Kazuki Himeno (R) is tackled by Samoa’s prop Michael Alaalatoa (L) during a hard-fought encounter at the City of Toyota Stadium.

Samoa’s wing Ed Fidow runs with the ball during the Pool A encounter.

Japan’s wing Kenki Fukuoka charges clear to score the third try for the Brave Blossoms.

Adam Ashley-Cooper of Australia makes a break during his side’s 45-10 win over Uruguay in Pool D at the Oita Stadium.

Australia’s Tevita Kuridrani is tackled by Uruguay’s Tomas Inciarte during the Rugby World Cup Pool D game at Oita Stadium.

Uruguay’s scrum-half Santiago Arata passes the ball during the clash against the Wallabies.

Franco Lamanna of Uruguay wins a line out under challenge from Lukhan Salakaia-Loto of Australia.

England’s Luke Cowan-Dickie scores his side’s sixth and final try against the Argentina Pumas in a 39-10 win in Pool C.

Argentina’s wing Santiago Carreras runs into England’s scrum-half Ben Youngs at the Tokyo Stadium.

Jonny May of England takes on Emiliano Boffelli of Argentina. May scored the opening try for his side.

Jack Nowell of England scores his side’s fifth try as 14-man Argentina wilted under pressure.

After defeat by New Zealand in its opening game at Japan 2019, South Africa couldn’t afford to slip up against Italy. South Africa’s flanker Pieter-Steph Du Toit tackles Italy’s centre Luca Morisi.

South Africa ran out comfortable winners — 49-3 — at the game at the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Shizuoka. Mbongeni Mbonambi dives across the line to score a try for South Africa.

South Africa’s wing Cheslin Kolbe (L) runs to score a try during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between South Africa and Italy at the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Shizuoka on October 4, 2019. (Photo by Anne-Christine POUJOULAT / AFP) (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images)

Italy’s hooker Luca Bigi is caught at the bottom of a ruck.

Willie Le Roux of South Africa is tackled by Sergio Parisse of Italy.

Tito Tebaldi of Italy kicks under pressure from Faf De Klerk of South Africa.

Jack Carty of Ireland tries to break clear as his side looks to bounce back against Russia in Kobe following a shock defeat by host Japan.

Ireland’s centre Bundee Aki (right) felt the force of Russian opposite number Kirill Golosnitskiy during the Pool A match.

Rhys Ruddock of Ireland runs with the ball towards Igor Galinovskiy of Russia during the match in Kobe.

Ruddock scores Ireland’s third try as the world’s No.1 ranked team runs out the 35-0 winner to get back on track in the tournament.

Fiji took on Georgia looking for its first win in the tournament. Kini Murimurivalu (right) was in action taking on Georgia’s Giorgi Kveseladze at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka.

Georgia’s Soso Matiashvili is shackled during the game against Fiji.

Georgia centre Davit Kacharava can’t get through, either.

Fiji’s Leone Nakarawa is tackled by Merab Sharikadze of Georgia.

Semi Radradra scores his team’s seventh try as Fiji triumphs 45-10 against Georgia.

Jordie Barrett shrugs off an attempted tackle from a despairing Canadian player during the All Blacks’ 63-0 romp over the North American team.

While Canada never gave up hope, it failed to score a single point for the second time in a Rugby World Cup game (0-20 vs. South Africa in 1995)

New Zealand center Sonny Bill Williams (left) scored the All Blacks’ third try of the evening and with the win, has won his last 16 Rugby World Cup games, equaling Kiwi hooker Keven Mealamu’s all-time record of consecutive wins at the tournament.

While Canada struggled with their set pieces all evening, Tyler Ardron did win this lineout.

New Zealand scrum-half TJ Perenara’s quick hands and activity around the scrum helped New Zealand score four tries in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

Ardie Savea made World Cup history when he came on for New Zealand. He became the first player in World Cup history to wear goggles during a game.

It wasn’t pretty, but a misfiring France managed to record its second victory of the tournament with a 33-9 win over USA.

AJ MacGinty (middle) scored all nine points for the USA with his boot, going three for three with his penalties.

The USA’s performance didn’t prevent its fans from having a nice time, as they turned out in force in the Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium to support their country.

Although the USA got to within three points of France in the second-half, a late flurry of tries from Gael Fickou, Baptiste Serin (center) and Jefferson Poirot secured the bonus-point win for the French.

Nick Civetta of the United States stretches for the ball at a lineout with France’s Paul Gabrillagues. The big second row has featured in both of the USA’s defeats at the Rugby World Cup.

Scotland’s Darcy Graham (centre) in action against Samoa as the Scots look to get their World Cup campaign back on track after a lackluster opening defeat by Ireland.

Scotland’s cause is helped by a yellow card for Samoa’s Ed Fidow, temporarily reducing the Pacific Islanders to 14 men. Fidow is later sent off for a second yellow card.

Sean Maitland fumbles the ball as Scotland chase a fourth try and a bonus point which could prove crucial at the business end of the pool stage.

Alapati Leiua of Samoa is tackled by Jamie Ritchie of Scotland in a bruising match in Kobe.

Scotland runs out the 34-0 winner against Samoa to revive its hope of qualifying for the knockout stage.

Wales’ Gareth Davies (left) is congratulated by teammate Hadleigh Parkes after scoring his crucial interception try during a 29-25 win over Australia in the Rugby World Cup Pool D game at Tokyo Stadium.

Australian supporters react following the Rugby World Cup Pool D game defeat to Wales in Tokyo.

Wales’ No. 8 Josh Navidi (left) is tackled by Australia’s lock Izack Rodda during an epic encounter.

Wales star George North in action during the nerve-jangling match.

Adam Ashley-Cooper of Australia scores the first half try to drag his side back into contention against Wales after a slow start for the Wallabies.

Dane Haylett-Petty of Australia jumps for the ball under pressure from Liam Williams of Wales.

Tolu Latu of Australia is tackled by Josh Adams and Hadleigh Parkes of Wales.

George North of Wales and Kurtley Beale of Australia jump for the ball in the Tokyo Stadium.

Uruguay’s Santiago Arata jumps to take a ball during the Rugby World Cup Pool D game at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium between Uruguay and Georgia.

Georgia’s centre Giorgi Kveseladze (left) runs with the ball in his side’s 33-7 win over Uruguay.

Soso Matiashvili of Georgia breaks through a tackle against Uruguay.

Japan’s Kenki Fukuoka scores the crucial go-ahead try in his side’s epic 19-12 victory over Ireland in the Rugby World Cup Pool A game in Shizuoka.

Irish fans react as they watch their side slide to a shock defeat to host Japan.

Ireland players Gary Ringrose (l) and Jack Carty (r) compete for a high ball during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Group A game between Japan and Ireland.

Yutaka Nagare of Japan is tackled by James Ryan of Ireland during the hard-fought encounter

Ireland’s centre and first half try scorer Garry Ringrose is tackled by Japan’s lock Luke Thompson as the action hots up in Shizuoka.

Argentina’s fly-half Benjamin Urdapilleta looks on during his side’s 28-12 win over Tonga at the Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Higashiosaka.

Argentina’s Santiago Carreras and Tonga’s Viliami Lolohea compete for the ball during the Rugby World Cup Pool C game.

Argentina’s Pablo Matera runs with the ball during their game against Tonga.

Benjamin Urdapilleta of Argentina kicks the ball under pressure of Zane Kapeli of Tonga his side’s bonus-point victory.

Max Katijenko of Namibia competes for a lineout with Franco Mostert of South Africa during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Group B game between South Africa and Namibia at City of Toyota Stadium.

Thomasau Forbes of Namibia looks on from the ground during his side’s nine-try defeat to South Africa.

Makazole Mapimpi of South Africa evades a tackle from Chad Plato of Namibia to go on and score his team’s seventh try.

South Africa’s Elton Jantjies runs past Namibia’s Eugene Jantjies during the one-sided match.

The USA were beaten 45-7 by England at the Rugby World Cup in its opening game at Japan 2019. Shaun Davies passes the ball during the Group C match at Kobe Misaki Stadium in Kobe.

England ran in seven tries, including two from Joe Cokanasiga.

Elliot Daly of England is tackled by Blaine Scully, who is captain of the USA team.

The USA did get points on the board with Bryce Campbell of USA going over to score late in the game.

Earlier on September 26, Italy beat Canada 48-7 at the Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium in Fukuoka.

Canada’s wing Jeff Hassler (back) tackles Italy’s full back Matteo Minozzi during Group B game.

Italy ran in seven tries during the game, though Canada spurned a number of try scoring opportunities.

Canada’s fly-half Peter Nelson hands over the ball in a ruck.

Tommaso Benvenuti of Italy competes for the ball with Ben Lesage of Canada.

The 2019 Rugby World Cup delivered its first major shock as minnows Uruguay held on for a historic 30-27 victory over Fiji.

Fiji was expected to comfortably beat its South American opponents but Uruguay staged one the tournament’s biggest upsets in World Cup history.

Uruguay’s wing Nicolas Freitas is tackled by Fiji’s scrum-half Nikola Matawalu during the Pool D match.

Mesulame Dolokoto grounds the ball to score his side’s first try but Fiji made too many mistakes in the game.

Local children cheer with both Fiji and Uruguay flags at the Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium, a venue built in memory of those lost in the 2011 tsunami.

The loss means Fiji might struggle to progress to the quarterfinals after also losing its opener against Australia.

Ed Fidow celebrates with his Samoan team mates after scoring his sides third try during its win over Russia.

School children attended the match at the Kumagaya Rugby Stadium.

The match was a feisty affair with Samoa fortunate not to have had two players sent off.

Dwayne Polataivao tackles Yury Kushnarev during the Pool A game between Russia and Samoa.

Wales was forced to work hard for its win against Georgia but produced a first half masterclass to clinch the win.

Georgia’s wing Giorgi Kveseladze, right, tackles Wales’ fly-half Dan Biggar during their Pool D match between at the City of Toyota Stadium on September 23.

Wales faced Georgia in its opening game of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Its passion sometimes proved too much and referee Luke Pearce showed Georgia’s Jaba Bregvadze a yellow card for foul play.

Wales celebrate after scoring yet another try against its opposition which proved it was more than capable of competing on a physical level.

Ireland proved to be too strong for its opponents who failed to match the Irish intensity.

James Ryan of Ireland wins a line out during his side’s 27-3 win over Scotland.

An Ireland supporter looks on prior to his side’s opening game.

Italy cruised to a simple bonus-point victory over Namibia but only after a scare from the part-timers.

England’s centre Manu Tuilagi celebrates with fly-half George Ford after scoring a try.

England’s Anthony Watson juggles the ball.

New Zealand players perform the Haka prior to their Rugby World Cup 2019 Group B game against South Africa.

New Zealand’s wing Sevu Reece catches the ball.

Peceli Yato of Fiji takes on Reece Hodge of Australia. At one point in the second half, Fiji led 21-12.

Christian Lealiifano of Australia holds on to the ball during the Rugby World Cup match between Australia and Fiji in Sapporo, Japan, on September 21.

Waisea Nayacalevu of Fiji, right, beats Christian Lealifano to the ball to score a second-half try. However, two tries from Australia hooker Tolu Latu in five minutes ensured the Wallabies avoided a huge upset.

Argentina’s lock Guido Petti Pagadizabal (L) tackles France’s scrumhalf Antoine Dupont. France survived a remarkable second-half comeback from Argentina to record a thrilling 23-21 win.

France’s Virimi Vakatawa looks to pass the ball to a teammate. France led 20-3 at half-time.

Japan’s Matsushima, left, celebrates with Yutaka Nagare, center, after scoring one of his three tries.

Russia’s Andrei Ostrikov, left, competes for the ball with Japan’s James Moore during their Rugby World Cup match in Tokyo, Japan, on Friday, September 20.

Russia scored first and led 7-0, before Japan gradually grew into the match. Kotaro Matsushima of Japan touches down for a try under pressure from Vasily Artemyev of Russia, but it is disallowed.

The match between Japan and Russia was preceded by the tournament’s opening ceremony.