Tonga……………..28
Canada……………. 3
TONGA ran in four tries and survived a sending off early in the second half in a dominant win over Canada on Thursday.
Canada, who failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time ever, were playing their first match since a 43-37 loss to Namibia in November.
Former All Blacks Malakai Fekitoa and George Moala started at centre for Samoa with Vaea Fifita, another New Zealand veteran on the bench.
The Tongans did not look especially sharp but had enough power and pace to dispatch Canada.
Tonga, playing their first Test on home soil since 2017, went ahead in the fourth minute, taking advantage of a scrum penalty to kick deep into Canadian territory.
Sam Moli went over at the back of a driving maul from the ensuring lineout with the conversion giving them a 7-0 lead.
Peter Nelson cut the deficit to 7-3 with a penalty from close range but Tonga added to the lead after a line break by wing Fine Inisi, who sliced through the Canada defence before taking a tackle and passing to Sonatane Takulua to score for a 14-3 lead with the conversion.
After a penalty against Canada, Tonga kicked for distance and Sione Vailanu, a beefy 20st back row, powered over from the ensuing lineout carrying defenders with him to score before half-time.
Tonga were reduced to 14 men five minutes into the second half when Moala was sent off for a dangerous tackle that left centre Ben LeSage dazed. But Tonga kept their try line intact and Vailanu's power at close range produced another try to round off the scoring.
