Canada 24 Tonga 7
Canada ended their World Cup with a convincing 24-7 win over Tonga today in a bruising pool D match marred by a sickening injury to Al Charron.
The Canadian skipper, playing his 76th and final international before retiring, was carried off the field after being knocked out cold by a tackle from Tonga flyhalf Pierre Hola.
The Canadians complained to Irish referee Alain Rolland that the tackle was dangerous but the official disagreed, allowing play to continue once Charron had left the pitch.
Canada centre Marco di Girolamo also departed with blood streaming from his face after being accidentally stamped on, and Tonga replacement David Palu was sin-binned in the last minute for a shoulder charge on James Pritchard.
Tonga led 7-3 midway through the first half but the Canadians recovered to sneak ahead 9-7 at the break before piling up 15 unanswered points to end the tournament on a high and condemn the Tongans to bottom spot in the group.
Canada, playing with the wind, grabbed an early lead when veteran flyhalf Bob Ross landed the first of his four penalties, but Tonga hit the front when their captain Inoke Afeaki stretched out to score from a rolling maul.
Hola landed the conversion after missing with two earlier penalty attempts to put his side 7-3 in front but the Pacific Islanders missed their chance to increase the lead when flanker Nisifolo Naufahu dropped the ball over the line.
Canada made the most of their let-off as Ross booted two late penalties to give his side a narrow lead at the break and they made a flying start to the second half with a try by winger Sean Fauth.
The Canadians were held up after a spell of sustained pressure but scored from the ensuing scrum when they swung the ball wide for Fauth to dive over in the right corner.
There were just seven points between the sides with five minutes remaining when Ross, who made his test debut in 1989 and is the longester serving international player in world rugby, calmly slotted over his fourth penalty shortly after Charron departed to give his team a 10-point buffer.
Tonga were denied a late try when they were held up over the line and Canada put the matter beyond doubt when replacement hooker Aaron Abrams scored from a maul and Pritchard landed the sideline conversion.
Teams:
Tonga- 15-Gus Leger (20-David Palu 66); 14-Pila Fifita, 13-Johnny Ngauamo (21-Sukanaivalu Hufanga 47), 12-John Payne, 11-Sione Fonua (22-Viliami Vaki 40); 10-Pierre Hola, 9-Sililo Martens; 8-Benhur Kivalu (18-Usaia Latu 75), 7-Sione Tu'amoheloa, 6-Nisifolo Naufahu (19-Ipolito Fenukitau 56), 5-Inoke Afeaki (captain), 4-Milton Ngauamo, 3-Heamani Lavaka (17-Kafalosi Tonga 55), 2-Ephram Taukafa (16-Viliami Ma'asi 59), 1-Tonga Lea'aetoa.
Canada- 15-Quentin Fyffe (22-James Pritchard 75); 14-Sean Fauth, 13-Nikyta Witkowski (21-Ryan Smith 28), 12-Marco di Girolamo, 11-Winston Stanley; 10-Bob Ross, 9-Morgan Williams (20-Ed Fairhurst 75); 8-Josh Jackson, 7-Adam van Staveren, 6-Jamie Cudmore (19-Jeff Reid 61), 5-Mike James (18-Colin Yukes 68), 4-Al Charron (captain) (16-Aaron Abrams 68), 3-Garth Cooke, 2-Mark Lawson, 1-Rod Snow (17-Kevin Tkachuk 40). Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)