Tonga, playing the final minutes two men down, broke a nine-match losing sequence to derail Samoa's hopes of reaching the quarter-finals at the Rugby World Cup with a fighting 19-15 win here Sunday.

The Tongan Sea Eagles followed up their opening 25-15 win over United States to remain unbeaten in the tournament and lie second in Pool A one point behind South Africa and four points ahead of England.

Tonga now have a great opportunity of reaching their first quarter-finals at the World Cup if they can beat the faltering holders England in their last group match in Paris on September 28 after they next play South Africa.

But the Tongans almost beat themselves through their ill-discipline and playing out the remaining four minutes two players short.

Flanker Hale T Pole was red-carded in the 72nd minute and replacement Toma Toke was yellow carded with four minutes left.

Tonga had to withstand a determined finish from Samoa, but they clung on to the fulltime whistle.

It was a momentous day for Tongan rugby - winning their first World Cup meeting against Samoa and their first win over their island rivals since 2000, ending a run of nine defeats.

At the same time it was a damaging blow to winless Samoa, quarter-finalists in 1991 and 1995, who were looking to continue their winning run over Tonga and set up an enticing crack at England in Nantes next Saturday for a place in the quarter-finals.

The winning break came midway through a grimly-fought second half off a driving maul.

Taione came up with the try under a pile of bodies to Tongan jubilation as they sensed the breaking of a seven-year losing sequence against their great rivals.

Fly-half Pierre Hola converted for a 16-12 lead with 20 minutes with the French crowd roaring encouragement for the Tongans.

Hola kicked another penalty to stretch the lead to seven points before the Samoa clawed it back to 19-15 after Pole was cautioned for a head-high tackle on opposite number Daniel Leo.

Pole was sent off by South African referee Jonathan Kaplan shortly afterwards after another incident when he elbowed a Samoa forward in the face at a ruck and he was followed to the sidelines by Toke with a yellow card.

TONGA 19 (Epeli Taione tries, Pierre Hola four pens, con) bt SAMOA 15 (Gavin Williams five pens), at Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier, France. Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (RSA).

AFP