England 35-3 Tonga
HT 18-3
Tries: Tuilagi (2), George, Cowan-Dickie/
Conversions: Farrell (3)/
Penalties: Farrell (3)/Takulua
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| Photo from BBC Sport |
Manu Tuilagi scored two tries in the first half, before a driving maul in the second half gave Jamie George the opportunity to cross, with Owen Farrel landing three penalties and two conversions.
Luke Cowan-Dickie got the fourth try late on to confirm the bonus point, but the expected avalanche of points was denied by a spirited Tonga.
Having shipped 14 tries to New Zealand earlier this month, England would have been hoping for better against a side that has one win in their last seven matches.
They did cause England some problems at the breakdown, with coach Eddie Jones having much to work on ahead of the rest of the tournament.
Tonga had more or less matched England in the early exchanges, with the latter conceding five penalties in the first 24 minutes.
Only one was scored though, Sonatane Takulua landed from 30 metres to equalise after Farrell's kick.
Jones was visibly angry at the performance, before Tuilagi crossed for a brace of tries, showing his importance to England's World Cup dream.
He wriggled out of three tackles for his first, before taking an inside pass from Jonny May and running away for the second.
Another penalty landed and England came close to a third try before half-time, with England taking a bruising for their 18-3 lead at the break.
Ben Youngs and Anthony Watson had been crunchhed in big tackles, while Zane Kapeli knocked Billy Vunipola flat with a powerful challenge.
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| Photo from BBC Sport |
Throwing on Ellis Genge, Henry Slade, George Kruis, Lewis Ludlam and Willi Heinz all coming on, the instructions were to go back to basics, setting up a driving maul from 15 metres from which George touched down.
The game became increasingly disjointed and lacking fluidity, with Slade limping off after a big tackle - the Exeter centre was playing in his first competitive outing since the Premiership final and was an important part of the Six Nations earlier in the year.
Maro Itoje knocked-on after Farrell had moved to 10 and Jonathan Joseph to outside centre - one of the 14 handling errors throughout the match.
Joseph made a break round the outside into big space and drew in the last man before slipping Cowan-Dickie in on his right.
England play USA next, and they will have time to hit their straps before tougher tests follow in the form of Argentina and France.
Jones will certainly be looking for more from his side, especially after impressive performances from fellow hopefuls Ireland and New Zealand.
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