Manu Samoa has struck a telling blow in their qualification bid for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, beating Tonga 42-13 at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland last night.
The second match of the two-Test series is in Hamilton next Saturday.
The Samoans have now put themselves in the driving seat for a place in Pool D at the 2023 World Cup along with England, Japan, Argentina and an Americas qualifier.
Tonga still has a path to France even if they cannot overturn the deficit next Saturday.
The losers of the playoff will face the Cook Islands in Pukekohe on July 24 for the right to play the Asian champions – Hong Kong, South Korea or Malaysia – for a spot in Pool B at the World Cup.
Samoa has competed at every World Cup since the 1991 edition, twice reaching the quarter-finals, while Tonga only missed the 1991 tournament.
RNZ/Reuters
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