Finau Maka crossed over for Tonga in the first two minutes
USA: (3) 15
Tries: MacDonald, Stanfill
Con: Hercus
Pens: Hercus Tonga: (13) 25
Tries: Maka, Vaka, Vaki
Cons: Hola 2
Pens: Hola 2
Tonga got their World Cup campaign off to a winning start with victory over a battling USA in Montpellier.
The Americans found themselves 13-0 down after 26 minutes thanks to an early try from Toulouse flanker Finau Maka and two Pierre Hola penalties.
Eagles prop Mike MacDonald made the score 13-8 with a try in the corner but Tonga responded through Joseph Vaka.
USA flanker Louis Stanfill then crossed from close range but Viliami Vaki's superb score sealed victory for Tonga.
The result was a disappointing one from America's point of view following on from their impressive display against England last weekend.
606: DEBATE
They seemed to be feeling the effects of the quick turnaround and Tonga made an explosive start with Toulouse's Maka going over after a rolling maul from a line-out after 72 seconds.
America settled however and restricted the combative Tongans to just two Hola penalties in the rest of the opening half.
The Eagles, boosted by a Hercus penalty just before the break, dominated for long periods of the second period and twice got back to within a score of their opponents.
MacDonald powered his way over to score in the corner on 46 minutes but Tonga responded with the help of an incisive break from skipper Nili Latu which led to Joseph Vaka scoring his first try for his country.
America had renewed hope when Stanfill bundled over from his own tap penalty but Vaki struck the decisive blow with 10 minutes left - leaving the Eagles ruing their wasted opportunities.
"That's an easy excuse to use."
"I'm very pleased. It's not often you get the chance to play in a World Cup and it's a good feeling to get a victory. Winning today is a confident step up for us."
USA: Wyles; Sika, Tuipulotu, Esikia, Ngwenya; Hercus (capt), Erskine; Bloomfield, Clever, Stanfill, Mangan, Alec Parker, Osentowski, Lentz, MacDonald.
Replacements: Burdette, Moeakiola, Mexted, Basauri, Petri, Malifa, Eloff.
Tonga: Lilo; Tu'ifua, Hufanga, Taione, Vaka; Hola, Havea; Maka, Latu (capt), Pole, Hehea, Fa'aoso, Pulu, Lutui, Tonga'uiha.
Replacements: Taukafa, Toke, Vaki, Filipine, Tu'ipulotu, Tupou, Havili.
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In the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Tonga started their campaign with a 15-25 win over the United States. Fiji won their opening match by four points in a close contest against Japan. 

Romania, playing their first match of the tournament, led Italy just after half time but eventually fell to a 24-18 defeat.
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In Pool A, Tonga raced to an early lead after Finau Maka scored a try in the second minute and Pierre Hola added the conversion. However the United States pinned them back for most of the first half with Pierre Hola scoring just two penalties for Tonga, giving them a 13-0 lead. Shortly before half time Mike Hercus scored a penalty for the United States to take the score to 13-3 at the interval. 

The Americans controlled the game for much of the second half. Mike MacDonald scored a try for the Americans to pull the score back to 13-8, but Tonga hit back with a try from Joseph Vaka. Louis Stanfill scored a try to close the gap to three points, but Viliami Vaki scored with ten minutes remaining to claim the victory for Tonga.

The win takes Tonga to third place in Pool A with four points, behind South Africa with five and England on points difference. The United Stated have no points from two defeats.
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Fiji overcame Japan in a dramatic encounter in Pool B. Nicky Little kicked Fiji to an early lead, but Shotaro Onishi scored two penalties to give Japan a 6-3 lead in the 30th minute. Fiji went ahead with a try from Akapusi Qera, and Japan's Onishi scored a penalty just before half time reducing Fiji's lead to one point.

Onishi scored another penalty after the restart and Japan led once more. Qera scored his second try for Fiji in the 49th minute, but Luke Thompson scored a try for Japan two minutes later. A try from Seru Rabeni once again gave Fiji the advantage, but Japan were kept in the match by a Tomokazu Soma try. Fiji stretched their lead to 11 points after Kele Leawere scored a try, and a last minute Luke Thompson try was not enough to snatch the win for Japan.

Fiji are third in the pool with five points, behind Australia and Wales on points difference. Japan are fourth, taking one point from this defeat.
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In Pool C, Italy led Romania 8-0 at half time through an early try from Santiago Dellapè and a David Bortolussi penalty.

Romania took the lead early in the second half after Alexandru Manta and Marius Tincu scored tries. Italy regained the lead after they were awarded a penalty try due to several fouls from Romania. Ionut Dimofte scored two penalties for Romania to keep them in the game, but Ramiro Pez scored three to keep Italy ahead.

Italy are third in Pool C with four points, behind New Zealand and Scotland with five each. Romania are fourth, earning one point in this match.