Sep 22, 2007, 16:58 GMT
Paris - South Africa were made to fight all the way before eventually overcoming Tonga 30-25 in the Pool A encounter in Lens while in the other pool match in Nantes Jonny Wilkinson helped England to a 44-22 victory over Samoa.
The result sees South Africa assured of top spot in Pool A with 14 points from three matches. They will play the United States on September 28 in their final pool match while Tonga and England, both on nine points, face each other two days later in Paris to settle the see who fills the second qualification spot.
England got off to the perfect start against Samoa, with captain Martin Corry scoring a try after just two minutes with Wilkinson, returning from injury, adding the conversion.
A Wilkinson drop goal three minutes later extended England's lead to 10 points before two quick Loki Crichton penalty kicks made the score 10-6.
Two more Wilkinson penalties followed before Paul Sackey got on the end of a Wilkinson grubber kick to score England's second try, with the successful conversion attempt making the score 23-6.
Crichton slotted home another two penalties before halftime to leave Samoa trailing 23-12 at the break.
Both sides exchanged penalties before scrumhalf Junior Polu beat Mathew Tait to touch down for Samoa with Crichton converting to cut the deficit to just four points.
But that was as close as Samoa got with a drop goal and penalty from Wilkinson followed up by a second try for Corry and a late try from Sackey securing the bonus point and a 44-22 win for England.
Earlier, South Africa secured top spot in Pool A and a potential quarter-final clash with Wales thanks to a 30-25 victory over Tonga.
On a high after trouncing Samoa and England in their opening two World Cup matches, South Africa found themselves behind to a resilient Tonga side early in the second half before eventually securing their place in the last eight.
Tonga, who also went into the game full of confidence after victories over the United States and Samoa, took an early 3-0 lead at the Stade Felix Bollaert thanks to a penalty from Pierre Hola after South Africa were caught offside.
But Ruan Pienaar took full advantage of a lack of concentration by the Tongans on 17 minutes, tapping a quick penalty and beating hooker Aleki Lutui to cross the line for the Springboks first try, which Andre Pretorius converted to make it 7-3.
Tonga took a surprise lead three minutes into the second half when prop Kisi Pulu powered over the line, assisted by Finau Maka, and Hola converted to make it 10-7.
The inconsistent Pretorius missed another penalty kick before Boks coach Jake White made five substitutions, bringing on John Smit, BJ Botha, Victor Matfield, Bryan Habana and Francois Steyn to try turn the tide of the game.
The injured Danie Rossouw was also stretchered off in a neck brace and replaced by Juan Smith before South Africa got another penalty after Tonga were caught offside.
Steyn took over the kicking responsibilities, landing his first effort to level the scores.
Smith crashed over the line to put the Boks in front on 58 minutes with replacement Percy Montgomery, surpassing Joost van der Westhuizen by winning a record 90th cap, converting to make it 17-10.
Another try by Bobby Skinstad three minutes later extended South Africa's lead, which also led to the sin-binning of Francois Steyn and Jospeh Vaka.
South Africa secured the bonus point, and with it first place in Pool A, on 64 minutes with their best try of the match, breaking from their own 22 before Pienaar scored in the right corner.
But Tonga weren't finished yet and with South Africa's Bryan Habana sent to the bin for playing the ball on the ground, Sukanaivalu Huganga jumped high to claim and touch down a cross-field kick from Pierra Hola to narrow the deficit to 12 points.
Tonga reduced South Africa's lead to just five points when flanker Viliami Vaki touched down and Hola duly converted.
Montgomery landed a penalty for South Africa before Hola guaranteed a bonus point for Tonga with a penalty of his own three minutes from time.
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