Three-time Rugby World Cup champion South Africa will look to get its 2023 campaign back on track following a loss to Ireland in Round 3, and they'll square off with Tonga in Marseille.

The Tongan squad, which is packed with individual talent, has yet to secure a win in its opening two fixtures at this year's tournament.

Min 80: CONVERSION: Libbok pops the two points over from directly in front.

Min 80: TRY! Kwagga Smith puts the final touches on a job well done for the Boks here. RSA 47-TON 8.

Min 72: TRY! Tonga benefited from some loose play from South Africa, and substitute Patrick Pellegrini, who regathers his own chip to score near the posts. RSA 42-TON 18.

Min 66: The Boks are putting on the squeeze here, cutting off the Tongan passing lanes with a hard rush. 

Min 64: CONVERSION! Libbok does it again from the touchline. RSA 42-13.

Min 63: TRY! Marco van Staden benefits from a strong break, first through Jesse Kriel, then Canan Moodie to get the Boks sixth of the evening. RSA 40-TON 13.

Min 61: Tonga coughs up a penalty, having worked its way into the Springboks 5-meter zone through a well-worked line-out. Manie Libbok finds touch near the halfway line, as the Boks set up another maul.

Min 61: Substitution, as Marvin Orie departs, and Franco Mostert comes in.

Min 59: A double substitution - captain Siya Kolisi leaves the action, with Marco van Staden entering the fray. Elsewhere, Kitshoff comes back on for Nche.

Min 58: CONVERSION! We have a new leader in the loud stakes, as Libbok nails a touchline conversion, and the Boks are clear ahead with a much-needed bonus point. 

Min 57: TRY! Willie Le Roux pounces! The Tongans only have themselves to blame there, as Ahki drops a routine ball, as they attempt to clear their line. A quick ball from Moodie to Le Roux, and there you have it. RSA 26-TON 13.

Min 56: Momentum is flowing here for Tonga, as they disrupt a South African line-out to win a scrum.

Min 55: Tongan captain Tameifuna leaves the pitch to the loudest cheer of the evening. 

Min 55: Substitution here for South Africa, as Kitshoff leaves the pitch after just five minutes.

Min 54: No good from the tee from Havilli there, as it slides off the left-hand upright.

Min 53: TRY! Tonga is right back in this one! Inisi gets his second of the evening! With a conversion, Tonga will be back within a score, and it is game on!  RSA 21-TON 13.

Min 51: Eben Etzebeth looked to be in trouble there as he collided with Charles Piutau. Nothing more than a penalty, says referee Pearce, and Tonga has an attacking line-out.

Min 50: Triple substitution for South Africa - Jaden Hendrikes and Manie Libbok replace Cobus Reinach and Handre Pollard in the halfbacks. In the forwards, Kwagga Smith is on for Jasper Wiese at No. 8.

Min 50: CONVERSION! Pollard is a perfect 4-for-4. First time a Springbok kicker has been perfect for quite some time.

Min 49: TRY! Jesse Kriel uses all of his strength, as he hits the line at speed to get over, following some big carries from the Bok forwards. 

Min 45: Penalty to Tonga, as Reinach gets his timing slightly wrong. This is a big clearance for the Tongans to get some respite, having been camped inside their own 5-meter line for the first five minutes of this half.

Min 46: Penalty to South Africa - Handre Pollard sets up yet another attacking line-out.

Min 44: Here are the first non-injury substitutions of the evening, as Trevor Nyakane and Steven Kitshoff come on to replace Vincent Koch and Ox Nche, respectively.

Min 44: Sustained defense here from Tonga, as the Springbok attack goes through the gears.

Min 40: Pollard gets us underway.

Halftime Report

Blink, and you will have missed it, is perhaps the best way to sum up what was an action-packed first half here in Marseille. 

Tonga starter brightly capitalizing on the Springbok's rush defense, as referee Luke Pearce called them offsides. 

Fly-half William Havilli slotted the straightforward kick to get the first points of the match. 

Falling behind seemed to spur the Boks from a relative slumber, as they hit back through the prolific Cobus Reinach, who added yet another try to his impressive Rugby World Cup try-scoring tally, which now stands at seven. 

Handre Pollard did exactly what he was called back to do and slotted a touchline conversion to put the world champions ahead 7-3. 

Following the restart, it would be Tonga that would be making all of the plays without ever really making inroads into the South African defense. Having been turned away time and again, Tonga seemed to lose confidence in what it was doing for a brief period. 

Compounding their woes in the 18th minute was a try by the sensational Canan Moodie, who gratefully scooped up a loose ball that had bounced off prop Vincent Koch's head. 

In what is fast becoming international props go-to try assisting move following Joe Marler's similar incident in England's victory over Japan, the ball rebounded off Koch's head, setting up a try completely against the run of play. 

From here, the South Africans had their tails up and took control, as they laid siege to the Tongan line. Unfortunately, the attack would come at a cost, as winger Makazole Mapimpi left proceedings with a suspected broken jaw. 

It may have taken 13 minutes and three Tongan line-out infringements, but South Africa eventually would break through. This time, it would be replacement hooker Deon Fourie, who benefitted from a well-set maul. 

The oldest man in the Bok squad was ecstatic as he bounced up from the ground. 

Pollard would continue his 100% record from the tee, as he gave the Springbok selectors a real headache ahead of the quarterfinals. 

Tonga would not leave the half empty-handed, as their endeavor finally was rewarded through captain Ben Tameifuna, who barged through over from close range to close the scores to 21-8 at halftime.

That's it for the first half with some energy-sapping rugby played in Marseille ⏰#StrongerTogether #Springboks #RWC2023 #RSAvTON pic.twitter.com/F4llUW80iG

— Springboks (@Springboks) October 1, 2023

Min 40: Sublime defense from Tonga here to hold out wave after wave of Springbok attack, which was started by a powerful burst through the midfield by Esterhuizen. 

Min 37: TRY! Tonga is rewarded for its endeavour! Captain Ben Tameifuna crashes over. There is life in their match once again. RSA 21-TON 8.

Min 32: CONVERSION: Pollard continues to press his case for reclaiming the No. 10 shirt. RSA 21-TON 8.

Min 31: TRY! The Boks get their third. This time, it is the oldest player on the squad, Deon Fourie. There was an air of inevitability about this. RSA 19-TON 8.

Min 30: Another Springbok penalty, Tonga must be close to yellow-card territory here.

Min 28: Makazole Mapimpi is off following what initially looked like a high tackle. Jesse Kriel is on in his place.

This is special from Tonga! 🇹🇴#RWC2023 | #RSAvTGA pic.twitter.com/8bODkWXSdf

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 1, 2023

Min 27: Extreme pressure from Reinach at the base of the scrum as he pressures Havilli's kick, and the Springboks go again from a short-range line-out. Once again, Tonga infringes, and the Boks have a penalty advantage. 

Min 26: Exceptional from Tonga in defense, the Springbok maul looked ominous, but they were stopped in their tracks, earning the Tongans a brief respite and a scrum 5 merters out from their line.

Min 25: The Springboks earn a penalty, as the Tongan launch across the line-out. Following a strong carry from Andre Estehuizen, they got for the corner.

Min 22: Pollard is back, and it is showing in the Springboks' play; not quite as flashy, but more consistent. The fly-half launches another kick high, despite Havilli taking the ball well, he collides with teammate Pita Akhi, and as such, it is a Springbok scrum.

Min 18: TRY! Just like that, 26-year-old sensation Canan Moodie pounces on a loose ball that pops off Vincent Koch's head. Pollard converts from in front RSA 14-TON 3.

Min 17: Exceptional play from the Tongans, who shoot a long pass into the midfield from a solid lineout. Two phases later, Fine Inisi breaks around Springbok fullback Willie Le Roux on the right-hand touchline. Unfortunately for the Tongan referee, Luke Pearce blows for a penalty to South Africa. 

Min 14: Another Tonga penalty and another kick to the corner. This time, they are bundled into touch, and the pressure is on Deon Fourie to get this Bok line-out right. He finds Eben Etzebeth at the front, and Reinach clears.

Min 13: Tonga opts for a cross-field kick following four minutes of sustained pressure in the South African 5m. This Bok defense simply won't bend.

Min 11: Tonga is awarded a scrum on the Bok 5-meter line following a sustained attack. A perfect attacking launch pad for the South Pacific Islanders.

Min 9: Tonga is awarded another penalty, having challenged the Springbok defense. They turn a very kickable opportunity to go for the corner.

Min 5: CONVERSION! Handre Pollard does exactly what he is called back to do and slots a touchline conversion with ease.

Min 4: TRY! Following some disrupted broken play, the Boks are in. It is that man Cobus Reinach, who is becoming one of the Rugby World Cup's most prolific try scorers.

Min 2: PENALTY! William Havili nudges Tonga into the lead. RSA 0-TON 3

Min 1: Tonga is awarded an early penalty, as the Springboks are caught offside. The kick is 10 meters out and straight in front.

The Defenders of Tomorrow lead out the sides in Marseille #RWC2023 | #RSAvTGA | #Defender | #DefendersofTomorrow pic.twitter.com/QdMSygrmgY

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 1, 2023

TEAMS

SOUTH AFRICA: Willie Le Roux; Grant Williams, Canan Moodie, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi; Handré Pollard, Cobus Reinach; Ox Nche, Deon Fourie, Vincent Koch; Eben Etzebeth, Marvin Orie; Siya Kolisi (captain), Duane Vermeulen, Jasper Wiese 

Replacements: Marco van Staden, Steven Kitshoff, Trevor Nyakane, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Jaden Hendrikse, Manie Libbok, Jesse Kriel 

TONGA: Salesi Piutau; Fine Inisi, Malakai Fekitoa, Pita Ahki, Anzelo Tuitavuki; William Havili, Augustine Pulu; Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, Paula Ngauamo, Ben Tameifuna (captain); Halaleva Fifita, Sam Lousi; Tanginoa Halaifonua, Sione Talitui, Semisi Paea 

Replacements: Sam Moli, Tau Koloamatangi, Sosefo Apikotoa, Adam Coleman, Sione Vailanu, Sonatane Takulua, Patrick Pellegrini, Afusipa Taumoepeau