Ireland have secured a comfortable 59-16 win over Tonga this evening at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes, an evening where Johnny Sexton made history becoming Ireland's all-time record points scorer. 

Tadgh Beirne, Caelan Doris, Mack Hansen and Johnny Sexton touched down for the men in green in the first half, with Vaea Fifita hitting back for Tonga on the stroke of half-time.

After the break, tries from James Lowe, a quickfire double from Bundee Aki and Rob Herring added further misery to Tonga who scored a solitary penalty in the second half as they struggled to cope with Ireland.

Ireland started the game off strongly, camped deep in Tongan 22. There were some huge hits from the men in red as they fought to shut Ireland out.

However, it was a matter of time before they conceded a penalty and Ireland were put ahead with a Jonny Sexton penalty.

The opening exchanges were intense, and Tonga held their own in terms of physicality. After a penalty was conceded by Ireland in their own half, William Havili stepped up and launched a superb kick from 43 metres to level the scores.

Ireland regained the ascendancy, with Caelan Doris barrelling his way through several bodies and feeding Beirne, who in turn carries red jerseys over the line as he stretched out and touches down. Sexton added the extras.

Tonga hit back straight away as Havili landed another penalty from 49 metres out. 

Doris was the next to touch down for Ireland, taking the ball from the rolling maul and driving his way over the line to put some daylight between the sides.

Ireland’s dominance in terms of both territory and possession continued and they were rewarded when Hansen picked up Sexton's bouncing pass on the 22 and danced past four Tonga shirts before diving over for a superb try.

On 33 minutes Ireland scored again, this time Garry Ringrose was the architect, making a superb break and Sexton, at the age of 38, was there to collect the pass and race over untouched to become Ireland's all-time record points scorer.

Tonga grew into the game as they approached the break and Peter O'Mahony was shown a yellow card by Wayne Barnes as Tonga won a number of penalties right on the Irish line.

Another scrum right under the posts and former All Black Fifita managed to get a run on the Irish line and Doris couldn’t stop his opposite number from two metres out.

Havili continued his 100% rate from the tee to keep his side in the game as the teams went in at the break.

Tonga started the second half with intent, scoring another penalty, but gradually tired and struggled to hold out the Irish side who looked energised after a number of substitutions.

James Lowe did well to score with a crash ball off the back of a maul followed by a quickfire double from Bundee Aki who put in another superb performance.

Ireland moved up through the gears and finished strongly, showing greater urgency in the final quarter.  A last minute try from Rob Herring capped off an impressive display.