ABERDEEN, Scotland — Tonga humbled Scotland for the first time in rugby Saturday, coming from 15-10 down after an hour to triumph 21-15 at Pittodrie Stadium. The result was all the more remarkable as three Tongans were sin-binned and the team played for more than 20 minutes down a man. It finished the match with 14 men. But Tonga scored the only two tries of the game, both in the second half, against five penalties to Scotland flyhalf Greig Laidlaw. Scotland finished the year without winning at home, while Tonga celebrated its biggest victory since toppling France in last year's World Cup. Ireland thrashes Argentina In Dublin, Ireland scored seven tries in a 46-24 demolition of Argentina to ensure it will be seeded when the draw is made for the next rugby World Cup and leave the South Americans waiting to find out if they will join them. Ireland had to win the match, billed as the most important one either side would likely play this side of the 2015 tournament, to book a place in the second tier of seeds for the Dec. 3 draw and four tries in a blistering first half got them on their way. Debutant wing Craig Gilroy got a first international try, as did the recently blooded Simon Zebo and Richardt Strauss while Jonathan Sexton and Tommy Bowe got a brace each to maintain Ireland's unbeaten home record against Argentina. Argentina, which got two late consolation tries, will slip out of the world's top eight and face a potentially tougher World Cup pool draw if Samoa beats France later Saturday and Wales defeat either New Zealand or Australia this weekend and next. If the in-form Samoans lose by fewer than 15 points, they will tie with Argentina on 78.71 ranking points, with the higher-placed team determined by the next decimal place. Argentina, which beat Six Nations champions Wales 26-12 two weeks ago to put it in the better position going into the game, simply had no answer for a rampant Irish side which put five successive defeats behind it in the best possible fashion. Boks hold off England In England, South Africa ended its tour of Britain and Ireland with a 16-15 win over England to stay unbeaten and almost certainly deprive the host of the 2015 World Cup from a top-four seeding. In a test played in driving rain and marked by a preponderance of kicking, South Africa scored the only try through flanker Willem Alberts with flyhalf Patrick Lambie kicking perfectly for 11 points in front of 81,151 spectators at Twickenham. England flyhalf Toby Flood landed two penalties but missed two kickable attempts, with replacement Owen Farrell successful with his only three shots at goal. England's faint hopes of overtaking France to the No. 4 ranking to avoid being drawn with one of the top three Southern Hemisphere teams now appear over. Australia holds off Italy Australia narrowly held off Italy 22-19 in Florence after nearly blowing a large lead following a stunning second-half performance from the Azzurri. An error-strewn first half from Jacques Brunel's side saw the Wallabies take a commanding 19-point lead, but Italy reduced the deficit just before the break and a spirited comeback saw them shut out Australia in the second period. Italy even had chances to take the lead as it went close to recording its first victory over Australia in 15 meetings. Robert Barbieri, who was earlier yellow carded, scored the try for Italy, the first of 13 points in 15 second-half minutes for the Azzurri. Nick Cummins turned over for Australia. — Agencies
