England scored a century at Twickenham yesterday with this win over Tonga, whose slim hopes of a World Cup upset disappeared with one swinging punch from prop Ngalu Taufo'ou.
The home side ran in 13 tries to secure a place in the quarter-final play-offs against either France or Fiji.
Tongan out-half 'Isi Tapueluelu felled England full back Matt Perry with a high tackle in the 35th minute. Tonga were penalised, a fracas broke out among the forwards and the burly Taufo'ou ran in to fell Richard Hill with a blow to the head.
Referee Wayne Erickson, after consulting both touch judges, showed Taufo'ou the red card. Tapueluelu, England prop Phil Vickery and Tonga flanker David Edwards were shown yellow cards.
Tonga's scrum now had no chance and the Pacific Islanders, already behind 24-10, conceded a further 14 points with tries by Dan Luger and Perry before the break.
The England XV scored 63 points to equal the second highest points total at a World Cup, set by New Zealand against Italy in a 101-3 win on Thursday.
Out-half Paul Grayson also broke Jonny Wilkinson's England international record of 32 points with a tally of 36.
England began the match in determined mood. Lawrence Dallaglio and Hill ran hard at the Tongans from the outset and Grayson profited from Tongan offences to kick two early penalties.
Scrum-half Matt Dawson opened the scoring in the 13th minute, racing through a gaping hole in the Tongan defence. But Tonga hit back with their only try of the match, wing Tevita Tiueti swerving inside Perry's attempted tackle.
Phil Greening scored his second international try and the Tongans were already starting to look ragged before the sending off of Taufo'ou.
The Tongans lost heart in the second half and sent on a stream of replacements for their final outing of the World Cup.
Centre Will Greenwood scored twice in two minutes, there was a try for Austin Healey, who shifted from right wing to scrum-half after Dawson was forced to leave the field, and one for Hill.
Jeremy Guscott drew the biggest cheer of the afternoon with a runaway try from under his own posts. The 34-year-old had originally been omitted from the side only to return when Phil de Glanville withdrew through injury.
There were further tries for Healey, Greening and Luger as England ran riot. Guscott set up the century when he scored between the posts for Grayson to convert.
SCORERS: England: Tries - Greening 2, Greenwood 2, Guscott 2, Healy 2, Luger 2, Dawson, Hill, Perry; Cons - Dawson 12; Pens - Grayson 4. TONGA: Tries - Tiueti; Cons - Tu'ipilotu; Pens - Tu'ipilotu.
ENGLAND: Perry; Healey, Greenwood, Guscott, Luger; Grayson, Dawson; Rowntree, Greening, Vickery, Johnson, Archer, Worlsey, Hill, Dallaglio. Replacements: Beal for Dawson (32), Grewcock for Johnson (51), Catt for Greenwood (51), Cockrill for Dallaglio (59). Not Used: Wilkinson, Back, Leonard.
TONGA: S Tuipulotu; Tiuete, Tatafu, Finau, Taupeaafe; Vunipola, Martens; Taufoou, Moe Laru Vunipola, Taumoepeau, Fatani, Kivalu, Edwards, Koloi, Tu'ipilotu. Replacements: Fa'inga'anuku for Edwards (32), Tapueluelu for Tu'ipulotu (53), Taione for Mertens (59), Toloke for Kivalu (60), Maka for Vunipola (71). Not Used: Tu'ipulotu, Mafi.
Referee: Wayne Erickson (Australia).
