Tonga booked a spot in the 2007 Rugby World Cup when they beat Korea 85-3 in a repechage match in Auckland this weekend.

Tonga booked a spot in the 2007 Rugby World Cup when they beat Korea 85-3 in a repechage match in Auckland today.

A sizable Waitemata Park crowd was treated to a Tongan try-fest as the Pacific nation laid on 13 tries to Korea's sole penalty goal.

Right wing Vaea Poteki scored a hat-trick, while first five and goal kicker Fangatapu Apikotoa grabbed a brace of tries to go with his 10 conversions, contributing an impressive 30 points.

Tonga got off to a flying start in the first few minutes when left wing Sione Fonua latched on to a cross-kick and shrugged off two weak tackles to score in the corner.

This was followed by five more tries before the break, the match all but in the bag at halftime with the Tongans leading 38-0.

Korea gave a better account in the second stanza, defending staunchly but as the hot weather took its toll the holes began to open up once again.

Their only points came by way of a penalty goal from first five Jun-Ki Hong.

Super 14 loose forwards Hale T.Pole and captain Nili Latu were both in the thick of the action throughout the match with a number of Tongan tries coming from Latu turnovers at the breakdown.

Lock Teu'imuli Kaufusi had an outstanding game, brilliant in the air and had a hand in a number of his side's tries while scoring one of his own.

Korea will be disappointed with their showing as some soft defence and poor handling undid a lot of the good work at set piece.

Tongan coach Adam Leach believed his side still had some areas to improve on but a spot in Pool A for the World Cup was certainly a pleasing outcome.

Tonga's qualification means that all but one of the 20 teams for next year's Tournament have been filled. Tonga qualifies as Repechage 2 and joins the automatic qualifiers from RWC 2003 in Australia - quarter-finalists England, Australia, New Zealand, France, Ireland, Scotland, South Africa and Wales - and Samoa (Oceania 1), Fiji (Oceania 2), Argentina (Americas 1), Canada (Americas 2), USA (Americas 3), Italy (Europe 1), Romania (Europe 2), Namibia (Africa 1), Georgia (Europe 3) and Japan (Asia 1) in France.

Tonga will play in Pool in Pool A in France alongside champions England, South Africa, Samoa and USA in Pool A and will kick-off its finals campaign against USA in Montpellier on September 12.

Tonga's qualification means that just one place remains to be filled for the Tournament in France with Portugal and Uruguay playing home and away fixtures next month to determine who will qualify as Repechage 1 and join New Zealand, Scotland, Italy and Romania in Pool C.

Score: Tonga 85 (Vaea Poteki 3, Fangatapu Apikotoa 2, Hudson Tonga-Huiha 2, Sione Fonua, Hale T.Pole, Teu'imuli Kaufusi, Vungakoto Lilo, Heamani Paea, Sione Kalamafoni tries; Apikotoa 10 con) Korea 3 (Jun-Ki Hong pen). Halftime: 38-0.