Les Bleus lost exciting full-back Julien Laharrague to injury after just two minutes and were booed off at half-time after failing to cross the try-line on the way to a 12-8 interval lead.

Les Bleus coach Bernard Laporte had warned his side to put on a show or face the chop against South Africa next week but they were far from their fluent best making error after error.

They needed the boot of Dimitri Yachvili to ensure an interval lead after Tonga captain Viliami Vaki scored a 24th-minute try and Sione Mone Tu'ipulotu dropped a goal shortly after.

Yachvili responded with four penalties but it was not enough not appease the Toulouse faithful.

But they will have been happier with the performance after the break, which saw tries for Thomas Lievremont, Aurelien Rougerie and two late scores for Vincent Clerc and an injury-time touchdown for Yannick Jauzion, who had replaced Laharrague early on.

Yachvili added three conversions with the boot for Les Bleus, who were far more convincing in their wins over Australia and Canada in the last two weeks, and will have to up their game for next weeks visit of the Springboks.