The Flying Fijians, despite being the reigning champions of the Pacific Nations Cup, are heading into the final against Japan in Osaka as underdogs. Japan, coached by Eddie Jones, comes off a strong semi-final performance, where they defeated Manu Samoa 49-27 on Sunday night in Tokyo.
The Japanese team showcased impressive attacking rugby, scoring six tries to Samoa’s three. Under Jones’ leadership, the team is making significant strides, and the coach has made it clear that winning the final against Fiji is the goal. He emphasized the need for improved defensive play around the ruck if they are to secure their first title since 2019.
“We’re pleased to be in the final, but our only aim is to win,” Jones stated, acknowledging Fiji’s quality as a formidable opponent while expressing confidence in their preparation.
In the semi-final, Japan had a dominant first half, scoring four tries compared to Samoa’s one. Dylan Riley was the first to touch down, benefiting from a well-placed kick from Player-of-the-Match Seungsin Lee. Soon after, Samoa faced a setback when winger Elisapeta Alofipo was sin-binned, allowing Japan to score a penalty try.
With a series of well-executed plays, Japan continued their scoring spree, with Lee contributing a try just before halftime. Despite their struggles on the defensive end, Samoa managed to respond, with Tuna Tuitama scoring even while they were down a player.
The second half saw Lee break the line early, setting up Kanji Shimokawa for another try. Samoa fought back, and Melani Matavao scored to narrow the score, but Japan maintained their momentum with further tries, including a late score from Taichi Takahashi.
Samoa’s captain, Theo McFarland, commented on his team’s indiscipline, noting that errors and handling issues in the early stages compromised their performance and affected their momentum in the match.