Fiji secured their spot in the Pacific Nations Cup final with a hard-fought victory over a resilient young USA team at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo. They will face either Japan or Samoa, who are set to compete at the same venue on Sunday. In the fifth-place play-off, Tonga triumphed over Canada.
In the match against the USA, Fiji won with a score of 22-3. Backrow player Elia Canakaivata scored tries in both halves, helping the five-time Pacific Nations Cup champions secure their place in the final. However, the USA’s youthful and determined squad made it tough for Fiji, who had to rely on a strong second-half performance once again.
Fiji’s coach Mick Byrne acknowledged that his team struggled initially. “I thought we were poor at the start,” he said after the match. “All credit to the USA, they came out to play. They were physical and applied a lot of pressure on us.”
The match began with USA’s fly-half Chris Mattina scoring a penalty just four minutes in. While the Americans put up a strong defense early on, Fiji gradually asserted dominance. Their pack gained control in the scrums, and fly-half Caleb Muntz equalized the score after 23 minutes. Just a few minutes later, Canakaivata picked up a loose ball after a lineout and scored the first try.
The second half saw Canakaivata scoring again after a series of passes, extending Fiji’s lead. Despite Fiji losing captain Tevita Ikanivere to a yellow card for a dangerous play, they added another try from Frank Lomani. The USA had opportunities to score, but handling errors and Fiji’s solid defense thwarted their chances. USA captain Nate Augspurger expressed pride in his team’s physical performance, noting that they initially met Fiji’s intensity.
In the match between Canada and Tonga, Tonga continued their winning streak against Canada, finishing with a score of 30-17 in the fifth-place play-off. After a slow start, Tonga demonstrated their attacking prowess, with flanker Siosiua Moala scoring the first try from a lineout maul. Winger John Tapueluelu added another try following a strong run.
Despite a response from Canada’s veteran hooker Andrew Quattrin, Josiah Unga scored again for Tonga, leaving them ahead 19-10 at halftime. Although Canada controlled the second half, they managed only one try, scored by Takoda McMullin, while Tonga’s defense held firm. Tapueluelu capped off the match with his second try, reflecting on the team’s hard work and their goal of preparing for the World Cup in Australia.