The Flying Fijians, despite being the reigning champions of the Pacific Nations Cup, will enter the final against Japan on Sunday as underdogs. The Japanese team, coached by Eddie Jones, is riding high following a commanding 49-27 victory over Manu Samoa in the semi-finals held in Tokyo on Sunday night.
In a display of dynamic and attacking rugby, Japan scored six tries compared to Samoa’s three. Jones has made significant strides in rebuilding the team and has set a clear goal for his players: to win the final against Fiji.
Jones emphasized the need for improvement in defensive strategies around the ruck if they hope to secure the trophy for the first time since 2019. He stated, “As much as we’re pleased to be in the final, our only aim is to win the final. We’re going to play against a high-quality team in Fiji, and we’ve got good preparation ahead of us.”
During the semi-final, Japan dominated the first half with four tries to Samoa’s one. Dylan Riley opened the scoring for Japan after just five minutes, following solid pressure deep in Samoa’s territory. A penalty try was awarded when Samoan winger Elisapeta Alofipo was sin-binned for a foul tackle, allowing Japan to press their advantage.
A skillful pass from Seungsin Lee set up Tomoki Osada for Japan’s third try, and Lee added one more before halftime, showcasing quick phase play orchestrated by captain Harumichi Tatekawa. Despite the pressure, Samoa’s resilience shone through with Tuna Tuitama scoring, and Rodney Iona kicking two penalties to keep them in contention at halftime.
The second half saw Lee continue to excel, as he assisted in another try for flanker Kanji Shimokawa. Although Samoa’s Melani Matavao and Lalomilo Lalomilo each added tries, Japan responded promptly each time to maintain their lead. Lee capped off his performance by converting another try, concluding a game filled with breathless action.
Samoa’s captain, Theo McFarland, attributed their defeat to a lack of discipline, stating, “It was our discipline in the first 20 – constantly making errors, handling errors especially. Our set piece let us down in the second half as well, taking away our momentum in the game.”