The Flying Fijians, despite being the reigning champions of the Pacific Nations Cup, will enter the final against Japan as underdogs this Sunday in Osaka. Under the guidance of Eddie Jones, the Japanese team is riding high following a commanding 49-27 victory over Manu Samoa in the semi-finals held in Tokyo on Sunday night.
Japan showcased an impressive display of fast-paced, attacking rugby, securing six tries compared to Samoa’s three. The team is making significant strides under Jones, who has set a clear objective for the final: a victory against Fiji. He emphasized the need for improvement in their defensive play around the ruck if they aim to capture the trophy, which they haven’t won since 2019.
“Although we’re happy to be in the final, our main goal is to win,” Jones stated. He acknowledged the challenge posed by Fiji, highlighting the importance of a well-planned week of preparation.
In the semi-final, Japan dominated the first half, scoring four tries while conceding just one to Samoa. The match began with Dylan Riley scoring Japan’s first try after a sustained period of pressure in Samoa’s territory. Within minutes, Samoan winger Elisapeta Alofipo was sin-binned for a foul tackle, resulting in a penalty try for Japan. Another strategic kick-pass from Seungsin Lee set up Tomoki Osada for Japan’s third try, followed by Lee scoring just before halftime after a swift passing play.
Despite being on the back foot, Samoa fought back valiantly. Tuna Tuitama managed to score while Samoa was still down a player, and Rodney Iona added two penalty goals to keep their hopes alive at halftime.
However, Lee’s breakthrough early in the second half, where he assisted a try for Kanji Shimokawa, further extended Japan’s lead. Samoa responded again with Melani Matavao scoring, but Japan maintained their advantage with a try from Shinobu Fujiwara and another score from Taichi Takahashi, who capped off a well-executed move. Lee continued his flawless kicking from the tee, ensuring Japan secured the victory.
Samoa’s captain, Theo McFarland, expressed disappointment over the team’s indiscipline, which he believed contributed to their defeat. “It was not a lack of effort, but our discipline in the first 20 minutes was poor, along with handling errors and set-piece failures in the second half that disrupted our momentum,” he explained.