The Flying Fijians are on the verge of defending their title in the Pacific Nations Cup after a hard-fought 22-3 victory against a determined USA team in the semi-finals held in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday night.
Coached by Mick Byrne, the Flying Fijians will face the winner of the Japan-Samoa semi-final clash, which was played late last night, in the final scheduled for Osaka, Japan, on Sunday.
Byrne emphasized that the team’s work is not yet complete. “Job’s not done yet,” he stated after the match. “We will go back and look at our mistakes and prepare ourselves for the final.”
The coach acknowledged the toughness of the match, noting that they were prepared for a strong challenge from the USA. Caleb Muntz, the Flying Fijians’ No.10, commended his teammates for their performance, highlighting the struggle they faced and the importance of sticking to their game plan.
Muntz, who took over as captain after Tevita Ikanivere received a yellow card, partnered effectively with rookie fullback Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, creating significant chances against the opposition’s defense. Ikanivere’s early struggles in the match due to inaccurate lineout throws ultimately led to his yellow card for a dangerous play.
Despite some handling errors that gave the USA chances to attack, Fiji’s solid defense grew stronger as the match progressed, making it increasingly difficult for the Americans to score. The Flying Fijians were particularly dominant in the scrums, and their physical tackles took a toll on the USA players.
“It’s great to see our players work hard in crucial moments in the game. Especially Elia (Canakaivata), he did a great job indeed,” Byrne remarked.
In another match, Tonga concluded their campaign on a high note, defeating Canada 30-17 in the fifth-place play-off, extending their winning streak against them to five matches.
After a slow start, the ‘Ikale Tahi team, led by player-of-the-match Patrick Pellegrini, showcased their attacking capabilities, with flanker Siosiua Moala scoring the initial try after a maul following a lineout at the 10-minute mark. Winger John Tapueluelu contributed with a spectacular try shortly after.
Although Canada managed to reduce the deficit with a try from veteran hooker Andrew Quattrin, Josiah Unga further solidified Tonga’s lead just before half-time, allowing them to head into the break with a 19-10 advantage.
The Maple Leafs dominated possession in the second half but could only convert one of their opportunities into points, with Takoda McMullin scoring a try as Tonga’s defense held firm. Tapueluelu ended the match with another try.
Tonga captain Ben Tameifuna expressed satisfaction with their efforts, stating, “After all our efforts in the last couple of weeks, I think we deserved a win. The boys worked hard for it. This is a stepping stone for ‘Ikale Tahi – our main objective is the World Cup in Australia.”