The Flying Fijians are on the brink of defending their Pacific Nations Cup title after a hard-fought 22-3 victory against the USA in the semi-final held in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday night. Coached by Mick Byrne, the team will face the winner of the Japan-Samoa match, which took place late last night, in the final in Osaka, Japan, on Sunday.
Byrne emphasized that their work is not yet complete, stating, “Job’s not done yet.” He mentioned the team’s need to review their mistakes and prepare thoroughly for the upcoming final.
The match was expected to be tough, and Byrne commended his players for their performance. Caleb Muntz, who took over as captain after Tevita Ikanivere received a yellow card, also praised the team’s effort. Muntz and rookie fullback Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula showed promise in their dual playmaking roles, effectively breaking through the opposition’s defense.
Ikanivere faced challenges early in the game, struggling with lineout throws before his yellow card for a dangerous clear-out. Despite making handling errors that granted the USA some attacking chances, Fiji’s robust defense thwarted significant scoring attempts and dominated the scrums.
Meanwhile, Tonga concluded their campaign positively by extending their winning streak against Canada to five matches, securing a 30-17 victory in the fifth-place playoff. After a challenging start, ‘Ikale Tahi, led by player-of-the-match Patrick Pellegrini at fly-half, showcased their offensive capabilities.
Flanker Siosiua Moala scored the opening try from a 5m lineout maul, followed by another try from winger John Tapueluelu shortly after. Although Canada fought back with a try from veteran hooker Andrew Quattrin, Josiah Unga increased Tonga’s lead just before halftime, leaving them ahead 19-10 at the break.
Canada dominated the second half but only managed one try from Takoda McMullin, as Tonga’s defense held strong. Tapueluelu capped off the match with a second try, reflecting on the team’s hard work throughout the tournament. Tonga captain Ben Tameifuna emphasized that this victory serves as a stepping stone toward their main goal of World Cup success in Australia.