The Flying Fijians are on the brink of defending their Pacific Nations Cup title after defeating a resilient USA team 22-3 in the semi-finals held in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday night. Coached by Mick Byrne, the Fijians are now set to face the winner of the Japan-Samoa semi-final, which took place late last night in Osaka, Japan.
Byrne emphasized that the job is not finished yet and the team will review their mistakes in preparation for the final. He acknowledged the tough nature of the match and praised the effort put forth by his players. “Credit to the boys for getting the job done. It was tough but we managed to achieve what we prepared for,” stated Flying Fijians No.10 Caleb Muntz, who stepped in as captain after Tevita Ikanivere received a yellow card.
Muntz and rookie fullback Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula demonstrated a strong dual playmaking strategy, creating gaps in the opposition defense. Ikanivere struggled in the early stages as several of his lineout throws went awry, leading to his yellow card for a dangerous clear-out.
Fiji faced challenges with handling errors that granted the USA attacking chances, yet the Fijian defense proved too strong as the match progressed. Their aggressive tackling affected the American players, and the heat added to the challenge. The Flying Fijians excelled in the scrums throughout the match.
Byrne praised the determination of his players in critical moments, particularly highlighting the performance of Elia Canakaivata.
In another match, Tonga secured a 30-17 victory against Canada, marking their fifth consecutive win over the Maple Leafs in the fifth-place playoff. After a slow start, Tonga’s ‘Ikale Tahi, led by player-of-the-match Patrick Pellegrini, showcased their formidable attacking ability.
Flanker Siosiua Moala opened the scoring with a try from a lineout maul, followed closely by winger John Tapueluelu, who showcased his skill by beating three defenders to score another try. Despite Canada’s attempts to close the gap, Tonga maintained their lead with a strong performance, culminating in a second try for Tapueluelu.
Citing the significance of this victory, Tonga captain Ben Tameifuna remarked, “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.”