The Flying Fijians are on the brink of defending their title in the Pacific Nations Cup after a commendable victory over the USA, ending the semi-final with a score of 22-3 in Tokyo, Japan. Under the direction of coach Mick Byrne, the team is set to face the winner of the Japan-Samoa semi-final, which concluded late last night, in Osaka, Japan, on Sunday.
Byrne emphasized that their journey is not over yet, stating they will review their mistakes to better prepare for the final. He acknowledged the challenge posed by the USA, attributing credit to his players for their performance.
Caleb Muntz, who stepped in as captain following Tevita Ikanivere’s yellow card, noted the resilience of the team in overcoming difficulties during the game. Despite handling errors that provided the USA with opportunities, Fiji’s strong defense and dominance in scrums proved to be decisive factors. The intense heat took a toll on the American players, which further aided Fiji’s performance.
In other news, Tonga secured a fifth-place finish by extending their winning streak against Canada to five matches. After a slow start, Tonga, led by player-of-the-match Patrick Pellegrini, demonstrated their attacking prowess in a 30-17 victory.
Flanker Siosiua Moala scored the first try early in the match, followed by another from winger John Tapueluelu. Although Canada managed to respond with a try from Andrew Quattrin, Tonga maintained their advantage with additional scores from Josiah Unga and Tapueluelu.
Captain Ben Tameifuna expressed satisfaction with the team’s efforts, viewing the victory as a crucial step towards their ultimate goal of success in the upcoming World Cup in Australia.