The Flying Fijians are just one match away from successfully defending their title in the Pacific Nations Cup. Coached by Mick Byrne, the team displayed resilience in overcoming a spirited USA squad, achieving a 22-3 victory in the semi-final held in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday night.
Fiji will face the winner of the Japan-Samoa semi-final, which took place late last night, in the final scheduled for Sunday in Osaka, Japan.
“Job’s not done yet,” Byrne remarked after the semi-final victory. He emphasized the importance of reviewing their performance to prepare adequately for the upcoming final.
Byrne acknowledged the challenging nature of the game, noting that they anticipated a tough battle from the USA team. “Credit to the boys for getting the job done. It was tough, but we managed to execute our game plan,” said Caleb Muntz, the Flying Fijians’ No. 10 who stepped in as captain after Tevita Ikanivere received a yellow card.
Muntz, alongside rookie fullback Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, showcased a promising dual playmaking partnership, effectively challenging the USA’s defense. Although Ikanivere encountered difficulties early in the match with several inaccurate lineout throws, he was later penalized for a dangerous play.
Fiji’s handling errors provided the USA with scoring opportunities; however, as the first half progressed, converting those chances became increasingly difficult due to the robust Fiji defense. The Flying Fijians’ powerful tackling took a toll on the American players, compounded by the heat. Fiji also gained the upper hand in scrums.
“It’s great to see our players perform well at critical moments in the game. In particular, Elia (Canakaivata) played exceptionally well,” Byrne commented.
Meanwhile, Tonga concluded their competition on a high note, extending their winning streak against Canada to five matches with a 30-17 victory in the fifth-place play-off.
Tonga, known as ‘Ikale Tahi,’ had a slow start, spending the initial five minutes deep in their own territory. However, guided by player of the match Patrick Pellegrini, they quickly demonstrated their attacking prowess. Flanker Siosiua Moala scored the first try after 10 minutes, followed by winger John Tapueluelu, who showcased his skill by evading three defenders to score another try shortly thereafter.
Although Canada’s veteran hooker Andrew Quattrin narrowed the gap, Josiah Unga quickly restored Tonga’s lead. With Pellegrini’s assist, Unga secured a try, ending the first half with Tonga ahead 19-10.
In the second half, Canada applied pressure but could only manage one try when Takoda McMullin crossed the line 13 minutes from the end. Despite their efforts, Tonga’s defense held strong, and Tapueluelu capped the match with his second try.
“After all our efforts in the last couple of weeks, I think we truly deserved this win,” said Tonga’s captain Ben Tameifuna after the match. “The boys worked hard for it. This is a stepping stone for ‘Ikale Tahi — our primary goal is the World Cup in Australia.”