MANU Samoa revitalized its World Rugby Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup campaign with a decisive 43-17 victory over Ikale Tahi Tonga in Apia on Friday. This bonus-point win places Samoa back in the top two of Pool A, tying with Fiji at five points while having played one game more.
The match held special significance for Samoa Rugby, marking its 100th anniversary as a test-playing rugby nation, and it continued its dominance over Tonga in Apia, extending the winning streak to 20 matches over 44 years. Historically, since their initial clash in 1926, Samoa has secured 39 victories compared to Tonga’s 26, with two matches ending in a draw.
In the professional era, Samoa has demonstrated a commanding presence in its capital. Head coach Mase Mahonri Schwalger made six changes to the lineup and one positional adjustment following a defeat to Fiji, where they lost 42-16.
Tonga, playing its first match of the Pacific Nations Cup this year, started strong. However, the home team opened the scoring with a converted try by outside center Stacey Ili. Halfback Melani Matavao later assisted Tuna Tuitama, a player from Moana Pasifika, in scoring the second try, leading to a 14-0 advantage. A converted penalty near halftime allowed Samoa to extend its lead to 17-0.
In the second half, Tonga displayed renewed enthusiasm but was hampered by errors and defensive lapses, allowing Samoa to score an additional 26 points. While Samoa stands in second place, Tonga faces a critical must-win situation in their upcoming match against the FIJI Water Flying Fijians.
The two teams are set to face each other in Nuku’alofa on September 6. The third-place team from the Pacific pool will go on to meet the third-place team from the Asia pool, which includes Japan, Canada, and the United States. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the semi-finals in Tokyo.