The Flying Fijians, despite their status as defending Pacific Nations Cup champions, will enter Sunday’s final against Japan in Osaka as the underdog. The Japanese team, led by coach Eddie Jones, is riding high after a dominant 49-27 victory over Manu Samoa in their semi-final match in Tokyo.
Japan showcased an impressive display of running and attacking rugby, scoring six tries compared to Samoa’s three. Jones has emphasized the importance of improving defense around the ruck for his team to secure their first trophy since 2019.
“Our only goal is to win the final, and we recognize that Fiji is a formidable opponent,” Jones remarked as his team prepares for the upcoming challenge.
During the intense first half of the semi-final, Japan took control early, scoring four tries while Samoa managed only one. Dylan Riley opened the scoring within the first five minutes, finishing off a well-timed kick from Player-of-the-Match Seungsin Lee. Samoa’s woes were compounded when winger Elisapeta Alofipo was sin-binned for a foul, resulting in a penalty try for Japan.
Japan continued to apply pressure, with Lee executing another clever kick-pass, leading to Tomoki Osada’s try. Lee further contributed to the scoreline by adding a try of his own just before halftime, benefiting from a strategic pass from captain Harumichi Tatekawa.
Despite being on the defensive for much of the opening half, Samoa showed resilience, with Tuna Tuitama scoring while his team was short-handed, and Rodney Iona kicking two penalties to keep their hopes alive at halftime.
Lee, playing at full-back for the first time in his international career, broke through Samoa’s defense early in the second half, providing an assist to Kanji Shimokawa for Japan’s fifth try. Samoa attempted to rally with Melani Matavao scoring next, but Japan quickly responded with another try from Shinobu Fujiwara.
Although fatigue set in, Japan continued to build on their lead, culminating in a try for Taichi Takahashi from a well-executed play. Lee maintained his perfect record at the kicker’s tee for the tournament with the conversion.
Samoa’s captain, Theo McFarland, expressed that indiscipline was a significant factor in their defeat, stating, “It wasn’t for lack of effort, but rather our inability to maintain discipline, especially in the first 20 minutes.” He noted that handling errors and set-piece failures in the second half undermined their momentum.