After four weeks of rugby action, Fiji and Japan will meet in this year’s Pacific Nations Cup final, with both teams heading into their matchup undefeated.
Backrow Elia Canakaivata scored in each half as five-time Pacific Nations Cup winners Fiji beat USA to book their place in this week’s final.
But a young and determined USA made them work for their win as Fiji, had to rely on a second-half surge to pull away from their opponents.
Coach Mick Byrne admitted his inexperienced squad had not been at their best in the two sides’ first meeting since 2014.
“I thought we were poor in the start,” he said pitchside afterwards, “but all credit to the USA, they came out to play. They were physical, they put us under a lot of pressure and they did not allow us to play.”
Japan claimed the remaining open Pacific Nations Cup 2024 final slot in emphatic style after beating Samoa in an exhibition of running, attacking rugby.
Japan coach Eddie Jones said there was still plenty for his side to work on ahead of next weekend’s final in Osaka. “We’re still too loose around the ruck,” he said. “When we play the game, defensively, we’ve got to keep the pitch small.”
Samoa captain Theo McFarland, meanwhile, reckoned indiscipline let his side down. “I don’t think it was a lack of effort,” he said. “It was our discipline in the first 20 – constantly making errors, handling errors especially.
“Our set piece let us down in the second half as well. All of that took out our momentum in the game.”
Tonga claimed their first win of the tournament and also under their new coaching staff, defeating Canada 30-17 in the fifth place playoff.
“After all our efforts in the last couple of weeks, I think we deserved a win,” captain Ben Tameifuna said immediately afterwards. “The boys worked hard for it. This is a stepping stone for ’Ikale Tahi – our main objective is the World Cup in Australia.”
Heading into this weekend’s matches, Samoa and USA both have a chance to get a win back after their semi losses, going head to head in a third place playoff. Both third place and grand final will take place on Saturday with the action kicking off at 7pm NZ time.
