Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2024 – Six Key Takeaways from Round Two
Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2024 Round Two Updates: Six Significant Takeways
Exciting rugby action took place during the second weekend of the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2024, with both Samoa and the USA winning significant matches at home.
Let’s examine the six most important discussion topics from the round.
POOL B SEMI-FINALISTS CONFIRMED
After losing to the United States 28–15, Canada was forced to finish last in Pool B. They will now compete in the fifth-place play-off on Saturday, September 14, at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo. After scoring four tries in their round one 55-28 home loss to Japan, Canada only managed one losing bonus point from their two pool matches.
As a result, the Brave Blossoms and USA, who each have five points, are assured of finishing in the top two pools and moving on to the semifinals. When those two sides square off on Saturday, September 7, at the Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Kumagaya City, Saitama Prefecture, the victor of Pool B will be determined.
All three of Pool A’s teams might theoretically still make it to the semifinals, but Fiji and Samoa are clearly in the lead. When they play at Nuku’alofa next weekend, Tonga must score four tries, win by at least 27 points, and deny Fiji any points in order to advance to the last four. This kind of 26-point victory could be sufficient, depending on try differential.
A YEAR TO GET THINGS RIGHT
Canada’s impeccable record in the Rugby World Cup came to an end when they were not selected for the competition in France last year. It was a new low for a proud rugby nation that had once advanced to the quarterfinals in 1991, and they prayed it would never happen again. With the exception of a solid home victory over Romania in July, Canada’s fortunes have not appeared to be improving, and they are running out of time to make corrections.
The Pacific Nations Cup of the following year will serve as the region’s qualification event for the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027. With only three spots left after Fiji and Japan’s impressive achievements in France 2023, all teams save the worst team will receive straight tickets to Australia. The losers will still have another chance via the Final Qualification Tournament or the South America/Pacific Play-off.
USA’S IRISH INFLUENCE RUNS DEEP
AJ MacGinty, the team’s top scorer and primary facilitator, was sidelined for the entirety of the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup campaign. However, another Irishman, number 10, stepped up to the plate and led the Men’s Eagles to victory over Canada in round two.
Luke Carty, who was born in New York and is eligible to play for the USA thanks to his grandmother, adjusted to the spotlight just as well as his older brother Jack, the Ireland international. The 26-year-old scored two assists, including a beautiful chip and retriever, in one of his greatest opening games for the Men’s Eagles. The 26-year-old missed three of his four conversion tries, so precision off the kicking tee was the only thing lacking.
SAVEA’S IN GOOD COMPANY
When Ardie Savea hooks up with Moana Pasifika in the upcoming season, he’ll be joining some elite talents. Fine Inisi, a fellow number eight who scored twice as the ‘Ikale Tahi, momentarily threatened a second-half comeback against a Samoan team full with Moana Pasifika ability, was head and shoulders above the rest of his Tongan teammates.
Half of Scrum Samuel Slade’s hard work was rewarded with a 50-meter effort, right-wing Tuna Tuitama scored his first international tries, and Melani Matavao continued where he left off against Fiji with another outstanding performance. It appears like Moana Pasifika made a very wise financial decision when she extended the contracts of both Matavao and sevens standout Tuitama until the end of the 2026 season.
SAMOA NEED AN 80-MINUTE PERFORMANCE
Samoa built strong leads in both of their pool matches, but they let the opponent back into the contest. The four-time champions easily defeated Fiji 13–3 in the opening round, and they still had a one-point advantage at the break. They lost 42–16, though, after giving up 27 consecutive points in the second half. And after sprinting into a 29-0 lead after 46 minutes, Samoa appeared ready to write history by defeating Tonga by more than 50 points for the first time ever.
But Samoa did not score again until the flanker scored his second try six minutes from the end, after Izaiha Moore-Aiono forced his way over from close range in the 46th minute. Lotu Inisi scored a brace and Pat Pellegrini added seven points to help Tonga score 17 points in the 26 minutes that passed between those scores.
WELCOME BACKS AND NEW CAPS
Former fly-half with the Brumbies It was a successful test appearance for Rodney Iona, his first in almost two years. With almost 30 minutes remaining, the 33-year-old made his debut for Samoa for the first time since November 2022, and he appeared to have never left. The fly-half created a lot of confusion in the attack and was confident in his exit play.
Cory Daniel, a flanker for the USA, had also been gone from test rugby for a considerable amount of time. However, he made up for lost time by exerting himself throughout his hour on the field.
With a full year until Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 qualifying begins, Pacific region sides have seized the chance to discover fresh potential in this year’s competition. As Tonga and the USA made their belated entrance into the competition, eleven players received debuts in round one, and seven more received their maiden caps this past weekend.
Tonga’s starting lineup included flankers Tupou Afungia and Siosiua Moala, hooker Penisoni Fineanganofo, and Tevita Ahokovi and Samuel Tuitupou, who came off the bench. After entering the game in the last quarter, American football player turned prop Pono Davis and replacement hooker Sean McNulty from the United States experienced life at the highest level for the first time.
