Fiji’s Dominant Victory Secures Sixth Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2024 Title
Fiji overcame Japan with a 41-17 victory in the second half, setting a new record for the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup at Hanazono Rugby Stadium.
After Samoa upset the USA 18–13 to take third place, they triumphed. Silencing the Hanazono Rugby Stadium crowd with a strong second-half display, Fiji won a record-tying sixth Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup.
After Japan’s Dylan Riley, a center, scored a spectacular solo try at the end of the first quarter in the final, raising hopes for the home team, Fiji reacted forcefully.
Albert Tuisue, Ponipate Loganimasi, and Vuate Karawalevu all scored twice as the Flying Fijians stormed to a 41-17 triumph and their first Pacific Nations Cup title since 2018.
The victory margin also guarantees that Fiji will move up into ninth place and surpass Australia when the World Rugby Men’s Rankings are updated on Monday at 12 p.m. (GMT+1).
Japan, however, will drop to 14th in the rankings after Samoa defeated USA 18–13 in the third-place play-off earlier on Saturday.
Fiji 41-17 Japan
Prior to the final coming to life in the 20th minute thanks to a magical moment from Brave Blossoms center Dylan Riley, Seungsin Lee and Caleb Muntz exchanged early penalties.
Riley won the race to the bouncing ball to score after dodging three attempted tackles and swatting away a few more. Riley then chipped the ball over the defender in front of him.
Although Lee completed the conversion, the home crowd was let down if they thought the try would herald the beginning of Japan’s domination.
Inia Tabuavou appeared to have scored Fiji’s first try of the game in the 31st minute when she crashed over from close range, but TMO Damon Murphy saw that Tuisue had knocked on earlier.
But it only took the Pacific Islanders under 60 seconds to cross the whitewash, and center Tabuavou was once more involved. After Eroni Mawi blocked Japan captain Harumichi Tatekawa’s grubber, he skillfully chipped in, setting up winger Vuate Karawalevu for a kick-on and score. To level the scores, Muntz added the additional.
At halftime, the score stayed the same, but after hooker Mamoru Harada received a yellow card, the hosts went into the changing rooms with a player advantage.
Despite a try being disallowed for an earlier obstruction by Fiji’s number eight Elia Canakaivata, Japan held strong throughout their ten minutes with fourteen players. Additionally, as the half went on and their replacements had a significant impact in the last half hour, Fiji’s bench proved to be crucial.
Player of the Tournament Muntz extended the lead for Fiji with another penalty, and then Loganimasi, the replacement winger, scored in the right corner thanks to a brilliant team move.
Half-fly After Fiji had been on the back foot, Muntz converted from out wide to give his team a 10-point advantage. He then produced an incredible 50/22 to provide Fiji an attacking foundation.
A few minutes later, despite the attention of multiple Japanese defenders, Tuisue ducked under before flanker Kitione Salawa’s spectacular offload freed Karawalevu for his second goal of the game.
To cap off an incredible effort coming off the bench, Loginamasi sidestepped a full-back Lee tackle attempt. Later on, Japan’s Malo Tuitama, a winger, gave the home crowd something to cheer about with a consolation try.
Samoa 18-13 USA
In the redesigned Pacific Nations Cup, Samoa overcame a late deficit to win their first match against the United States of America in nine years and take third place.
The Pacific Islanders’ previous victory in this match, a 25-16 triumph in the Men’s Rugby World Cup in 2015, occurred nine years ago on Friday, and it appeared as though the lengthy wait might continue during the first few plays at Hanazono Rugby Stadium.
After converting Toby Fricker’s try with less than eight minutes remaining, Luke Carty gave the Men’s Eagles a 10-0 lead. Luke Carty had opened the scoring with an early penalty.
US full-back A shoddy Rodney Iona clearance had allowed Fricker to take advantage of a fantastic catch high above the would-be pursuers and run in unopposed. But for Scott Lawrence’s side, it was as good as it got.
Prior to halftime, Iona made apologies by successfully converting two penalties, bringing Samoa to within four points. Carty’s own late long-range shot was missed, leaving the score at 10-6 at halftime.
And that gave Samoa the opportunity to completely overwhelm the Men’s Eagles, as Iakopo Petelo-Mapu broke free from several tackles to score an incredible solo try just two minutes after the restart.
Iona scored the easy conversion, but Carty’s subsequent penalty put the USA back on level terms.
But just as it appeared that a draw would be inevitable, Jason Daam was given a yellow card for breaking up a Samoan maul five meters out.
With three minutes remaining, Melani Nanai crossed the line in the left corner, signaling that the Samoan pressure had finally caught up with the second row in the sin bin.
