Flying Fijians captain Tevita Ikanivere on his way to scoring his try against Japan.
Photo: Fiji Rugby Union
The ‘Flying Fijians’ have retained their Pacific Nations Cup title with a 33-27 win over Japan at the America First Field, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Winger Joji Nasova scored two tries and won the Player of the Match for his efforts, two matches after making his international debut.
“My dream come true,” he said, after being called up by head coach Mick Byrne for the series, when veteran Semi Radradra made himself unavailable.
Tevita Ikanivere said they overcame a tough Japanese side.
“They came back in the second half and brought the game they had,” he said. “Thankful to the boys for hanging on, our wives, our children, our fans for their support.
“Been great and thankful to all the teams.”
Japan coach Eddie Jones said they did not get the result they wanted.
“Been a good tournament to play in for our young team, but it’s a hard pill to swallow,” the former Wallaby and England mentor said. “We played well in the second half and we gave Fiji too much in the first half.”
Fiji head coach Mick Byrne said the Japanese were tough, but he was grateful to the team for sticking with it until the end, especially when they had just 13 players in the last quarter of the game.
“Tough today,” he said. “Feels great to have the opportunity to take the Cup back home.
“The good fight we had in the end, we were down on a couple of cards, but I am thankful for their exposure to come back and control the game.”
Prop Eroni Mawi and No.8 Viliame Mata were both yellow-carded towards the end of the second half, reducing Fiji to 14 and then 13 men.
In that period, scrums were also uncontested, because Fiji’s other prop Haereiti Hetit had to leave the field, after he was concussed in a tackle collision with Japan’s Faulua Makisi.
Byrne also congratulated Tonga for winning third spot earlier, after they beat Canada, and thanked the Tongan fans who cheered Fiji on during the clash.
“I congratulate Tonga and thank the fans for coming to support us,” he said. “Loved the noise and, to our Fiji fans, thank you for all that you have done for us.”
The championship was the second consecutive one for Fiji against Japan, following last year’s win in Japan.
The islanders won their seventh PNC title, including the last three.
Fiji scored tries through Nasova’s double, Mesake Vocevoce, Inia Tabuavou and captain Ikanivere.
Japan got their tries through hooker Hayate Era, who scored twice in the fifth and 77th minute, plus one from Ichigo Nakakusu in the 64th.
The Japanese took an early lead, after Era scored his first try from a lineout move close to the Fijian line, with flyhalf Seungsin Lee converting the try and a penalty.
Fiji responded with four tries in the first 40 to enjoy a 26-10 lead at halftime.
While the Fijians managed to get Nasova over the line again in the second half, the Japanese fought back after that, helped by the Fijians giving away a series of consecutive penalties.
With the scoreline at 33-27 and Japan on the attack, the Fijians were forced to defend their line and their title with all they had.
In the end, flyhalf Caleb Muntz stole two crucial turnovers in the last 10 minutes and had the last say, sending the ball to the grandstand crowd and ending the game in the process.
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