After three compelling rounds of pool action played in six different countries, the concluding two weekends of the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2024 will be hosted by Japan.
Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo will host all three matches this weekend, with two taking place on Saturday and one on Sunday, as the Finals Series gets underway.
Tonga and Canada kick off what should be a fascinating weekend of rugby by competing for fifth place, before Fiji and USA take centre stage for the first of the semi-finals.
Home fans will have to wait until Sunday before seeing the Brave Blossoms in action in the second semi-final against Samoa.
SATURDAY 14 SEPTEMBER, 2024
SEMI-FINAL 1: FIJI v USA – PRINCE CHICHIBU MEMORIAL STADIUM, TOKYO – KO 19:05 (GMT+9)
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Current Men’s Eagles captain, Greg Peterson, is one of the few survivors from the last meeting in 2014.
Fiji won that match 20-14, on neutral ground in Vannes, and have five wins to USA’s one in the overall history of the fixture.
WHERE TO WATCH
The match is live on RugbyPass TV and TNT Sports and for Digicel customers in Fiji and the Pacific Islands and Peacock customers in the USA.
If you do not already have a RugbyPass TV account, you can sign up for free here.
PNC HONOURS
Fiji have won five Pacific Nations Cup titles, more than any other team, having lifted the trophy for the first time in 2013 and again in four of the subsequent six editions.
USA’s best finish is second in 2014.
FIJI FORM: TALE OF TWO HALVES
Fiji made it through to the semi-finals as winners of Pool A, taking maximum points from wins against Samoa (42-16) in Suva and against Tonga (50-19) in Nuku’alofa.
The five-time champions had to rely on strong second-half surges to pull away from their opponents, though, with Samoa leading 13-5 at one stage in the first half and Tonga level at 19-19 with a few minutes to go before the interval last Friday.
By the same token, Fiji have yet to concede a single point in the second half of matches in this year’s competition.
USA FORM: SET-PIECE STRENGTH
USA beat Canada 28-15 in their opening match of the tournament in Los Angeles, before succumbing to a 41-24 defeat to Japan in their second game in Kumagaya City.
Hard-carrying number eight, Jamason Fa'anana-Schultz, and playmaker Luke Carty have been two standout performers in a team that likes to keep the play tight and utilise the strength of their set-piece.
RANKINGS RECKONER
USA will rise three places to 16th if they can shock Fiji and Tonga don’t beat Canada. If the latter happens, USA would have to be content with a two-place gain.
Tenth-placed Fiji won’t receive any additional points for beating a side ranked nine places and just over 10 points below them.
FIJI TEAM NEWS
Kitione Salawa, Fiji's hat-trick hero against Samoa in round one, returns to the starting XV at openside which results in Elia Canakaivata shifting back to number eight.
The other changes come in the second row and in midfield. Isoa Nasilasila is brought into the engine room, while Inia Tabuavou replaces the suspended Adrea Cocagi at inside-centre.
Fiji (1-15): 1. Eroni Mawi, 2. Tevita Ikanivere, 3. Samu Tawake, 4. Isoa Nasilasila, 5. Temo Mayanavanua, 6. Meli Derenalagi, 7. Kitione Salawa, 8. Elia Canakaivata, 9. Frank Lomani, 10. Caleb Muntz, 11. Epeli Momo, 12. Inia Tabuavou, 13. Iosefo Baleiwairiki, 14. Vuate Karawalevu, 15. Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula.
Replacements: 16. Mesulame Dolokoto, 17. Haereiti Hetet, 18. Peni Ravai, 19. Ratu Rotuisolia, 20. Albert Tuisue, 21. Peni Matawalu, 22. Apisalome Vota, 23. Ilaisa Droasese.
USA TEAM NEWS
Former Wales Sevens international Toby Fricker makes his test debut at full-back in a USA starting XV showing eight changes, plus a change of captain.
Last week's double try-scorer, Nate Augspurger, wears the armband in the absence of second-row Greg Peterson, who drops to the bench.
U20s star, Rand Santos, will win his first cap if called upon from the bench.
USA (1-15): 1. Jack Iscaro, 2. Sean McNulty, 3. Paul Mullen, 4. Viliami Helu, 5. Jason Damm, 6. Paddy Ryan, 7. Cory Daniel, 8. Thomas Tu'avao, 9. Ruben de Haas, 10. Chris Mattina, 11. Nate Augspurger, 12. Tavite Lopeti, 13. Dominic Besag, 14. Conner Mooneyham, 15. Toby Fricker.
Replacements: 16. Kapeli Pifeleti, 17. Jake Turnbull, 18. Pono Davis, 19. Greg Peterson, 20. Tesimoni Tonga'uiha, 21. Bryce Campbell, 22. Rand Santos, 23. JP Smith
REFEREE
Welshman Craig Evans takes charge of his 13th test and his first involving USA. Fiji are no strangers, though, as the 32-year-old was the man in the middle for their 21-12 win over Georgia in July.
5TH PLACE PLAY-OFF: TONGA v CANADA – PRINCE CHICHIBU MEMORIAL STADIUM, TOKYO – KO 16:00
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Tonga are on a four-game winning streak against Canada, including a 2-0 series win in Nuku’alofa last August.
Canada’s last win was 36-27 in Ontario at World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup 2013.
WHERE TO WATCH
The match is live on RugbyPass TV and TNT Sports and for Digicel customers in Tonga and the Pacific Islands and TSN customers in Canada.
If you do not already have a RugbyPass TV account, you can sign up for free here.
PNC HONOURS
Tonga and Canada’s long wait for a maiden Pacific Nations Cup title will continue for another year after they failed to make the semi-finals.
Tonga have finished runners-up on three occasions (2011, 2017, 2018), while Canada also have a best finish of second in 2013.
TONGA FORM: TRAIL AND ERROR
Tonga find themselves in the fifth-place play-off after finishing bottom of Pool A, losing to Samoa (43-19) and Fiji (50-19)
Tonga were forced to play catch-up rugby in both, having fallen 29-0 behind at the start of the first half against Samoa and 19-0 inside 12 minutes against Fiji.
Stymied by a misfiring lineout, Tonga have struggled to build scoreboard pressure and have both the worst attack and defence in terms of tries and points scored/conceded.
Having lost all four of their games this year, Tonga will be desperate for a morale-boosting win.
CANADA FORM: TOP PACK, BLUNT ATTACK
Canada find themselves in the fifth-place play-off after finishing bottom of Pool B following two straight defeats at the hands of Japan (55-28) and USA (28-15).
No other team can hold a light to Canada at scrum time, as they have a 100% record on their own feed in 2024. However, they will need to find more of a clinical edge after only coming away with six tries from 23 visits into the opposition in this tournament.
RANKINGS RECKONER
Canada will move back into the world’s top 20 if they sign off on a winning note.
Tonga cannot improve on their present position of 16th as there aren’t enough points on offer to catch Portugal.
TONGA TEAM NEWS
‘Ikale Tahi head coach Tevita Tu’ifua has made six changes to his starting XV – two of them positional – for Saturday’s fifth place play-off against Canada, including a second test start at blindside for 35-year-old flanker Siosiua Moala.
Tonga will once again be led by Ben Tameifuna, who starts his 10th consecutive test at tight-head. Meanwhile, replacement back Kafaikamoana Vaea is set for his test debut having been named on the bench.
Tonga (1-15): 1. Jethro Felemi, 2. Sosefo Sakalia, 3. Ben Tameifuna, 4. Harison Mataele, 5. Tevita Ahokovi, 6. Siosiua Moala, 7. Tupou Afungia, 8. Lotu Inisi, 9. Aisea Halo, 10. Patrick Pellegrini, 11. John Tapueluelu, 12. Fetuli Paea, 13. Fine Inisi, 14. Nikolai Foliaki, 15. Josiah Unga.
Replacements: 16. Penisoni Fineanganofo, 17. Salesi Tuifua, 18. Tau Koloamatangi, 19. Kelemete Finau, 20. Vutulongo Puloka, 21. Manusiu Paea, 22. Latu Akauola, 23. K. Vaea
CANADA TEAM NEWS
Canada's starting XV includes three news faces from the defeat to USA – as well as a host of positional changes – in blindside flanker Matthew Oworu, left wing Josiah Morra and full-back Cooper Coats.
Replacement prop Tyler Matchem will make his test debut if called upon from the bench.
Canada (1-15): 1. Calixto Martinez, 2. Andrew Quattrin, 3. Conor Young, 4. Kaden Duguid, 5. Mason Flesch, 6. Matthew Oworu, 7. Ethan Fryer, 8. Lucas Rumball, 9. Jason Higgins, 10. Peter Nelson, 11. Josiah Morra, 12. Ben LeSage, 13. Takoda McMullin, 14. Andrew Coe, 15. Cooper Coats.
Replacements: 16. Dewald Kotze, 17. Cole Keith, 18. Tyler Matchem, 19. Callum Botchar, 20. Siôn Parry, 21. Brock Gallagher, 22. Mark Balaski, 23. Talon McMullin.
REFEREE
Australian Nic Berry takes charge of the match, his 36th as a test referee.
The 40-year-old former scrum-half will have the honour of refereeing the Pacific Nations Cup 2024 final in Osaka, on Sunday 21 September.
SUNDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER
SEMI-FINAL 2: SAMOA v JAPAN – PRINCE CHICHIBU MEMORIAL STADIUM, TOKYO – KO 15:05
HEAD-TO-HEAD
This is a rerun of the Pool D match in Toulouse at RWC 2023, which Japan won 28-22 after Samoa’s Ben Lam had his yellow card at the start of the second half upgraded to a red.
However, Samoa have won twice as many matches as Japan overall (12-6), and have an impressive P10, W7, L3 record against the Brave Blossoms in Japan.
WHERE TO WATCH
The match is live on RugbyPass TV and TNT Sports and on J Sports in Japan and Digicel in the Pacific Islands.
If you do not already have a RugbyPass TV account, you can sign up for free here.
PNC HONOURS
Samoa are a close second to Fiji in terms of most Pacific Nations Cup titles with four, the last of which was in 2022.
With three titles won, Japan have the third best record in the competition behind Fiji and Samoa. The Brave Blossoms last lifted the trophy in 2019.
SAMOA FORM: BREAKING BAD HABITS
Having surrendered a 16-15 half-time lead to lose 42-16 to Fiji in round one, Samoa bounced back to beat Tonga 43-17 in round two.
Overall, Samoa have scored as many points as they have conceded (59). Three-quarters of the oppositions’ points have come in the second half, so the chances are Samoa will need to be in a strong position at half-time if they are to make it through to the final.
JAPAN FORM: THE NEED FOR SPEED
Eddie Jones achieved the first win of his second spell in charge of the Brave Blossoms when Japan beat Canada 55-28 in Vancouver in round one.
The Brave Blossoms then made it two wins out of two to qualify for the semi-finals as Pool B winners with a 41-24 win at home to USA in round three.
Japan have been heavily penalised at scrum time but their lineout is functioning at 100% (23/23), with second-rows Sanaila Waqa and Warner Dearns in outstanding form.
The speed with which Japan have been playing has made them a joy to watch and they are joint-highest try scorers, along with Fiji on 13.
With Seungsin Lee yet to miss a shot at goal (14/14), they are the team to beat.
RANKINGS RECKONER
A win for Japan would see the Finals Series hosts swap places with Samoa, with the Brave Blossoms up to 13th.
Samoa, meanwhile, will move above Georgia into 12th place if they win.
SAMOA TEAM NEWS
Sevens international, Elisapeta Alofipo, who played throughout HSBC SVNS 2024, wins his first cap on the left wing, while former Blues star Melani Nanai covers the outside backs and could debut from the bench.
Rodney Iona takes over from D'Angelo Leuila at 10 as Samoa look to celebrate head coach Mase Mahonri Schwalger's 46th birthday with a win.
Samoa (1-15): 1. Aki Seiuli, 2. Sama Malolo, 3. Marco Fepuleai, 4. Ben Nee Nee, 5. Samuel Slade, 6. Theo McFarland, 7. Izaiha Moore-Aiono, 8. Iakopo Petelo-Mapu, 9. Melani Matavao, 10. Rodney Iona, 11. Elisapeta Alofipo, 12. Alapati Leiua, 13. Lalomilo Lalamilo, 14. Tuna Tuitama, 15. Tomasi Alosio.
Replacements: 16. Luteru Tolai, 17. Andrew Tuala, 18. Brook Toomalatai, 19. Michael Curry, 20. Murphy Taramai, 21. Danny Tusitala, 22. Afa Moleli, 23. Melani Nanai.
JAPAN TEAM NEWS
Former Youth Olympian Ratu Epeneri Uluiviti is handed his first cap in the second row with Sanaila Waqa unavailable. Reserve hooker Kenta Matsuoka stands by to make his debut off the bench.
Meanwhile, Seungsin Lee shifts to the number 15 jersey for the first time in his 16-cap career and is replaced at fly-half by Harumichi Tatekawa, whose last start in the position was at RWC 2015.
Japan (1-15): 1. Shogo Miura, 2. Mamoru Harada, 3. Shuhei Takeuchi, 4. Ratu Epeneri Uluiviti, 5. Warner Dearns, 6. Amato Fakatava, 7. Kanji Shimokawa, 8. Faulua Makisi, 9. Shinobu Fujiwara, 10. Harumichi Tatekawa, 11. Malo Tuitama, 12. Nicholas McCurran, 13. Dylan Riley, 14. Tomoki Osada, 15. Seungsin Lee.
Replacements: 16. Kenta Matsuoka, 17. Takato Okabe, 18. Keijiro Tamefusa, 19. Isaiah Collins-Mapusua, 20. Tiennan Costley, 21. Taiki Koyama, 22. Yusuke Kajimura, 23. Taichi Takahashi.
REFEREE
New Zealander Paul Williams takes charge of his 38th test, nearly eight years after he made his debut. Williams refereed at both Rugby World cup 2019 and 2023.