Pacific Nations Cup - Round-up

ShareFeedbackPrint

Seremaia Bai kicked Fiji to victory © Getty Images

Related Links

Tournaments/Tours Pacific Nations Cup

Teams Fiji | Japan | New Zealand | Samoa | Tonga

After an action-packed day in the Pacific Nations Cup the Junior All Blacks have retained their trophy without playing a game as Fiji beat Samoa 19-14 and Japan scraped past Tonga 21-19 in Lautoka.

Even if Fiji record a bonus point win against Japan in their final match to join the Junior All Blacks at the top of the pool on 14 points, the Kiwis' 45-17 win over Fiji on match day two means they would remain top.

Japan's narrow victory came against a fast-paced Tongan outfit who were also courageous in defence. Japan had the bulk of possession and territory early on and attacked in waves but the strong Tongan defence managed to keep them at bay.

Joseph Vaka, who was playing in his unfavoured centre position, opened the scoring for Tonga against the run of play when they capitalised on a charge down deep in the Japan 22. The ball was shifted out wide to Vaka who caught a loose pass and then ghosted in under the posts to give his side the lead. The conversion was slotted over by Pierre Hola to give the Tongans a 7-0 lead before Japan got their first points of the day when Ryan Nicholas scored a penalty.

Japan took the lead for the first time in the game soon after Nicholas' kick when James Arlidge regathered his own kick and was pulled up short of the line by Vaka before Shaun Webb collected the ball at the back of the following ruck to go over the line. Webb scored his second try just before half time after the Japanese put the Tongan defence under continuous pressure and he ran at a superb angle to touch down under the posts as Japan took a 15-7 lead into the break.

The Tongans came back into the match after a sensational 30 metre solo try from hooker Ilaisa Ma'asi, who dummied his way past the Japanese defence to score on the right flank. Hola converted and there was only one point between the two sides at this stage. Tonga's second row Joshua Afu was sin-binned soon after for repeated infringements but Japan could not capitalise with the extra man and only managed a penalty from Nicholas inside the final 15 minutes to go 18-14 ahead.

The crowd were on their feet and extremely vocal for the last part of the match as both sides attacked and Japan went seven points clear after another Nicholas penalty. It looked as though Japan had done enough to win but from the kick-off Tevita Halaifonua sprinted down the right wing to score a superb solo try. Halaifonua had the chance to tie the game with the resulting conversion from his try but his kick went to the right of the posts as Japan notched their third consecutive win against Tonga.

In the other pool match Seremaia Bai's kicking proved to be the difference as Fiji narrowly beat Samoa at Churchill Park.

Samoa led 9-3 at the break after three penalties from centre Gavin Wiliams, with Bai scoring Fiji's only penalty. Bai kicked another penalty after the break and converted Vereniki Goneva's try for a 13-9 lead.

Bai's immense kicking performance continued when he scored a further penalty but Samoa reduced the deficit to two points after a well taken try from Notise Tauafao. Bai put Fiji five points in front after he scored his fourth penalty and the hosts held on.

The final games in the pool take place next weekend when this year's winners, the Junior All Blacks, face Tonga on Saturday and Fiji play Japan on Sunday.

ShareFeedbackPrint