Advertisement
Era (4', 76'), Nakakusu (63')
Tries
Vocevoce (20'), Tabuavou (30'), Ikanivere (34'), Nasova (39', 59')
Lee (5', 64', 77')
Conversions
Muntz (21', 35', 40', 61')
Lee (19', 81')
Penalties
The Pacific Nations Cup is done and dusted with Fiji winning yet another championship. Over the past few weeks we have learned many things about some of our favourite T2 nations, but where there any final lessons to take from this weekend? Let’s deep dive the stats…
Tonga may have claimed 3rd place in the PNC, representing huge progress from last year. However, the stats from this game suggest they didn’t have it all their own way. They had just 42% possession and 3 own scrum feeds all match whilst their line out was a mess at 55% from 20 throws and they claimed just 43% of restarts.
Thankfully, their defence was more than up to the task facing down the Canadians with 139 tackles at 87% success and 8 dominant hits. Coupled with 25 points (including a hat-trick) from Moana Pasifia fly-half Patrick Pellegrini, they can consider this campaign a job well done.
If we’re honest, what the North American teams are lacking compared to their competitors is X-factor individuals. One man who bucks that trend is Canada’s number 8 Matt Oworu. Having cut his teeth on the 7s circuit he debuted for Canada in 2021 and plays his club rugby in MLR for Chicago Hounds. These day’s he is the Maple Leaf’s MVP, here’s his stats vs Tonga:
Onto the grand final and what we saw on in 2025 was almost a mirror image of 2024. Last year, Japan were humiliated in this fixture 41-17 on their own turf. This year, they started far more brightly, going 10-0 up in the first 20 minutes.
However, in the 2nd quarter Fiji simply steamrolled then, scoring length of field tries and blowing several more glorious chances. Fiji’s winning margins may be smaller in 2025 but the confidence and artistry to their attack has gone up a level. Much of Japan’s 1 on 1 defending was actually decent, with players making the right decisions, only to be bamboozled by the brilliant ball skills of their opponents. The commentators were calling Fiji’s play undependable and saying they are ‘The Harlem Globetrotters’ of rugby.
Even so, we saw a continuation of one of the trends of this year’s PNC as Japan fought back in the 2nd half, scoring 2 tries to set up a nervous final quarter. Bizarrely, given these are two out and out attacking teams, the game then remained a stalemate till the full time whistle. In the end, many of the stats were fairly even.
One thing that was deja vu, though, was a Fijian 7s convert scoring 2 tries in the PNC final in his first season of test 15s. For Loganimasi last year, see Joji Nasova this year. Spooky!
Fiji are now undefeated in the Pacific Nations Cup in 3 years. Since the last World Cup they have won 12 of their 16 test matches, including wins over Wales and Scotland. Their loses have been a narrow one to Australia away from home, a depleted side being beaten by Scotland away, a mix and match side being beaten by Ireland in Dublin and a loss to the All Blacks in the US. Contrast to Japan who, a win over an abject Wales side apart, have a woeful record against T1 sides despite far more investment & opportunity.
Fiji’s confirmed Autumn tests will see them face England at Twickenham, a fixture they won the last time they played it, and a match against France in Paris - which for many of their top stars will feel like a home game. The golden era of Fijian rugby looks set to continue!
One game that wasn’t in the Pacific Nations Cup this weekend but has a qualifying connection was the first leg of the World Cup play-off between Samoa and Chile - it was a hell of a game!
Opta gave Samoa over 60% chance of winning this game, so it was a massive shock to see them concede 3 tries inside the first half an hour. Chile were attacking magnificently and it looked like Samoa were in for a humiliation, but under the supervision of experienced fly-half Christian Leali’ifano they began to work their way back into it.
it could have ended differently as they had 2 tries disallowed in this game. Substitute Abraham Papali’i, who was voted the best number 8 in the Top 14 last season, came off the bench to beat 6 defenders and score two tries to earn the draw.
Chile will be furious they left this one slip. They scored 4 tries but across the whole game they had just 71 rucks, 61 passes and 88 carries. The whole game lacked control on both sides, with 80% of it being played in the attacking half and just 25 kicks across the whole match. Meanwhile, 9 cumulative tries were scored from just 16 22m entries. Madness!
