Fiji downs Samoa to win Pacific Nations Cup

“They came out firing [in the second half]”. “We knew Samoa wanted to win this badly… we wanted the win more than them”.

Earlier in the tournament, Fiji were leading 27-10 before Samoa came back to earn a 30-30 draw, and also had built a 24-9 lead against Japan before holding on for a five-point win.

“We will now go back home and enjoy a few days off with family, then it will be back in camp to focus on the England game”.

The match between the Vodafone Flying Fijians and Samoa will be held at 12pm today.

In what was a topsy-turvy ending to the tournament, the Fijians opened up a 17-3 lead before Samoa fought their way back into the contest valiantly, edging ahead for the first time thanks to Fa’atoina Autagavaia.

Ospreys centre Josh Matavesi, playing at outside-half, slotted over two conversions and a penalty.

Faatoina Autagavaia had two tries for Samoa (2-1-1), while TJ Ioane added another. We tend to lose in the second half.

The United States, meanwhile, ensured a winless tournament for Canada, winning a ferocious duel with their fierce regional rivals 15-13 after a last-minute drop goal from AJ MacGinty.

Yet Fiji’s response was immediate, Nakarawa grabbing his second of the match to put his team 22-21 ahead after a clever cross-field kick by Ben Volavola caused havoc in the Samoan defence. But Fiji put the game out of the reach in the 77th with a Volavola penalty that made it 39-29.

But Fiji had Samoa scrambling again when they snaffled a line-out and captain Akapusi Qera peeled off before feeding Matawalu, who sprinted over close to the posts, Matavesi adding a simple conversion to make it 17-3.

Halani Aulika, Fetu’u Vainikolo and Sonatane Takulua had the tries for the Tongans (3-1-0) in the third-place game, while Kurt Morath added two conversions and four penalties.

Japan started well and Ayumu Goromaru opened the scoring with a penalty in the seventh minute.

“We weren’t urgent enough in the first half”.

“We missed a few tackles and the way the Fijians play, they can score from anywhere”. “They had three yellow cards and we didn’t capitalize on it. Pretty disappointing”.