‘Best start in Japanese history’: Brave Blossoms make a statement in PNC

Japan will take on defending champions Fiji in the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2026 Final, earning the chance to again compete for silverware after piling on points with potentially “the best start” in team history against the USA Eagles.

The Brave Blossoms raced out to a 28-point lead after just 16 minutes against the Eagles, which set them on the path towards a big win in Osaka. They went on to claim a 63-14 win, and will soon face the Flying Fijians in Tokyo for PNC glory.

Yua Hirose got the point-scoring blitz underway in the opening minute, crashing over the line to become the first player on the scoresheet. Mike Stolberg and Dylan Riley added to the home side’s advantage inside eight minutes, before Mamoru Harada capped off a relentless first quarter.

Japan had played at almost two points for every minute, but the USA began to claw their way back after a brief break in play. Shilo Klein and Tavite Lopeti hit back for the Eagles, who made it a 14-point ballgame with about five minutes left in the half.

But Japan would ultimately run away with a commanding result in humid conditions, piling on 35 unanswered points. Backrower Ben Gunter was upbeat about what the final-bound side had produced at Hanazono Rugby Stadium, delivering on one of their key work-ons.

“Probably I think the best start in Japanese history,” Gunter told RugbyPass.

“We knew we had a point to prove, that was one of our work-ons all week was to come out firing, but not ease off – we wanted to put the foot on the pedal for the whole game, and we knew to do that, that first 20 minutes, we didn’t need to just win, we needed to dominate.”

Japan are through to another Pacific Nations Cup decider, and they will face a familiar rival to determine this year’s champion. Fiji have taken out the last two PNC titles with wins over Japan, including a six-point triumph in Utah 12 months ago.

The Flying Fijians couldn’t have started their title defence any better on Saturday, with blindside flanker Kitione Salawa scoring after just 21 seconds against Canada. Salawa charged down a kick before regathering and managing to avoid the sideline by mere millimetres.

Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula and Frank Lomani were some of the standouts the Fijian Drua-heavy lineup. Fiji raced out to a big lead in the second half, before two quick Canadian tries reduced the deficit to 45-19 in the semi-final.

“Credit to the USA, they’re a team that’s growing. They’re learning the game, they’re building the competition over there,” Gunter explained.

“It’s going to be a massive step up for us. It’s going to be a good challenge, it’s definitely something we need.

“For the last couple of years we’ve been facing them in the final and we’ve been falling short. We need to really turn that around. We know what’s coming, but so do they.”