‘The goal is clear’: Fiji captain and coach look ahead to PNC Final

TOKYO: Fiji finished their captain’s run in Tokyo on Friday, finalising their preparations ahead of the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup Final against Japan. The Flying Fijians are the reigning champions but remain eager for more success.

It’s a familiar matchup in the Pacific Nations Cup decider, with Fiji and Japan contesting the big dance in the last two editions of the tournament. The Flying Fijians claimed silverware in Japan two years ago, before defending that crown in Utah in 2025.

The Flying Fijians progressed beyond the semi-finals with a 43-29 victory against a valiant Canada side in Osaka last weekend. Kitione Salawa helped the defending champions get off to a dream start in the PNC, scoring the opening try less than 30 seconds into the Test.

Canada clawed their way back multiple times but the Flying Fijians did enough to secure their place in the final, set to play a confident Brave Blossoms outfit, who are coming off a clinical 63-14 win against the USA Eagles.

“The goal is clear for us, we’re here to win,” Fiji captain Tevita Ikanivere told reporters after the training session in Tokyo.

“We’ve prepared, we’ve done everything we could’ve done throughout this week to prepare well.”

Fiji’s interim head coach Senirusi Seruvakula added: “The game is very important for us… we are, like the Japanese team, we want to win and also push the players that we have – they want to showcase their talents so that they can be considered for the upcoming Nations [Championship] in November.”

The Flying Fijians snapped a 0-3 run to start their 2026 international season, holding on for a convincing win over Canada at Hanazono Rugby Stadium. Salawa and Frank Lomani both scored inside the first five minutes, before Canada mounted a comeback.

Japan raced out to a relentless 28-0 advantage inside the first quarter against the USA, before piling on more points in an even more dominant second half. It comes as little surprise to hear that Fiji are targeting a strong start in the match on Saturday evening.

“For us, our focus is just to start well… then finish strong at the end. But to do that, we need to be accurate,” Seruvakula said.

“We know that the Japanese, in their DNA they are fast, they want to have the ball for long periods of time.

“We need to just bring our physicality to the game.”

Seruvakula has made some changes to the matchday 23 that overcame the Canadians, with Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula shifting from fly-half to fullback. That change has seen Caleb Muntz come into the run-on side, set to wear the No. 10 jersey.

Muntz with start in the halves alongside Lomani, and will play an interchangeable role with Armstrong-Ravula. Both players are capable of playing at 10 and 15, with the dual playmaker option adding another dimension to the team’s attack.

“We’ve done that in the Nations [Championship] in July, putting Isaiah at fullback,” the coach discussed.

“They are both important players, they are our drivers, so having them in the same [side] is very important because they can switch to 10 at any time… it’s very important.”