‘We played our hearts out’: Frank Lomani reacts to Fiji’s PNC Final defeat

Fiji fell just short of another Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup title, with players left “gutted” after losing 20-15 to Japan in Tokyo. Brave Blossoms back Samisoni Tua scored what proved to be the match-winner late, as the hosts dominated the possession battle in the final 10.

Following a 0-3 run during the July Nations Championship fixtures, the Flying Fijians turned their focus to another PNC title defence. They claimed a clinical 45-29 win over Canada in the semi-finals last weekend – giving themselves a shot at more silverware.

But the Brave Blossoms, who put 63 points on world no. 14 the USA Eagles in Osaka, produced a title-winning effort in front of a vocal home crowd. Ben Gunter was rewarded with Player of the Match honours, and captain Naoto Saito was named the Player of the Tournament.

Fiji had just 36 per cent of the ball throughout the decider, including 27 per cent possession in the crucial final 10-minute period.  They had success at 63 per cent of their lineouts, turned the ball over a dozen times, gave away 14 penalties and missed 24 tackles on the night.

“We’re so gutted [that] we couldn’t finish off the job today as a PNC title defender. Japan were good on the day. We played our hearts out, out there,” Lomani told RugbyPass.

“We’d spoken about being disciplined, being connected and just physicality. I thought we brought that in the first half and we couldn’t capitalise on playing the ball when we had it.”

Japan set the tone early with some dominance at the set-piece, with the pack winning multiple penalty advantages at scrum time and finding success with their rolling maul. Fiji conceded a penalty early, seeing Sam Greene knock over a penalty goal inside seven minutes.

But the Flying Fijians hit back almost immediately, with outside centre Virimi Vakatawa running over one defender and carrying another four over the try line. Caleb Muntz added the extras as the then-defending champions took a four-point lead.

The match took another turn when Mesake Doge was shown a yellow card in the 18^th minute, and the Brave Blossoms made the most of their one-man advantage. Mamoru Harada crashed over for go-ahead points a few minutes later.

Fiji still went into the break up by two, with captain Tevita Ikanivere racing down the left sideline to score off a set-piece play. But the second half was largely controlled by Japan, who scored 10 points to three.

“This week we knew what Japan was going to bring. Defensively, we knew they were going to play fast, they were going to play wide,” Lomani said.

“First half, as a team we defended really well, but then again, a few of our mistakes in the second half allowed them to come back into the game.

“When they got the ball… they used their opportunities and they converted into tries.”

Fiji will take plenty of lessons out of the PNC campaign, as they would have done after the Nations Championship Tests earlier this year  They were beaten by Wales, England and Scotland during that international window, with those matches played in the UK.

“A few games where we went short but then again, it’s rugby sometimes. You cannot win it all. As a team, all we can do is give our best out there.

“We have a new coaching staff, they came in, we had to adjust on a new style of play and all that.

“I would say we played really well, we just couldn’t finish it.”