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Everything you need to know about Pacific Nations Cup round two
By Ben Smith
In round one of the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup, Fiji registered a dominant 42-16 win over Samoa in Suva, while in BC Place in Vancouver Eddie Jones’ Japan side registered a 55-26 win over Canada.
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In Pool B the USA Eagles will kick off their campaign at home against rivals Canada, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles. Also getting their campaign underway is Tonga, who will travel to Apia to take on Samoa in a battle in the Pacific in Pool A.
Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup round two, available to watch on RugbyPass TV in certain locations.
Samoa vs Tonga
Pool A
Where: Apia Park, Apia, Samoa
Kick-off time: 18:00 local, Friday 30th August
Referee: Takehito Namekawa
Samoa are looking to bounce back quickly from the opening round loss to Fiji and defend a 44-year unbeaten streak against Tonga at Apia Park (17 wins, 2 draws dating back to 1980).
Tonga’s last victory over Samoa came in 2018 when they secured a 28-18 win in Suva.
Theo McFarland will captain Samoa again, one of just five players in the squad who have double digit Test caps (14). Former Hurricanes outside back Alapati Leiua is the most experienced player in the squad with 36 Test caps, and he will start at inside centre.
Head coach Mahonri Schwalger has made six changes this week to the side that lost in Suva. The four changes to the pack include a first Test start for New Zealand club player, No 8 Iakopo Petelo Mapu.
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Samoa need to win to keep their Pacific Nations Cup title hopes alive and can draw confidence from their five-game winning steak over Tonga, where they’ve won by an average margin of 20 points.
A new-look Tonga side that has only a few players from last year’s Rugby World Cup has named three debutants for the fixture.
Counties Manukau hooker Penisoni Fineanganofo, flankers Tupou Afungia (San Diego Legion) and Siosiua Moala (VRAC, Spain), are set to win their first caps.
Cult hero and former Chiefs prop Ben Tameifuna will captain the side. Like Samoa, Tonga have just five players in the squad with 10 Test caps or more. Tameifuna is most capped player for Tonga with 34.
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Other players to keep an eye on for Tonga include former New Zealand schoolboy and Moana Pasifika halfback Manu Paea, who is one of those five players despite being just 22 years old.
Former Crusaders and Highlanders midfielder Fetuli Paea lines up at inside centre and has been named vice-captain.
Barnstorming flanker Lotu Inisi of Moana Pasifika will start at No 8. The 25-year-old was one of the strong performers for Moana Pasifika this season, starting 10 matches.
Tonga are searching for their first win of 2024 after losing both of their July fixtures, a 36-14 defeat to Italy and a shock 29-20 loss to Spain.
Conversely, Samoa beat both of those opponents in July with a 33-25 win over Italy and a 34-30 win over Spain.
USA vs Canada
Pool B
Where: Dignity Health Sports Park, Los Angeles
Kick-off time: 18:00 local, Saturday 31 August
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi
Canada are looking to bounce back quickly after a slow start against Japan led to a heavy loss. The Brave Blossoms raced out to an early lead, putting on 38 unanswered points, before the Maple Leafs responded in the second half with a brief comeback.
It doesn’t get any easier for them, taking on the USA Eagles in Los Angeles. USA have won 12 of the last 14 Tests between the two nations, with one draw and one loss.
Canada’s last win was in 2021 during the Rugby World Cup qualifier, but Canada’s last win on US soil came in August 2013, a 27-9 win.
Since that 2013 Pacific Nations Cup campaign where they finished runners-up, Canada has lost 11 straight matches in the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup.
USA come into their opening fixture searching for their first win of 2024, having lost to Romania 22-10 and Scotland 42-7 during the July window. On the other hand, Canada beat Romania 35-22 but suffered a much larger defeat to Scotland by 73-12.
Canada have retained most of the team that lost to Japan in round one, with one tweak to the backline. Last week’s winger Andrew Coe moves to fullback, making way for Takoda McMullin to start on the right wing.
Former Azzuri player Tommaso Boni has become a strike weapon for the Eagles, scoring three tries in his first six Tests for USA since making his allegiance switch. In 12 Tests for Italy he had crossed just once, against the All Blacks in 2016.
