Fiji show their class with Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2025 win over Tonga

After Tonga opened their 2025 Pacific Nations Cup account with an upset win over Manu Samoa, they travelled to Suva looking to produce another upset against the tournament’s 2024 champions, Fiji, in round 2.

Fiji had a bye week in round one and opened their title defence campaign with some classic Fijian rugby, scoring a couple of electric long-range tries to keep scoreboard pressure on Tonga for much of the afternoon. While Tonga stayed within reach on the scoreboard for large stretches, the Fijians’ class came through in the end to secure a 32-10 win.

The afternoon got off to a superb start for the visitors, with Augustine Pulu slicing through the Fijian defence after just three minutes to score the opening points of the contest.

A John Tapueluelu knock-on off the restart gave Fiji the chance to launch their attack from a scrum, and they did so with penalty advantage. A handful of phases later, Fiji had swung play from one touchline to the other and back again as Tonga gave away another penalty. Caleb Muntz stepped up to claim the three points on offer.

Tongan indiscipline helped Fiji get back into scoring position shortly after play resumed, with Tonga’s No. 8 Siosiua Moala being sent to the sin bin for a side entry in a rolling maul. A knock-on ended the Fijian attacking play.

Tonga pushed play back deep into Fijian territory, but even 10 metres from their own line, the Fijian attack was dangerous. The ball went wide to Ponipate Loganimasi, whose speed got his team to halfway before offloading for the midfield partnership of Tuidraki Samusamuvodre and former All Black Seta Tamanivalu to finish the long-range try.

Fiji soon produced a second try that was very similar to their first, with a handling error close to the Tongan line sending play back into their own half, only to break the game open from there. The ball was put through the hands, and Kalaveti Ravouvou finished the effort with a powerful right-foot step to shed the last defenders.

Fiji’s scrum was dominant, but their accuracy started to falter in the second quarter, with breakdown penalties and more handling errors slowing their momentum. Tonga, on the other hand, struggled to capitalise with lineout woes of their own.

The half ended with a penalty goal from Tonga’s marksman, Patrick Pellegrini, which made it a one-score game heading into the break. Halftime score: 17-10, advantage Fiji.

Strong Tongan defence broke down Fiji’s rolling maul and then held them up over the line early in the second period. Heavy collisions and set-piece accuracy dictated much of the third quarter. Fiji emerged from the period with another three points courtesy of a Tongan tackle off the ball.

Both sides’ defence had found their feet in the contest, and it wasn’t until the 62nd minute that another try was scored.

It came via a piece of aerial brilliance from Ponipate Loganimasi, who soared above his Tongan opposite to claim a cross-field kick before finding Tevita Ikanivere in support, with the hooker taking the ball to the try line to score.

22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored

2.4

12

Entries

Avg. Points Scored

1.4

5

Entries

Any hopes of a Tongan comeback were all but dashed when Fiji scored from another tactical kick. In addition to awarding the try, the referee handed Siosiua Moala his second yellow card, resulting in a red card, for the same side entry infringement the No. 8 was guilty of earlier in the contest.

Fiji couldn’t execute with their two final scoring opportunities, and although Tonga managed to get over the line on the stroke of full-time, the try was ruled out for an earlier knock-on. Final score: Fiji 32, Tonga 10.