Fiji survive late scare to clinch Pacific Nations Cup title over Japan

America First Field in Sandy, Utah, played host to the Pacific Nations Cup final where the Flying Fijians and the Brave Blossoms have battled it out for the 2025 title.

Both teams produced some exhilarating rugby at times, with Fiji showcasing their world-class offloading and attacking ability to overcome a tough Japan side, 33-27.

Mesake Vocevoce and Joji Nasova were the standouts f0r the Flying Fijians, while Simione Kuruvoli and Tevita Ikanivere’s leadership in steering them around the field proved to be the difference on Sunday.

Japan’s Hayate Era was impressive in the first half, going close to scoring an early double, that could’ve changed the complexity of the outcome if Japan were to extend their early first half lead.

Japan’s captain and new Hurricanes lock Warner Dearns had a busy performance with eight carries and twelve tackles, but ultimately, it wasn’t enough for Japan to get the job done.

The 2025 Pacific Nations Cup final started with a hiss and a roar with both teams showcasing their physical intent in the first couple of minutes.

Japan were given the first opportunity of the game through a high tackle by Kalaveti Ravouvou, as Japan sent the resulting penalty into the corner for a lineout drive.

Star Japan lock Warner Dearns was the target at the lineout, bringing it down to Amato Fakatava who quickly shifted it shortside, before firing a pass to hooker Hayate Era.

Era still had a bit of work to do with ball in hand, so he skipped past one, and snuck through a couple of last ditch tackles to score the opening try in the final.

Seungsin Lee’s conversion from the sideline was successful, giving Japan a 7-0 lead after just five minutes.

Shortly after the opening try the teams started to get into their rythym, bringing players into the game and creating go forward with ball in hand.

Eddie Jones’ Japan started to dominate at scrumtime in the first 20 minutes, winning a couple of crucial penalties in their own end, often helping them get out of trouble.

A couple of minutes later, Japan were hot on attack as Shinobu Fujiwara continued to get quick and efficient ball from the base of the ruck.

Fujiwara fired a perfectly weighted pass to Era who absolutely threw himself at the defence, before reaching out and seemingly place the ball down on the Fijian line.

The big screen replay showed that Era had initially placed it short, so they went back to the penalty which Lee made easy work of, 10-0 Japan.

On the resulting kickoff by Fiji, Ponipate Loganimasi leaped up to contest, hitting it back to Etonia Waqa who charged deep inside the 22.

Waqa quickly handed it off to Mesake Vocevoce who strode towards the line to put the ball down and get Fiji back into the game.

Fiji’s first try seemed to ignite the rest of their team as they launched an attack from their own 22 off a Japan ruck error.

Some incredible skills by multiple Fijian forwards put Vocevoce through a gaping hole in Japan’s defence, before his opposition numer, Dearns, chased him down to stop a certain try.

Vocevoce freed his arms, and offloaded it behind his back to teammate Taniela Rakuro, before Fiji shifted it quickly to left side to exploit the Japan defence.

Inia Tabuavou was the next one to break the line, managing to reach out and give the Flying Fijian’s their first lead of the game in the 31st minute.

In almost a carbon copy of their last try, Fiji made a break down the right hand touchline before back-to-back offloads put Fiji captain and inspirational leader Tevita Ikanivere through to score close to the posts.

Three minutes later, on the stroke of halftime, live wire winger Joji Nasova got his hands on the ball in the middle of the field with nothing doing.

One Japanese defender rushed up though, but Nasova quickly stepped past him, burst through a small gap in the Japan defence, before stepping off the left foot and fending one last defender to score a world-class try.

Fiji first-five Caleb Muntz converted the try from right in front, extending their lead to 16 at halftime.

HT: 26-10 to the Flying Fijians.

The second half in Utah picked up right where the first left off, with Fiji creating opportunity after opportunity with ball in hand.

A long cutout ball by Tabuavou put Nasova through a gap, before some link up with Simione Kuruvoli gifted Nasova one of the easiest tries he’ll score under the posts.

Muntz’s conversion from in front sailed straight over the posts, extending their lead to 33-10 after 44 minutes.

Some nice interplay from Tomoki Osada and Ichigo Nakakusu gave Japan a glimmer of hope with just over 20 minutes to go, with Nakakusu finding some open space to dot down for Japan’s first try in the second half.

That glimmer of hope turned into a genuine opportunity to get back in the contest, as Fijian loose forward Viliame Mata was yellow carded for cynical play.

Five minutes after the yellow card to Mata, Japan’s forward pack rolled up their sleeves with a lineout drive, which resulted in Era finally, and deservingly, getting his second try of the final.

A third infringement in a row shortly after for Fiji resulted in another yellow card for Mick Byrne’s side, with prop Eroni Mawi spending ten minutes in the bin.

For the final ten minutes of the final, Fiji were trying to hold on to their six point lead, while a converted try for the Brave Blossoms would give them the Pacific Nations Cup title.

It was a tense last few minutes, but Fiji managed to keep the ball in hand to win them the Pacific Nations Cup title, for the second time in a row.

FT: 33-27 to the Flying Fijians.