(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Fiji Crowned Pacific Nations Cup Champions After Thrilling Win Over Japan
Salt Lake City, Utah – Fiji clinched their seventh Pacific Nations Cup title with a nail-biting 33-27 victory over Japan in a high-octane final at America First Field.
The match delivered everything fans could hope for – momentum swings, highlight-reel tries, and edge-of-the-seat drama right until the last whistle.
Japan Start Strong
Japan opened the scoring early through hooker Hayate Era, who crossed the line in the 4th minute. Seungsin Lee added the conversion and later slotted a penalty, giving the Brave Blossoms a 10-0 lead inside 20 minutes. Under Eddie Jones’s guidance, Japan looked firmly in control.
Fiji’s First-Half Blitz
But once Fiji found their rhythm, they became unstoppable.
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Mesake Vocevoce opened Fiji’s account straight from a restart.
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Inia Tabuavou added another after a sweeping move from their own half.
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Captain Tevita Ikanivere scored under the posts following smart build-up play.
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Just before halftime, Joji Nasova produced a solo stunner from halfway, beating multiple defenders to score.
By halftime, Fiji had racked up 26 points in just 19 minutes, turning the game on its head.
Second-Half Fightback
Nasova struck again early in the second half to stretch Fiji’s lead. But Japan refused to fold.
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Ichigo Nakakusu scored a classy try to spark belief.
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Era added his second from a maul during Fiji’s yellow-card spell.
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Lee’s penalty narrowed the gap to just six points heading into the final 10 minutes.
Despite being reduced to 13 men at one stage, Fiji’s defense held firm under immense pressure.
Post-Match Reactions
Captain Tevita Ikanivere praised his team’s resilience:
“We overcame a tough side who came back hard in the second half. I’m proud of the boys for working for each other under pressure.”
Head coach Mick Byrne added:
“Things didn’t go our way with the cards, but the boys dug deep, defended bravely, and showed great composure to close it out.”
Japan skipper Warner Dearns acknowledged Fiji’s explosive first-half surge:
“We let them get away too much early, but I’m proud of how we fought back. It was an awesome game of rugby.”
Coach Eddie Jones called it a valuable learning experience for Japan’s young squad:
“It’s tough to lose, but this tournament has been great for our development. We’ll build from here.”
A Classic Final
With this victory, Fiji cemented their reputation as one of the most entertaining and resilient sides in world rugby. For Japan, the narrow defeat highlighted both their attacking flair and areas for improvement heading into their year-end fixtures.
Fans in Salt Lake City witnessed a Pacific Nations Cup classic, one that will be remembered for its breathtaking pace, dazzling tries, and Fiji’s champion spirit.
