Sunday is a rugby day! Fiji face Tonga for Pacific Nations Cup glory, and the United States will be hoping to escape the dungeon and a tournament whitewash against Japan.
FIJI vs TONGA
Sunday, June 23, 03:10 GMT, Tokyo
Canada’s loss to Japan has left the door wide open for either Tonga or Fiji to steal the Pacific Nations Cup title from the team that beat them both. A win of any variety will suffice for either side, no bonus points required. Consequently what is always a fearsome contest between the two Pacific cousins will have a little extra spice this time.
Inoke Male has named his strongest possible side, and arguably the strongest Fiji have named all tournament. Campese Ma’afu and Vili Veikoso rotate into the front row, and Wame Lewaravu returns at lock, with Api Naikatini shifting to the flank. Saula Radidi comes into the centres, with Seremaia Bai replacing his brother at flyhalf. Supremely talented Nikola Matawalu finds a home at fullback where his counter-attacking skills thrilled in the second half of the game against the Eagles.
Tonga have called for reinforcements in the forms of Japan-based centres Alaska Taufa and Rocky Havili, with the former thrust straight into the starting lineup. Fraser Anderson bumps out to the wing, and Viliame Iongi starts at fullback. Peni Fakalelu gets his first start of the tournament at prop, and the massive Emosi Kauhenga is unusually pitched up on the flank.
If the weather holds up, which is a big if, we could be treated to some wonderful running rugby. As it is, there will be massive hits and thunderous carries and plenty to be excited about. At full strength Tonga might have a real shot at it, but without the likes of Kurt Morath and Sione Kalamafoni they come up short in the class department. Fiji take this one by 12.
FIJI
Nikola Matawalu; Napolioni Nalaga, Nemani Nadolo, Saula Radidi, Sireli Bobo; Seremaia Bai, Nemia Kenatale; Campese Ma’afu, Viliame Veikoso, Setefano Somoca; Apisalome Ratuniyarawa, Wame Lewaravu; Apisai Naikatini, Akapusi Qera (capt.), Netani Talei. RES: Tale Tuapati, Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Manasa Saulo, Rupeni Nasiga, Malakai Ravulo, Setareki Koroilagilagi, Adriu Delai, Aisea Natoga.
TONGA
Viliame Iongi; Fraser Anderson, Alaska Taufa, Sione Piukala, Viliami Helu; Taniela Moa, Tomasi Palu; Peni Fakalelu, Elvis Taione, Taione Vea; Josh Afu, Lua Lokotui; Emosi Kauhenga, Nili Latu (capt.), Hale T-Pole. RES: Ilaisa Ma’asi, Kamaliele Sakalia, Sila Puafisi, Samisoni Masima, Daniel Faleafa, Viliami Fihaki, Siale Fahiua, Rocky Havili.
JAPAN vs UNITED STATES
Sunday, June 23, 05:10 GMT, Tokyo
The last game of this year’s revamped Pacific Nations Cup sees the two bottom placed teams matched up with the embarrassment of finishing last on the line. The Eagles have had a terrible tournament and will be desperate to finish on a high before preparing for their World Cup qualifier series against Canada in August. Japan had a slow start but have now won two in a row and look a far more confident side than they did a month ago.
Eddie Jones has rotated his second row combination again, bringing in Hitoshi Ono and Shoji Ito from the bench, and recalled Masataka Mikami to the loosehead prop. Craig Wing, a late scratch from Wednesday’s game, is fit to resume his centre partnership with outstanding Male Sa’u. In-form duo Fumiaki Tanaka and Harumichi Tatekawa once again pull the strings at the halfbacks.
After fielding a B-side against Fiji, the Americans have rolled out the big guns for this last match. Captain Todd Clever is joined by Scott LaValla in the back row, with lineout leader Brian Doyle back in at lock. Shawn Pittman and Chris Biller shore up a very creaky front row, while Mike Petri, Andrew Suniula, and Chris Wyles are also back in.
This will be a tough ask on both sides, each playing their third test in an eight day span. The Eagles have a slightly bigger pack, but the Japanese forwards are very sound technically. Given the possibility of west conditions, this one could come down to goal kicking, in which case the edge has to go to the golden boot of Ayumu Goromaru. It’s a tough call, but Japan just edges is, winning by 3 for the second match in a row, and damning the United States to the tournament basement.
JAPAN
Ayumu Goromaru; Toshiaki Hirose (capt.), Male Sa’u, Craig Wing, Kenki Fukuoka; Harumichi Tatekawa, Fumiaki Tanaka; Masataka Mikami, Shota Horie, Hiroshi Yamashita; Hitoshi Ono, Shoji Ito; Hendrik Tui, Michael Broadhurst, Takashi Kikutani. RES: Takeshi Kizu, Yusuke Nagae, Kensuke Hatakeyama, Shinya Makabe, Justin Ives, Atsushi Hiwasa, Yu Tamura, Yoshikazu Fujita.
UNITED STATES
Chris Wyles; Luke Hume, Adam Siddall, Andrew Suniula, James Paterson; Toby L’Estrange, Mike Petri; Shawn Pittman, Chris Biller, Eric Fry; Brian Doyle, Louis Stanfill; Scott LaValla, Peter Dahl, Todd Clever (capt.). RES: Zach Fenoglio, Nick Wallace, Phil Thiel, Cameron Dolan, Liam Murphy, Robbie Shaw, Seamus Kelly, Blaine Scully.
