Fiji wins Pacific Nations Cup after overwhelming Japan in Osaka

OSAKA, Japan (AP) — Fiji overwhelmed Japan from a 10-10 halftime deadlock to win an energetic Pacific Nations Cup final 41-17 at Hanazono Stadium on Saturday.

Fiji wore down the fast-starting Japanese with weight and speed and with impact off the bench, scoring five tries — two more were disallowed — for a record-extending sixth PNC title, and first since 2018.

The defense was also special. For the only time in five PNC matches, Fiji conceded points in a second half, less than three minutes from fulltime, to wing Malo Tuitama who scored Japan's second try.

“We just had to stay in there, work really hard to set ourselves up in the second half by maintaining really good pressure in that first half,” first-year Fiji coach Mick Byrne said.

After early penalty kicks, Japan center Dylan Riley scored a brilliant solo try by cutting inside three defenders and collecting his own chip.

Counterpart Inia Tabuavou then had a try chalked off by a knock-on in the buildup, but Fiji eventually tied the score against the run of play when Harumichi Tatekawa's grubber kick rebounded off Eroni Mawi, Tabuavou hacked ahead, and wing Vuate Karawalevu won the race to the ball.

Fiji started the new half with a man advantage while Japan hooker Mamoru Harada was sin-binned. Standout flyhalf Caleb Muntz had a try disallowed because of obstruction but his 56th- minute penalty gave Fiji the lead for the first time.

The Fijian pack was on a roll and Japan was struggling to contain it. With defenders dragged in by Fiji's pick and goes, there was space out wide and Fiji used it.

Replacement and Olympic sevens silver medallist Ponepati Loganimasi finished a try on his test debut then Tabuavou was tackled into touch in the right by Tuitama. But a minute later, Fiji was in again through replacement forward Albert Tuisue.

Fiji crossed twice more in the next eight minutes, Loganimasi's offload released Karawalevu for his second try, then Loganimasi broke from a midfield ruck and stepped the last defender for try number two.

Muntz, the player of the tournament, kicked six from six and let Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula convert their last try.

Tuitama gave Japan some consolation with the last converted try but the hosts lost to Fiji for the sixth time in their last seven contests.

For third place, Samoa beat the United States 18-13 with a 77th-minute try by Melani Nanai.

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