Japan claim first Pacific Nations Cup title

Japan created history on the final day of the IRB Pacific Nations Cup, winning the title for the first time by beating tournament hosts Fiji 24-13 in Lautoka.
John Kirwan’s side headed into the third and final match day lying in fourth place and needed a bonus point victory to secure the title. That decisive try came deep in injury time to send the Japanese players, officials and fans into a frenzy of celebration.
Tonga had earlier beaten Samoa 29-19 to put one hand on the trophy before Japan broke their hearts.
Having beaten Tonga 28-27 last Saturday, the head-to-head result handed the title to the Asian champions despite them and Tonga being tied on 10 points each .
Japan 24-13 Fiji
After Tonga’s earlier win against Samoa, hosts Fiji started their match against Japan knowing that this year’s overall title was beyond their reach, but still they managed to shrug off that disappointment and start their final match at a roaring pace in front of their home fans.
An early Seremaia Bai penalty gave them a 3-0 lead before wing Napolioni Nalaga burst through the Japanese defence to make it 8-0, but indiscipline cost them dear.
Skipper Dominiko Waqaniburotu was sent to the sin bin for foul play before Fiji received the first of two red cards in the match, Sisa Koyamaibole sent off for dangerous play, and despite a rich advantage in the possession stakes, indiscipline and errors cost them any further scores in the half.
After the restart, Fiji’s woes continued as Bai was sent to the sin bin before Japan full back Go Aruga scored an unconverted try to make it 8-5.
Fiji hit back with Nalaga’s second try for a 13-5 lead, at which point Tonga were sitting pretty with one hand on the trophy, but from then on Japan kicked on and started their quest for the title.
Ryan Nicholas went over for a try, which replacement Shaun Webb converted to make it 13-12, before Fiji’s second red card - to centre Seru Rabeni for a high tackle – gifted the Japanese a two-man advantage, which they used to put Shota Horie in for their third try and a 17-13 lead.
Shortly afterwards Fiji were reduced to 12 men when replacement Waisea Luveniyali was sin binned and Japan rattled the Fijians with sterling forward play before replacement Yuta Imamura scored the crucial fourth bonus point try for Japan. Webb added the extras for the 24-13 win.
“This is big for Japan Rugby and Fiji gave us the chance as their discipline let them down,” said Japan coach John Kirwan.
“However, I salute my players for the effort and they did what I asked them at the break. Now it is the World Cup and there is still a lot of work to be done.”
Fiji coach Sam Domoni added: “Indiscipline let us down. That was the difference today. We will have to regroup and now focus on the All Black test and the two matches against Tonga before the World Cup.”
Tonga 29-19 Samoa
Earlier in the day, the two Pacific rivals gave it their all as the quest for the title began.
Defending champions Samoa needed to win, while Tonga knew that a bonus point win would secure them the PNC for the first time.
Tonga super boot Kurt Morath opened the scoring with a penalty before Samoa full back James So’oialo made it 3-3.
Morath added another penalty and straight from the kick-off Samoa wing David Lemi gathered a loose ball to score a try to make it 10-6 with So’oialo’s conversion.
However, Tonga got a penalty from Morath and an opportunist try from Chiefs prop Sona Taumalolo, which Morath converted to make it 16-10.
The Tonga number 10 then added another penalty to take his side 19-10 in the lead at half time.
After the restart three straight penalties to So’oialo made it 19-19 before a late Morath penalty and a Viliame Helu try gave the impressive Tongans a deserved 29-19 win.
“We have played well in the PNC but there is still lots of work to be done for World Cup,” said Tonga coach Isitolo Maka.
“We still have a few players yet to join and once they come in, we will be ready.”

Samoa coach Timitaea Tafua was disappointed with his side’s performance.
“We didn’t play to the game plan and the players will need to work hard in all the mistakes we have made in the Pacific Nations Cup,” he said.


http://www.irb.com/pacificnationscup/news/newsid=2044467.html#japan+claim+first+pacific+nations+cup+title


Good news for Wales?

Pool A just got alot harder by the looks of it

Delighted for them. Samoa winning last year and Japan this year is very good for the tournament. Also what an achievement for Japan, their first victory against Fiji in 17 years.

Tonga were unlucky to lose out due to losing their head to head to Japan.

Samoa sent out a weakened team in the last round due to their upcoming game against Australia this Saturday in Sydney.

Samoa sent out a weakened team in the last round due to their upcoming game against Australia this Saturday in Sydney.

Why send out a weakend team in a cup game to rest players for a friendly ?

Because all these games are warm ups for the World Cup and the Australian game will test them more than any of the others will.

No friendlies in rugby. I don't personally think that the PNC will have much bearing on the RWC, but Wales are clear favourites for the second spot. Will be an interesting group...

It may be a bit off topic, but can I just say how wonderful it is to hear Napolioni Nalaga is back on a rugby pitch scoring tries.

Does this reult mean that Wales are now going to assume that Fiji and Samoa are going to be a push over and will try and play attractive running rugby and lose

Notch wrote:No friendlies in rugby.

Nonsense. In the past this was true but now its just a soundbyte. Calling it a Test Match doens't mean it isn't a Friendly game.

Nope Stag, it's a Test and the moment we refer to them as friendlies, we're in trouble.

Excellent result for Japan. And the last shall be first

Dodgy news for Connacht with Ray Ofisa being capped against Tonga, his IQ status just changed to NIQ.

Its a pitty that NZ and France are in group A. If it was a team like Wales or Scotland (Or Ireland going by their RWC record! ) then you might give them half a chance of coming second
At least the group wont be as much of a push over for NZ or France

Nonsense. In the past this was true but now its just a soundbyte. Calling it a Test Match doens't mean it isn't a Friendly game.

Have to disagree Stag.

We've a long way to go before we sink to the depths of indifference that attaches to most football frendlies these days.

Granted in rugby countries do tend to field weakended teams on occasion to suit but even then the players picked tend to give their all.

Even most soccer diehards agree that football friendlies are a waste of time.

Great competition and wonderful result for the Japanese

Yes well done Japan, Ive had a hell of a job getting the Japan vs Tonga game though, and if anyone knows where I can watch the Japan Fiji game is I'd be very grateful.

Go Japan!!!!!

'Friendly' in the context of football implies a game where most players care more about avoiding being injured and in fact for many nations players don't even bother to turn up for friendlies never mind care about the result. The phenomenon of friendlies in football is something that is viewed by players and fans as a massive inconvenience and coaches as a chance to tinker. Essentially training games played in public.

That's not something that translates to international rugby.

An example of a friendly in international rugby is Ireland XV vs Connacht. That will serve the same function.

Irish Curry wrote:Its a pitty that NZ and France are in group A. If it was a team like Wales or Scotland (Or Ireland going by their RWC record! ) then you might give them half a chance of coming second
At least the group wont be as much of a push over for NZ or France

i am sorry japan wouldnt have a chance in coming second if a team like wales was there, although it is good to see japan rugby on the rise, i highly doubt they could beat wales.

Awesome. With kirwans pedigree as an ab kiwi icon, role model and now coaching experience around the globe i can see him at the ab helm
will need to coach a team at higher level. Perhaps superxv or a 5n team.
Well done.

sean webb and ryan nicholas? good old fashioned japanese names there

does kirwan have the mental toughness to be an ab coach?

The crazy thing about this game was that the two "head highs" which saw two Fijians sent off werent nowhere near as bad as the "spear tackle" where the guy only got 10 mins in the bin.

does kirwan have the mental toughness to be an ab coach?[/quote]

Does anyone? how is that measured. He set high standards as a player and now obviously as a coach. Battled with and has learned/ is learning to overcome depression (runs a NZ site to help others cope- So THAT could be handy come choking time!)

Has the respect of most NZers other than the Canterbury Auckland thing and is obviously organised, well travelled and in his role as Italy and Japan coach will have learned to maximise a teams strengths in playing tougher opposition.

Yeah I think so...time will tell. I dont think hes persevering with coaching without that as the ultimate goal. But rather than short cut he knows respect and experience must come with the position. He'll want Kiwis to want him to coach the AB's- not demand it.

Found the games:

Japan Vs Tonga
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLtwK9H38jw&feature=relmfu

Japan Vs Samoa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asn4HhodqIg&feature=related

Makes group A look more interesting Tonga,Japan,Canada,France,and NZ could be some surprises.

maybe down the lower end but france and NZ will be the top ranking teams easily, saying that with Marc L(dont know how you speel his name) is in charge...