Pacific Nations Cup, Round Two - Preview

PREVIEW: Round one winners Canada and Tonga travel to Japan and Fiji respectively for their second and final pool phase matches as the Pacific Nations Cup 2025 enters its second week.

Reigning Pacific Nations Cup champions Fiji kicks off the defence of their title in Suva against Tonga, round one conqueror of Samoa, while last year’s beaten finalists Japan begin their quest to go one better at home to Canada.

Both the Flying Fijians and the Brave Blossoms are already assured of a place at World Cup 2027 in Australia – but the two sides making their bows in this year’s competition still have plenty to play for. There’s the small matter of the title up for grabs.

Once the pool phase is complete, all six Pacific Nations Cup sides will convene in Denver, Colorado, for the semi-finals and fifth place play-off on September 14, while the final and third place play-off take place on September 20 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Fiji may not have to worry about qualifying for World Cup 2027 in Australia – but that doesn’t mean the defending Pacific Nations Cup champions plan to take this year’s tournament lightly. Far from it.

As they make their bow in the 2025 tournament, after watching last weekend’s opening-round matches from the sidelines, Flying Fijians’ captain Tevita Ikanivere has made it perfectly clear to anyone paying attention that the squad know what a seventh title would mean to fans, and the expectations that are on the shoulders of his team.

Visitors Tonga upped the stakes with a well-constructed 30-16 opening round victory over Samoa in Nuku’alofa last weekend to take a giant step towards Australia 2027.

‘Ikale Tahi captain Ben Tameifuna promised immediately after that match that his side would quickly re-focus on the challenge that Fiji would set this weekend.

Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne named four uncapped players in a powerful 23 for their opening match of the tournament – Etonia Waqa will make his first test appearance at blindside flanker, while Tudraki Samusamuvodre is set to make his debut at outside centre. Motikai Murray and Taniela Rakuro are on the bench

Fiji is the highest ranked side in the tournament in ninth – may have home advantage for their opening outing, but the visitors will be determined to double down on that opening round win. Expect fireworks in Suva.

*After sitting out the opening weekend’s action Japan – who, like Fiji, have already qualified for RWC 2027 in Australia – enter the Pacific Nations Cup 2025 fray at home against a Canada side brimming with confidence after their 34-20 victory over USA last weekend.

There can be no doubt about the target for the Brave Blossoms’ head coach Eddie Jones. “Last year we were runners-up in the competition, and this year our target is to go one better,” he told an online press conference shortly before the tournament started.

Japan’s 55-28 win in Canada during last year’s Pacific Nations Cup was the first in the second era of Jones as head coach of the Brave Blossoms. They have won four of eight tests since and, in July, recorded their first win over Wales since 2013.

But new Canada coach Stephen Meehan is determined to transform his side’s recent disappointing fortunes. Last week’s win over USA in Calgary was his first in his third match in charge, and their first in nine matches since their victory over Romania in July 2024. They look set to be a very different prospect this time around.

But the visitors will be without four-try hero Tyler Ardron and tireless second-row Evan Olmstead, who have both returned to their clubs in France. That duo, plus Cooper Coats and Talon McMullin, were replaced in Meehan’s 28-strong extended squad by Shane O’Leary, Callum Botchar, Austin Creighton, and Brock Gallagher.

Fiji v Tonga
(Buckhurst Park, Suva – Kick-off: 15.30; 16.30 Tonga time; 03.30 GMT)

Prediction:

@rugby365: Tonga by nine points

Teams

Fiji: 15 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 14 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 13 Tuidraki Samusamuvodre, 12 Seta Tamanivalu, 11 Ponipate Loganimasi, 10 Caleb Muntz, 9 Philip Baselala, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Elia Canakaivata, 6 Etonia Waqa, 5 Temo Mayanavanua, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Tevita Ikanivere, 1 Eroni Mawi
Replacements: 16 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Haereiti Hetet, 18 Samu Tawake, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Motikiai Murray, 21 Sam Wye, 22 Kemueli Valetini, 23 Taniela Rakuro

Tonga: 15 Salesi Piutau, 14 Fine Inisi, 13 Solomone Kata, 12 Fetuli Paea, 11 John Tapueluelu, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 9 Augustine Pulu, 8 Siosiua Moala, 7 Fotu Lokotui, 6 Tupou Afungia, 5 Harison Mataele, 4 Tanginoa Halaifonua, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Samiuela Moli,1 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi
Replacements: 16 Siua Maile, 17 Fe’ao Fotuaika, 18 Solomone Tukuafu, 19 Justin Mataele, 20 Talimoni Finau, 21 Sonatane Takulua, 22 Josiah Unga, 23 Uilisi Halaholo

Referee: Karl Dickson (England)
Assistant referees: Takehito Namekawa, Katsuki Furuse (both Japan)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)

Japan v Canada
(Yurtec Stadium, Sendai – Kick-off: 17.00; 16.00 Canada time; 08.00 GMT)

Prediction:

@rugby365: Japan by five points

Teams

Japan: 15 Sam Greene, 14 Kippei Ishida, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Charlie Lawrence, 11 Malo Tuitama, 10 Seungsin Lee, 9 Shinobu Fujiwara, 8 Amato Fakatava, 7 Kanji Shimokawa, 6 Ben Gunter, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Waisake Raratubua, 3 Shuhei Takeuchi, 2 Hayate Era, 1 Sena Kimura
Replacements: 16 Kenji Sato, 17 Kenta Kobayashi, 18 Keijiro Tamefusa, 19 Tiennan Costley, 20 Faulua Makisi, 21 Kenta Fukuda, 22 Yuya Hirose, 23 Tomoki Osada

Canada: 15 Shane O’Leary, 14 Josiah Morra, 13 Ben LeSage, 12 Spencer Jones, 11 Nic Benn, 10 Peter Nelson, 9 Jason Higgins, 8 Matthew Oworu, 7 Lucas Rumball, 6 Siôn Parry, 5 Mason Flesch, 4 Piers Von Dadelszen, 3 Cole Keith, 2 Dewald Kotze,1 Calixto Martinez
Replacements: 16 Jesse Mackail, 17 Emerson Prior, 18 Conor Young, 19 Callum Botchar, 20 Matt Heaton, 21 Stephen Webb, 22 Noah Flesch, 23 Brenden Black

Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Jordan Way, Damon Murphy (both Australia)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)