Pacific Nations Cup Finalists confirmed

MATCH REPORT: Japan booked their spot in the Pacific Nations Cup Final against Fiji following their 49-27 victory over Samoa in Tokyo on Sunday.

Japan ran in four tries in the first-half and added three more in the second-half to earn Eddie Jones his third win on the trot after a shaky start to his second stint as head coach.

Jones will want to keep that winning momentum against Fiji in next weekend’s Final which will take place in Osaka, following Fiji’s semifinal win over the United States.

Japan was on the scoreboard within the first six minutes when Dylan Riley crossed the whitewash.

Riley, who finished off a superb solo effort score against the United States in the group stage – collected a grubber kick and went over the line for the try which Seungsin Lee converted.

In the 10th minute, Japan was on the board again courtesy of a penalty-try to double their lead.

The bleeding didn’t stop there for Samoa as wing Elisapeta Alofipo was yellow carded in the process as well.

Despite being a player down, Samoa showed great fight when Tuna Tuitama went over the line for a try in the 13th minute.

It didn’t take Japan long to restore their lead to a more comfortable one a few minutes later when Tomoki Osada went over the line on the right wing.

Samoa stayed in the fight through two successful penalty attempts but Japan crossed the line again just before half-time for a fourth try by Seungsin Lee.

Kanji Shimokawa scored another try for Japan, four minutes into the second-half but Melani Matavao struck back for Samoa.

Japan scored two more tries through Shinobu Fujiwara and Taichi Takahashi and Samoa’s Lalomilo Lalomilo scored the final try for his side.