Pacific Nations Cup Round Up

Japan have toppled defending champions Fiji on the opening weekend of World Rugby’s Pacific Nations Cup 2019 to get their Rugby World Cup preparations off to a perfect start. In the weekend’s other matches Samoa came from behind to beat Tonga in Apia and USA put in a dominant performance to down Canada in Colorado.

In Japan, the Brave Blossoms claimed a 34-21 victory over Fiji in front of a sell-out crowd at the Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium, as the Rugby World Cup venue was officially added to the list of test match host venues.

Japan making their mark...#PNC2019 @WorldRugby pic.twitter.com/kqqOm91gOV

— Gilbert Rugby 🏉 (@GILBERT_RUGBY) July 29, 2019

Japan’s performance at the Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium was worthy of the occasion as they held off a second-half fight back from Fiji, a side they hadn't beaten in the previous eight years.

The Pacific Nations Cup match at Kamaishi and the upcoming game at Hanazono this Saturday are both being used for operational testing as part of the country’s Rugby World Cup readiness programme to ensure the country is primed and ready for the Rugby World Cup kick off on 20 September. 

Meanwhile, at Apia Park in Samoa, the hosts downed Tonga 25-17, after ill-discipline cost the visitors dearly in the final quarter, allowing Samoa to come from behind to secure the victory in the opening match of the Pacific Nations Cup.

In Colorado, USA’s dominance over Canada continued with a 47-19 victory over their North American neighbours in the weekend’s final match, which took place in front of a sold-out crowd at Infinity Park in Glendale.

Canada have not beaten USA since August 2013, and rarely looked like improving on that recent record as the hosts raced to an early two-try lead from which Canada were unable to recover.