ENR: Pacific Nations Cup (4)
Last weekend we were treated to three, cross-pool games, all hosted in Japan. The start of the competition finals opened with a fifth place playoff between Tonga and Canada. This would be followed by the two semi-finals where top ranked Fiji and Japan would play USA and Samoa respectively.
The battle to avoid the wooden spoon kicked off on Saturday morning and after witnessing both teams previous performances, my expectations of seeing quality rugby were low. Fly half, Nelson, opened up proceedings with an early three points for Canada. They struggled to exit after the following restart and eventually gave away a penalty for hands in the ruck. Wanting to make a statement, Tonga went to the corner and mauled against a turnstile defence for their first try and conversion. Tonga showed more creativity in their attacking intent than they had in previous weeks. Using hidden runners and hard lines, they managed to free up space for winger, Tapueluelu, to find his way into the corner. Canada’s Loosehead, Martinez, managed the impossible and won a scrum penalty against Tonga’s captain, Tameifuna. The Tongan front row were feeling the pressure so much that their loosehead, Felecia, saw yellow for collapsing the subsequent maul. Hooker, Quattrin, took advantage of the extra man and tumbled under the sticks to take Canada to 10. Tonga clearly realised their maul was going to be a potent weapon. They unleashed it again to send the Canadian defence scrambling and after two more phases fullback, Unga, hit a line that got him on the score sheet. The conversion was missed but Pellegrini made up for it with a 3 pointer just before the half was called with Tonga at 22 and Canada at 10.
The second half opened with both teams gaining advantage from each others errors. Canada were stealing line outs but then ran out of space and numbers when they tried to profit from their possession. Tonga overplayed themselves when their blitz defence created a loose ball but lacked the support to finish. Play remained stagnant until minute 65 when outside centre, McMullen, took advantage of an undefended ruck. He picked the ball from the base and raced under the posts to bring Canada within a score. Making that score, however, was going to be tough as flanker, Fryer, was spotted by the TMO with a dangerous tackle and was to sit out the remainder of the game. Pelegrini, kicked the 3 and with it Canada’s chances of a comeback. It was on the final hooter that Tonga peeled off of an attacking scrum, spinning the ball wide for Tapueluelu, to claim his brace and claim the fifth place in the PNC. Canada stayed within the game but only took the lead for a matter of minutes. In fact, they only lead twice in this tournament, and both were penalties in the opening minutes of the game. This was their better performance and with it being a young team there is room for growth. Tonga are not without their need for growth. This small win should not paper over the cracks of their performance in this tournament and if they want to improve they’ll need to update their style of play.
Tonga 30 - 17 Canada
The action continued with the first of the semi finals, Fiji vs USA. Last week I didn’t have any confidence in this American team but they opened surprisingly strong. With an early line break from Augspurger, the Fijian defence had to bend the law to slow down the attack, this allowed USA to kick themselves in front by 3. They were offered another chance at a 3 when Fiji were caught offside but Mattina lacked the accuracy. Although most of the threats were coming from the USA attack, Fiji never looked fazed. They’re confidence in their own abilities became apparent when being offered a penalty 5 meters out from the American try line, they chose to scrum. The following attack made it over the line but the ball was held up. Fiji had sent the message that they were here to play. Fiji’s next scrum obliterated the USA and offered their flyhallf, Muntz, his chance to equalise. USA had to complete an exit from their own 22m but two successive rucks were blitzed by the Fijian defence, dislodging the ball with 8-man, Canakaivata, reaping the rewards. Muntz hit the conversion to finish the half 10-3.
USA came out the sheds swinging but it was the Fijian flair that dictated the first points of the half. A trio of offloads sent Canakaivata in for his second try. On the 55th minute Fiji’s hooker, Ikanivere was sent to the sin bin for a clear out straight to the head, but this didn’t seem to hinder them as five minutes later they scored their third try. Another offload extravaganza, causing USA defenders to over commit numbers on several attackers. The conversion was missed and the rest of the game remained at 22-3. With Fiji returning to the full compliment of fifteen, USA’s hopes of success evaporated.
In the last twenty minutes of the half the fitness of the Americans visibly dwindled, even with Fiji taking their foot off the gas, USA couldn’t get anymore points on the board. They didn’t give up, they just didn’t offer anything more, or different. Both North American teams haven’t been able to change tact once they get figured out. A plan-B may be prudent for their coaches to considering in future games.
Fiji 22 - 3 USA
The weekends excitement ended with Japan taking on Samoa in front of their home crowd in Tokyo. Early mistakes allowed Japan vital territory and possession where they wasted no time in scoring points. Outside centre Riley, finding himself on the end of a grubber from Lee, who also got the conversion. Japans attack was relentless and when they reached the try line once again Samoa’s winger, Alofipo, made the grave error of a deliberate knock on, causing himself to see yellow and awarding the Japanese a penalty try. Samoa, now with the impetus to step up, managed to find their way to the try line with a blazing break through the middle with 8-man, Petelo-Aiono, and playing to an open Tuitama to score. Japans winger, Osada, took the next try, receiving a kick pass from his full back, Lee who, to this point, could claim assists in all of Japans points. Samoa, now back to a full compliment of players, were awarded the next two penalties. One for offside and the other a breakdown turnover. Both of which Samoa kicked to bring them within an 8 point deficit. The final try of the half came from Japan, after a series of lightning quick breakdowns, Samoa couldn’t fold enough defenders around and Lee finally got a try for himself, slotting the conversion to put the cherry on top.
Lee’s boot continued to marshal the Japanese attack when in the second half, after they pinched the ball from the Samoans, he jabbed through a grubber kick for Shimokawa to claim a try. After a lengthy hiatus, Samoa made their way to the try line again, this time employing two miss passes to find the edge and passing back inside for scrum half Matavao to bring the Samoans to 20 points once the conversion was struck. Japans scrum half Fujiwara, not wanting to be left out of the action scored the next try, taking advantage of a defence who’s attention were on the upcoming pod, failing to set their guards in their try line defence. Lee, having an unbelievable day from the tee, took the Japanese to 42 points. Lee attempted another probing kick but this one was fielded expertly by the Samoan fly half, Iona. He ran it back against a threadbare defence with the support from centre, Lalomilo, who scored the try. Japan ended the game with a constant hammering on the Samoan try line, eventually drawing in enough defenders to release outside centre Takahashi on the open side to close the game out with another successful conversion.
Japan 49 - 27 Samoa
Saturday opens with the third place play off between USA and Samoa. If the Americans can withstand the force of the Samoan defence then there will be a chance of success however they need to develop the attacking shapes to exploit these flaws in their opposition. Samoa’s defensive readings could be the major skill that sees them take home bronze from this tournament.
Both winners of the pool stages managed to progress to the finals this weekend and I believe the inaccuracies of the Fijians will be their downfall against the accurate and rapid style of the Japanese. If the Fijians can affect enough loose ball then they could take advantage of an uncomfortable Japanese team. Japan will no doubt be desperate to put in one more spectacular performance in front of their home crowd.
all games can be watched on Rugbypass.com