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Sue (3'), Lam (18')
Tries
Ikanivere (13'), Tamanivalu (36'), Kuruvoli (59'), Valetini (76')
Iona (19')
Conversions
Muntz (37', 60'), Valetini (76')
Iona (9')
Penalties
Muntz (64')
A few weeks ago, I mistakenly wrote that Samoa would be the favourites when they faced Tonga to kickstart the PNC 2025, but the Tongans won that rivalry, and the odds are stacked against Samoa to see off Fiji this weekend in the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2025 on Saturday, 6 August at Rotorua International Stadium in New Zealand which is a home match for Samoa.
Fiji have won seven of their last eight matches against Samoa, and their last loss against them was in 2022 when Samoa lifted the Pacific Nations Cup title. Fiji leads the overall head-to-head 31-21, and there have been three draws.
The Samoans were chasing a 5th potential PNC title and Rugby World Cup qualification 2027 at the start of this championship, but now they face the possibility of missing out on both. Samoa have played two tests this year and lost both (Scotland and Tonga).
Samoa have been involved in every Men’s tournament since 1991, and the Samoa captain this weekend is Michael Alaalatoa in the absence of the injured Theo McFarland.
In total, the Samoans have made five changes to the side that lost to Tonga. Those changes include a new-look half-back combination with Joel Lam earning a first test start - he made his debut in the loss to Tonga - and will play alongside Rodney Iona.
Malaesaili Elato could make his test debut for Samoa and starts on the bench.
The side needs to beat Fiji and have a superior points difference to reach the semifinals, or claim an unlikely bonus point, which will take them ahead of Tonga in the pool. Any other result will see them contest a 5th-place playoff and make their RWC 2027 route more treacherous.
Samoa have lost its last two men’s Tests and haven't scored a first-half try in any of its past three Tests.
Fiji have already qualified for the RWC 2027 tournament and are the top-ranked team in the PNC as well as being the defending champions. They saw off Tonga 32-10 last week, coming through strongly in the second half to claim their opening win in their PNC title defence.
Seta Tamanivalu, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Tevita Ikanivere, and Taniela Rakuro were the try-scorers for Fiji (all four are in the matchday 23 this weekend) as the team carried twice as much as Tonga. They also controlled the possession and territory as the game went on.
One to watch will be Tevita Ikanivere, who has crossed for one try in each of his past two Tests - the first time he has scored in back-to-back games since 2020.
Head Coach Mick Byrne has made 5 changes to the starting 15 that beat Tonga last weekend. Hooker Tevita Ikanivere captains the team as part of a new-look front row, with Haereiti Hetet at loosehead prop and Samu Tawake coming in at tighthead.
The loose forwards see Kitione Salawa starting and Elia Canakaivata at number eight.
At scrum half, Simione Kuruvoli will start in a mostly unchanged backline. Among the replacements, prop Meli Tuni could earn his first cap.
Head coach Mick Byrne wants the team to avoid inconsistency, cut down on handling errors and have fewer poor carries during the game.
"We were a bit loose in our breakdown and ball carries, a great opportunity for us to work on that and present ourselves better in the next game.” Fiji has shed a lot of old misconceptions, and one is their discipline. They are yet to concede any card in their three matches to date in 2025. Against Tonga, they only conceded seven penalties in the whole match.
Despite the win last week, Fiji was not happy with the overall performance and is looking to step up this weekend, which is bad news for Samoa.
Japanese referee Takehito Namekawa is in charge.
