Samoa edge Fiji to claim fourth Pacific Nations Cup title

July 16, 2022
2307
Ultimate Rugby

Samoa have won the Pacific Nations Cup after edging Fiji 23-20 in an epic encounter at Churchill Park.

It is the first time that Samoa have won the competition since 2014 with Fiji winning four titles in a row between 2015 and 2018 before Japan claimed the title in 2019.

Manu Samoa overturned a 17-3 half-time deficit to defeat the Fijians running in two second-half tries to none to secure victory.

Seilala Lam scored a try in the final 10 minutes to hand Samoa the lead which never lost again, even in spite of Fiji’s best efforts in the closing stages as they threatened Samoa’s try line.

Samoa opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a penalty via the boot of Rodney Ioana but Fiji responded with Albert Tuisue finding away over the whitewash.

Frank Lomani brilliantly stepped his way over the line for Fiji's second with Ben Volavolva adding the extras on both tries and a penalty to send his side into the break 17-3 up.

Seilala Lam scored early in the first half to close the hap to 17-10 before Volavola knocked over another penalty. Iona added two penalties in the next 20 minutes before Lam crashed over the match winner.

In the other result from the final week of the Pacific Nations Cup, Tonga were defeated 22-39 by Australia A with the Aussies finishing the competition in second place behind Somoa, who went undefeated.

Fiji finishes third with the winless Tonga finishing in fourth. Tonga face Hong Kong in a Rugby Word Cup qualifier next weekend.