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While Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and Japan did play each other in the lead-up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup, no official PNC tournament took place in 2023. As such, Samoa are the defending champions, having gone undefeated at the 2022 iteration of the tournament. Fiji won the 2024 title, beating Japan in the Grand Final, 41–17. [6]
Samoa Score Opponent Venue Note 29 April 2023 Manusina XV 41–10 Tonga Women's A: Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland [70] [71] 23 September 2023: Manusina XV 12–38 Black Ferns XV: Navigation Homes Stadium [72] 16 September 2024: Samoa 20–17 Australia A: Apia Park, Apia [73]
This was Samoa's first victory against a tier 1 nation since 2014 – the last time they hosted Italy, winning 15–0. Lolani Faleiva, Marco Fepulea'i, Afa Moleli, Izaiha Moore-Aiono, Sebastian Visinia (all Samoa), Matt Gallagher and Loris Zarantonello (both Italy) made their international debuts. [9] [10]
JAPAN vs. SAMOA (Samoa leads 12-5 overall, Japan leads 2-1 in RWC) Japan and Samoa broke ground at the Rugby World Cup by handling the spirited Chileans. Then both ran into trouble.
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Japan's defense also made 184 tackles, more than twice as many as Samoa, to thwart waves of blue-shirt attacks. A late converted try gave Samoa 90-odd seconds to pull off a miracle comeback.
Fiji won the championship this time, ahead of Samoa who narrowly edged-out Japan for second place. In October 2023, World Rugby announced that beginning in 2024 the Pacific Nations Cup will be contested by six permanent teams from North America, the Pacific, and Asia: Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, and the United States.
Samoa shook up its back row and midfield for the must-win Rugby World Cup match against Japan on Thursday. Japan limited its changes to two backs after losing to England 34-12 last week in Nice.