Pacific Nations Cup review: Round 3
The Pacific Nations Cup returned with a bang on Wednesday as nations fought to strengthen their finishing position ahead of the final, third place play-off and fifth place play-off, which takes place next Monday.
Canada 20-21 Samoa
Sakaria Taulafo dived on the loose ball for a last-minute try to give Samoa victory over Canada in their Pacific Nations Cup clash in Toronto, booking their place in the final.
Canada, who had a 13-3 lead at halftime, had been leading their clash against the ninth-ranked Samoans when James Pritchard converted a try that gave the Canadians a 20-16 lead with the clock winding down.
Samoa then drove down the field and while they had their lineout stole by Canada when the ball came loose Taulafo scrambled to score the match-clinching try.
The grand final match with Fiji is a 1 am start on Tuesday morning UK time, both games being streamed live on the World Rugby website.
Fiji 27-22 Japan
Fiji withstood a furious late onslaught from Japan to book their place in the final.
Three yellow cards in the second half, including two in the last five minutes for forwards Leone Nakarawa and Campese Ma’afu, nearly proved costly for Fiji as a 24-9 advantage soon after the break came within a whisker of being wiped out by Japan.
However, the brave blossoms hung on and now will face Samoa in the Pacific Nations Cup final while Japan face Tonga in the third place play-off.
USA 19-33 Tonga
Despite the victory over The USA the Tongans missed out on playing in the title decider on Monday as both Fiji and Samoa claimed victory.
The Eagles now face Canada as they battle not to finish in last place in the Pacific Nations Cup in Vancouver.