Japan Brave Blossoms vs Fiji Preview – Pacific Nations Cup 2025 Final

The final of the Pacific Nations Cup 2025 takes place at America First Field in Salt Lake City, on Saturday, 20th September, with both teams from last year’s final back to compete for the title.

Japan will hope to get the better of Fiji this time around after the Pacific Islanders clinched the title in 2o24, winning 41-17, and both sides are undefeated in this year’s PNC. However, the stats dont lie, and Fiji have beaten Japan 15 out of 17 matchups and all four times they have played at neutral venues.

Both sides are riding high after successive big wins over the opposition in this tournament; the Japanese have won and scored 45+ points in their three wins. Each team has a player on 5 tries in the PNC 2025; Amato Fakatava for Japan and Ravouvou for Fiji.

The Brave Blossoms have also been twice as effective as Fiji in winning turnovers and lead the competition with 24. Japan will be bidding to win their fourth Pacific Nations Cup title. They previously lifted the title in 2011, 2014 and 2019. If Fiji defend the title, it will be a record seventh Pacific Nations Cup – having previously lifted the trophy in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2024.

It should be high-octane rugby as both teams like to run the ball and have scored plenty of points. Fiji’s defence only conceded 25 points in the pool stage.

This week, both coaches spoke of the opposition. Fiji coach Mick Byrne said, “They (Japan) will be fast. We’ll be ready. We’ll prepare for that. We’ve got a few things to focus on ourselves. We know we’re going to be in for a battle next week.”

Japan coach Eddie Jones said, “Fiji beat us pretty easily last year, so we’ve got a lot to work on. And a short period of time to get ready.” The side he has selected is similar to previous rounds, but the big omissions are those of Ben Gunter (head knock), who has been in fantastic form and led a lot of the stats coming into the final, and livewire winger Kippe Ishida (knee injury). Sam Greene is also absent after starting at fullback as he has a hamstring niggle.

In their places are Haruto Kida on the left wing for just hos second cap, Tomoki Osada on the right wing, and Ichigo Nakakusu will start at 15 to play his first game of the PNC.

Brave Blossoms Head Coach Eddie Jones said, “We’ve had a really good preparation for the final and we’re delighted to announce a really strong team that’s come out of a strong squad. The most impressive thing for me as a coach to come out of this PNC has been the depth of the squad and the competition we’ve had for places.”

The in-form captain, Warner Dearns and Fakatava are important in the pack and for points, while Seungsin Lee, who was successful with all seven conversion attempts and also kicked two penalties for a 20-point haul in the semifinal win over Tonga, will be key at fly-half. He leads the tournament points ladder with 49.  His combination with Shinobu Fujiwara is flowing well, as is the midfield of Charlie Lawrence and Dylan Riley.

For Fiji, they have also made changes to the 23, and Kitione Salawa and Isaiah Amstrong-Ravula are new subs set to come from the bench.

They do select prop Mesake Doge, who was cleared to play following his sending off in the semifinal. Fijian coach Mick Byrne said, “It’s great for the team, but there is a bigger picture here. We thought it was quite unjust, and we are pleased that the review panel saw it the way we saw it.”

Captain Tevita Ikanivere will once again lead from hooker in the same front row, and there are threats from the pairing of Simione Kuruvoli (halfback) and Caleb Muntz at fly-half.

Photo Credit – World Rugby

Damian Schneider (Argentina) will referee the final.

Match Permutations Japan vs Fiji – Pacific Nations Cup 2025 Final

• Fiji are currently ranked ninth and Japan 13th in the World Rugby rankings.
• The  Fijians will remain ninth even if they lose to Japan
• Brave Blossoms could rise to 11th (above Wales and Georgia) if they win the Pacific Nations Cup final.

Japan Brave Blossoms Squad vs Fiji – Final PNC 2025

You can see more from the JRFU on the squad announced.

1 Kenta Kobayashi, 2 Hayate Era, 3 Shuhei Taekuchi; 4 Jack Cornelsen, 5 Warner Dearns (captain); 6 Faulua Makisi, 7 Kanji Shimokawa, 8 Amato Fakatava; 9 Shinobu Fujiwara, 10 Seungsin Lee; 11 Haruto Kida, 12 Charlie Lawrence, 13 Dylan Riley, 14 Tomoki Osada; 15 Ichigo Nakakusu

Replacements: 16 Kenji Sato, 17 Ryosuke Iwaihara, 18 Keijiro Tamefusa, 19 Tiennan Costley, 20 Akito Okui, 21 Kenta Fukuda, 22 Yuya Hirose, 23 Shogo Nakano

Fiji Squad vs Japan – PNC 2025 Final

1 Eroni Mawi, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (captain), 3 Mesake Doge; 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 5 Temo Mayanavanua; 6 Etonia Waqa, 7 Elia Canakaivata, 8 Viliame Mata; 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 10 Caleb Muntz; 11 Taniela Rokuro, 12 Inia Tabuavou, 13 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 14 Joji Nasova; 15 Ponipate Loganimasi

Replacements: 16 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Haereiti Hetet, 18 Samu Tawake, 19 Isoa Nasilasila, 20 Kitione Salawa, 21 Samuel Wye, 22 Kemueli Valetini, 23 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula

How To Watch the Pacific Nations Cup 2025

All 11 matches of the PNC 2025 will be available to watch either through RugbyPass TV or via broadcast partners in certain markets.

Pacific Nations Cup New 2025

• Brave Blossoms March On Into Pacific Nations Cup 2025 Final.
• Japan Brave Blossoms vs Tonga Preview – Pacific Nations Cup 2025 Semifinal
• Pacific Nations Cup 2025 Details Announced.
• Japan Brave Blossoms vs Canada Preview – Pacific Nations Cup 2025.