Pacific Nations Cup 2025 Final Review – Fiji Defend Title Against Brave Blossoms

Fiji retained their title in the Pacific Nations Cup 2025 final, beating the Japanese Brave Blossoms 33-27 in a highly entertaining PNC game in Salt Lake City, Utah, with the momentum shifts and high pace of the match played, ensuring an action-packed finale to the competition. 

Feature Photo Credit – JRFU

Japan were underdogs already heading into the match, and were without three key players, but were dealt a further blow with the late withdrawal of centre Dylan Riley.  There were no excuses made by the side, and Fiji proved too strong in a game that ebbed and flowed.

Japan were leading in the opening quarter thanks to an early try from hooker Hayate Era (who also had one ruled out by the TMO) and a Seungsin Lee penalty, who again enjoyed a 100% kicking success rate from the boot for the second week in a row. The speed of the hands in attack forced Fiji into penalties.

Then Fii turned on the flair, blending an impervious running game, raw power and some outrageous handling skills to stun the Japanese as they scored four times in the half and led 26-10. First to score was second rower Mesake Vocevoce with a rangey run, then Inia Tabuavou, Tevita Ikanivere, and finally, the eventual player of the final for right wing, Joji Nasova, with an excellent solo score, stepping and handing off defenders.

He had beaten more defenders than anyone else in the PNC – 16 before the final. The Fijian pace of transition was so tough to handle as Japan were constantly scrambling.

Photo Credit – Fiji Rugby Union

Fiji started the second half strongly and added another try through Nasova as a demolition job looked to be unfolding but the Brave Blossoms, with Eddie Jones hinting before the game might be the case, came back strongest in the final quarter, and Fiji did not register a score and had two yellow cards; frankly, it could have been more.

With the mixture of players injured and players in the sin-bin, there was a period of uncontested scrums; the Japanese had marginally the upper hand in this area during the full 80 minutes.

The Japanese struck twice to claw within six points of the reigning champions in an enthralling final quarter, but they ran out of time to achieve an unlikely comeback. Tries came from fullback Ichigo Nakakusu, and Era got a double, with a Lee penalty.

Photo Credit – JRFU

What The Players and Coaches Said – Pacific Nations Cup 2025 Final

Brave Blossoms Head Coach Eddie Jones said via the JRFU of the Pacific Nations Cup loss, “It’s been a good tournament to play in. For our young team, it’s a hard pill to swallow. We played well in the second half, but let Fiji get away too much in the first half.”

Captain Warner Dearns commented, “That was a tough 80. A bit disappointed in that we probably let them get away from us too much in the first half, and we just couldn’t bring it back in the second. But the way our boys fought was unreal. It was an awesome effort from both teams and an awesome game of rugby.

We love to play an attacking style of rugby, so I think when we have the ball in hand, we can play that quick-tempo rugby. That’s the biggest positive we’ve got from the tournament. We can really play, so we’ve got to work more on that,” he added.

Hooker Hayato Era, who scored a brace of tries, “We started the first half well, but from around the 20th minute we allowed our opponents to show their strengths, which is typical of Fiji. Personally, I think it was good that we were able to form good scrums as a result of trying to keep pushing forward physically.

We have a match against a tier 1 team coming up in the autumn, but we will never hold back when it comes to physicality and will continue to play with the pride of the Japanese national team on our shoulders.”

Japan Centre Charlie Lawrence (who has Hong Kong ties) and was capped in the PNC 2025, said, “It was a tough game. In the first half, we made a lot of small mistakes and couldn’t play at our own pace. The tries they (Fiji) scored were due to our mistakes. But the team made a comeback in the second half and fought well. I was watching from the bench in the second half and thought we might win in the end, but unfortunately, we lost.”

Photo Credit – World Rugby

Man of the Match, Joji Nasova (Fiji) said, “My dream came true – last year during the South Pacific Games I was watching TV (watching the team win in Japan), but this year I’ve achieved my dream to play in the Finals.”

Fiji Captain, Tevita Ikanivere: “I’m just proud of the 13 boys on the field and the 14 boys just working hard for each other… We talked about coming out to hunt… and coming out to harvest today.”

Head Coach Mick Byrne added, “It was tough today, but it feels great to take the cup back home. We showed fight in the end, and the boys dug deep and showed composure to the end “.

Tonga beat Canada 35-24 to claim third overall.

You can watch the highlights of the PNC 2025 final below:

The Brave Blossoms next face Australia at Tokyo’s National Stadium on Saturday, October 25, before matches in Europe against South Africa, Ireland and Georgia.

The JAPAN XV will face Australia A in an uncapped match in Osaka on Saturday, October 18 and then face Hong Kong China at Kai Tak Stadium on Friday, 24th October.

Pacific Nations Cup New 2025

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