Samoa’s Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 qualification dreams remain on hold after they lost 29-15 to Fiji in a physical and penalty-strewn Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup encounter at Rotorua International Stadium in New Zealand to enter next weekend’s fifth-place play-off.
But they gave it everything, hitting the ground at full tilt, leading 8-0 and 15-5 in the first half as they set out in search of the bonus-point win that would have seen them overhaul Tonga in Pool B, and claim a more direct route to Australia 2027.
They got off to a perfect start, scoring the game’s opening try in the third minute. Hooker Pita Anae Ah-Sue had the ball under his arm as a five-metre lineout maul drove over the line. Manu Samoa quickly had a second chance of a score minutes later from a similar position. This time, Fiji’s defence stood firm and forced a knock-on as Samoa looked to move the ball.
But, a ferocious Samoa scrum won a penalty. It was clear early on that they had worked on their set-pieces. Suddenly, with 10 minutes on the clock, Samoa were 8-0 up and Fiji had barely touched the ball.
When they did, however, they quickly got on the scoreboard. The manner was similar to Samoa’s opener. A penalty to touch five metres out. A lineout, a maul drive and a try for hooker and captain Tevita Ikanivere.
So Samoa upped the pace. Ten minutes later, Melani Nanai darted between two Fiji defenders, a switch of hands doing the job of a dummy, before his no-look inside ball released Joel Lam to score. They led 15-5 and had two of the four tries they needed for a bonus point.
But the defending champions were finding their feet. And they were willing to attack from anywhere, even when they were being stretched in defence. A series of quick penalties moved them from deep in their own territory to five metres from Samoa’s line.
Ikanivere was held up, but another penalty gave Fiji another shot just before half-time and Seta Tamanivalu picked the perfect cutback line – there was no stopping him.
In scoring terms, the second half got off to a muted start. But the spectacle was as enthralling despite the repeated penalty stoppages and the lack of points until the hour, when, following a series of phases, the ball went wide to Iakopo Petelo-Mapu. His smart dab ahead rolled dangerously into Samoa’s in-goal area – where Simione Kuruvoli was first to it.
Just like that, Fiji were ahead for the first time. Caleb Muntz extended their lead with a penalty – the 25th of the match – in the 65th minute.
Fiji were not just ahead on the scoreboard. After a slow start, they had turned the game in their favour and Kalaveti Ravouvou rounded off a patient set to score the Flying Fijians' fourth try in the corner with moments left on the clock to condemn Samoa to the fifth-place play-off in Denver, Colorado, next weekend, and send Tonga to Men's Rugby World Cup 2027.
Despite the defeat, Samoa captain Michael Alaalatoa welcomed his side’s improved performance. “Very proud of our effort today,” he told RugbyPass TV immediately afterwards. “We were very disappointed after the Tonga game. We bounced back well. [There were] just a couple of moments there when we let the Fijians back in. When you’re playing against a quality side like Fiji, you can’t let those moments slip.
“We wanted to show what it means to wear the jersey. I thought for long periods of this match we showed what it means to be a Manu Samoa player. We’ve just got to nail our execution in crucial moments.”
Fiji coach Mick Byrne, meanwhile, hailed his side’s second-half turnaround after a first 40 dominated by Samoa. “When we came out in the second half, we were pretty aggressive in defence, which got us back into the game. But 14 or 15 penalties is not good enough at this level.
“We just hung in there. We knew that if we could hang on to the ball and play our game, we were going to ask some questions. But, full credit to Samoa – they came out physically and played some great footy, and really asked some questions of us that we were struggling to answer in the first half.”
