Fiji v Japan
America First Field, Salt Lake City, Utah
Referee: Damian Schneider (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Luke Pearce (England), Robin Kaluzniak (Canada)
Television Match Official: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Both Fiji and Japan won their semi-finals convincingly to secure a place in the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2025 title decider, a repeat of the 2024 final.
With defending champions Fiji currently ranked ninth and Japan 13th in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings, a lot is on the line in potential ranking improvements, not to mention the pride and prestige of holding the trophy aloft at the final whistle.
Brave Blossoms’ head coach Eddie Jones set out his side’s stall for the title early, saying before the tournament kicked off that they wanted to go one better than last year, when they lost 41-17 in the showpiece match in Higashiosaka.
But the Flying Fijians, coached by fellow Australian Mick Byrne – who have gradually picked up the pace throughout this year’s Pacific Nations Cup – aren’t about to give up their title.
Matchday squads:
Fiji (1-15): 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
Japan: 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
