The Pacific Nations Cup final is upon us, and it’s a rematch of last year’s Osaka epic, this time to be played out in Utah. Now, the team sheets are in.
With both finalists, Japan and Fiji, running up 62- and 63-point scorelines, respectively, in the semi-final stage, the teams are both heading to the final in flying form.
Fiji’s 41-17 triumph in the same fixture a year ago is sure to be in the back of both teams’ minds, but Eddie Jones’ youthful Japan side has got some meaningful runs on the board in the time since, and again tore through the pool stages in 2025, outscoring their opposition by 68 in just the two Tests.
Fiji’s team naming sees Caleb Muntz back at 10, after an impact role in the semi-finals, while injured former All Black Seta Tamanivalu is replaced by Fiji’s hat-trick hero of the semi-final, Kalaveti Ravouvou, who shifts from wing to centre. Mesake Doge has been named to start after his semi-final red card was overturned by an independent disciplinary committee this week.
For Fiji, one change in the pack sees Faulua Makisi promoted to the starting unit on the blindside flank, while the outside backs have been shuffled with Haruto Kida and Ichigo Nakakusu joining Tomoki Osada in the starting XV. The team has opted against the 6/2 bench split they utilised a week ago.
Head-to-Head
Last 3 Meetings
Average Points scored
Fiji team to play Japan
Eroni MawiTevita Ikanivere (captain)Mesake DogeMesake VocevoceTemo MayanavanuaEtonia WaqaElia CanakaivataViliame MataSimione KuruvoliCaleb MuntzTaniela RokuroInia TabuavouKalaveti RavouvouJoji NasovaPonipate Loganimasi
Reserves
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 team to play Fiji
Kenta KobayashiHayate EraShuhei TaekuchiJack CornelsenWarner Dearns (captain)Faulua MakisiKanji ShimokawaAmato FakatavaShinobu FujiwaraSeungsin LeeHaruto KidaCharlie LawrenceDylan RileyTomoki OsadaIchigo 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
The bronze medal match between Tonga and the USA will precede the final, with 2024’s fifth-place play-off contenders, Tonga and the USA, vying for a top-three finish in 2025.
Tonga managed to at least put up 24 points of their own in their semi-final blowout loss to Japan, but the USA, who scored just 10 points last week, will have the benefit of a home crowd in Utah.
Head-to-Head
Last 3 Meetings
Average Points scored
Tonga team to play Canada
Siegfried Fisi’ihoiSam MoliBen Tameifuna (captain)Veikoso PoloniatiHarison MataeleTevita AhokoviTupou AfungiaSiosiua MoalaSonatane TakuluaPatrick PellegriniJohn TapuelueluFetuli PaeaSalesi PiutauNikolai FoliakiJosiah Unga
Replacements
16. Sefo Sakalia
17. Leopino Maupese
18. Tau Koloamatangi
19. Tali Finau
20. Ephraim Tuitupou
21. Siaosi Nai
22. Uilisi Halaholo
23. James Faiva
Canada team to play Tonga
Calixto MartinezDewald KotzeCole KeithPiers von DadelszenIzzak KellyMason Flesch (captain)7 Siôn ParryMatt OworuBrock GallagherPeter NelsonJosiah MorraTalon McMullinSpencer JonesJack ShawNic Benn
Replacements
16. Austin Creighton
17. Emerson Prior
18. Kyle Steeves
19. Callum Botchar
20. Matt Heaton
21. Jason Higgins
22. Noah Flesch
23. Shane O’Leary
The curtain raiser will be a consequential showdown between Samoa and Chile, with a place at the 2027 Rugby World Cup awarded to the winner of the two-Test series, which will conclude in Chile’s beautiful Viña del Mar next weekend.
Samoa team to play Chile
Aki SeiuliPita Anae Ah SueMichael Alaalatoa (captain)Benjamin Petaia Nee-NeeMichael CurryOlajuwon NoaAlamanda Motuga8 Iokopo MapuConnor Tupa’iChristian Leali’ifanoLatrell Ah KiongTheodore SteffanyMelani NanaiElisapeta AlofipoLogali Visinia
Replacements
16. Ray Niuia
17. Jarred Adams
18. Bradley So’o Amituanai
19. Potu Leavasa
20. Abraham Papali’i
21. Joel Lam
22. Henry Taefu
23. Tomasi Alosio
Chile team to play Samoa
Javier CarrascoDiego EscobarIñaki GurruchagaSantiago PedreroJavier EissmannRaimundo MartínezClemente Saavedra (captain)Alfonso EscobarBenjamín VidelaJuan Cruz ReyesIñaki Ayarza12 Santiago VidelaMatías GarafulicNicolás Garafulic15 Cristóbal Game
Replacements
16. Augusto Böhme
17. Norman Aguayo
18. Matías Dittus
19. Bruno Sáez
20. Ernesto Tchimino
21. Lucas Berti
22. Nicolás Saab
23. Tomás Salas
AloJapan.com