Early try blitz ensures victory for Fiji over Tonga

The Flying Fijians scored three early tries in the first half and held on to win their opening 2023 Pacific Nations Cup match with a 36-20 scoreline against Tonga at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Saturday afternoon.

With a penalty try minutes into the game following the collapsing of a Fijian maul by the Tongan pack, the hosts suddenly came alive.

Then captain Waisea Nayacalevu touched down after a Fijian backline move before hooker Sam Matavesi added his try to give Fiji a handy lead.

Debutant flyhalf Caleb Muntz added the extra points as Fiji led 19-0 in the first quarter of the match.

But Tonga struck back with determination as their forward pack took the game to the Flying Fijians.

Siua Maile and Halaleva Fifita scored a try each for the 'Ikale Tahi.

French based Josua Tuisova, playing at number 12 for Fiji, finished off a good attack, stepping inside would be tacklers and slicing through to score a try giving Fiji a 26-15 lead at the break.

Tonga started the second half better, with replacement winger Kyren Taumoefolau diving over in the corner following Charles (Salesi) Piutau's run through the Fijian defence.

The conversion closed the gap to 26-20 and Tonga came alive with some good forward drives.

But two crucial turnovers in front of the Fijian line went against them.

Fiji claimed another try in the second half through replacement halfback Peni Matawalu, with Muntz adding a penalty and the conversion of that try to finish the game at 36-20.

Close to 15,000 fans, including Fijian President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, were on hand to watch the match.

Losing coach Toutai Kefu said they had made mistakes and taken wrong options during the game.

"I think we were our own worst enemy," he said. "Far too many mistakes and there were poor choices and some poor executions."

But he was confident his team would bounce back.

"I think at times the forwards were very physical so it is good to see some of that come back into our game," he said.

"And I think after being down three tries within 10 minutes we did well to come back after that."

Nayacalevu said Tonga was tough but he was proud of his players for staying in the game.

"Tonga came back hard and we just held in there. It was a tough game but happy that we have managed to win that one," he said.

There was only one yellow card shown during the game, to Tongan flanker Tanginoa Halaifonua, who was pinged for collapsing the Fijian maul in the fifth minute of the game.

Meanwhile, Manu Samoa started their Pacific Nations Cup campaign with a close 24-22 win over Japan on Saturday evening.

Japan were reduced to 14 men after Michael Leitch was red carded for an infringement in the first half.

That gave Samoa the advantage in the game but the Blues struggled to contain the Japanese in the match.

The win means Samoa and Fiji have a win each to their names in the competition so far.

Samoa will meet Fiji in Apia on July 29 while Japan tackles Tonga at home on the same day.