Fiji’s Fijian Flair Overpowers Tonga in Thrilling 32-10 Victory at Pacific Nations Cup
Tonga kicked off their 2025 Pacific Nations Cup campaign with a shock win over Manu Samoa, which set the stage for their round 2 clash against reigning champions Fiji in Suva. Having had a bye in the opening round, Fiji were eager to get their title defense underway, and they did so in typical Fijian style, mixing electrifying pace with clinical execution.
The match began in dramatic fashion, with Tonga taking the early initiative. Just three minutes in, Augustine Pulu danced through the Fijian defense to score a brilliant try, sending an early shockwave through the crowd. However, the lead didn’t last long. After a knock-on from Tonga’s John Tapueluelu off the restart, Fiji quickly capitalized. A scrum, followed by several phases of swift ball movement, allowed Caleb Muntz to slot a penalty and pull Fiji back into the game.
The match became more competitive as Tongan indiscipline allowed Fiji to control the flow. Tonga’s No. 8, Siosiua Moala, was sent to the sin bin for a side-entry infringement in a rolling maul, and shortly thereafter, the Fijians capitalized with a sensational long-range try. After a brief counterattack, Ponipate Loganimasi’s speed put Fiji in prime position. His offload to Tuidraki Samusamuvodre and former All Black Seta Tamanivalu saw the Fijian pair cover the ground to finish the try.
Fiji added another soon after, exploiting a Tongan knock-on near their own line. The ball moved wide with rapid precision, and Kalaveti Ravouvou finished the move with a powerful sidestep to break through the defense and score.
Despite struggling with their own set-piece accuracy and lineout issues, Tonga fought back with a penalty from Patrick Pellegrini that kept the game within one score. At halftime, the scoreboard read 17-10 in favor of Fiji.
In the second half, both teams ramped up their defense. Tonga’s line held strong, especially when they stopped Fiji’s maul and even held them up over the try line early in the period. However, as the match wore on, Fiji’s dominance in set-pieces, particularly scrums, began to show. A penalty for an off-the-ball tackle gave Fiji a crucial three points.
With 18 minutes left, Fiji put the game beyond reach. A superb aerial catch from Loganimasi off a cross-field kick set up Tevita Ikanivere, who powered over to score Fiji’s third try. Tonga’s hopes were dashed further when Moala was shown a second yellow card for the same infringement earlier in the game, leading to a red card.
Although Tonga fought valiantly, with a try in the dying minutes that was ruled out for an earlier knock-on, Fiji’s resilience and tactical kicking saw them through to a 32-10 victory. Despite the loss, Tonga’s spirited performance proved they could compete, but Fiji’s class ultimately prevailed in a well-deserved win.
