Fiji 28 Samoa 17

Fiji beat holders Samoa 28-17 to win the Pacific Rim Championship in a tough final played at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo.

This was the third time the two teams have met in the last five weeks.  Before the final they had each won a match.

For Fiji it was a glorious end to troubled season that saw their performance at Sevens take a dive and the sudden departure of their 15-a-side coach.

Fiji dominated most of the match as their forwards got on top to send their backs running.  Manu Samoa did not really get into the game till the last ten minutes, when they, the proud holders of the Epson Cup, threw attack after attack at the Fijian defence which held firm.

Tries were scarce.  Each side scored only one.  In the end it was the boot of Nicky Little, the Fijian flyhalf, which won the day.  He scored with eight of nine attempts at goal.  At half-time Fiji led the kicking duel and were ahead 12-9.

Both tries were scored early in the second half -- by Alfie Uluinayau for Fiji from a backline movement after a line-out and scrumhalf Steven So'oialo for Samoa.

For most of the match the Samoans looked sluggish, which was hardly surprising as they were playing their eighth test in six weeks, their fourth in a fortnight.  Losing both locks in the first half did not help their cause.

In the second half the match threatened to boil over and the referee, Bruce Kuklinski was forced to keep a firm hand on proceedings.

The Teams:

Fiji:  1 Billy Cavubati, 2 Greg Smith (c), 3 Henry Qiodravu, 4 Apisai Naevo, 5 Simon Raiwalui, 6 Alifereti Doviverata, 7 Jope Tuikabe, 8 Inoke Male, 9 Jacob Rauluni, 10 Nicky Little, 11 Vilimoni Delasau, 12 Viliame Satala, 13 Alfred Uluinayau, 14 Adriu Rinakama, 15 Norman Ligairi
Reserves:  Dan Baleinadogo, Peniasi Damu, Sisa Koyamaibole, Sami Rabaka Nasagavesi, Isaia Rasila, Saimoni Rokini

Samoa:  1 Polo Asi, 2 Ace Tiatia, 3 Kas Lealamanu'a, 4 Opeta Palepoi, 5 Lama Tone, 6 Craig Glendinning, 7 Semo Sititi (c), 8 Junior Paramore, 9 Stephen So'oilao, 10 Earl Va'a, 11 Brian Lima, 12 Inga Tuigamala, 13 To'o Vaega, 14 Elvis Seveali'i, 15 Tanner Vili
Reserves:  Terry Fanolua, Trevor Leota, Silao Leaega, Mark Luafalealo, Alfie To'oalo

Referee:  Kuklinski b.

Points Scorers:

Fiji
Tries:  Uluinayau A.B. 1
Conv:  Little N.T. 1
Pen K.:  Little N.T. 7

Samoa
Tries:  So'oilao S. 1
Pen K.:  Va'a E.V. 3, Leaega S. 1