Overview

• Fiji overturned a 15-5 deficit to beat Samoa 29-15 in Rotorua, closing with 17 unanswered second-half points.
• Finishing first in Pool A sends Fiji to the Pacific Nations Cup semifinals and confirms Tonga’s semifinal spot that secures RWC 2027 qualification.
• Samoa drop to next weekend’s fifth-/sixth-place playoff, where the winner also qualifies for Australia 2027 and the loser moves to an inter-regional playoff.
• Japan face the USA in Sacramento later in the round, with the Eagles needing a bonus-point win while denying Japan a bonus to avoid the fifth-place game.
• Fiji and Japan are already qualified for RWC 2027, and the Pacific Nations Cup standings now determine the remaining direct qualifiers and playoff routes.