Canada, Outpowered 63-10 by Fiji in Pacific Nations Cup Semifinal
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By Doug Hirdle
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Summary:
- Canada’s men rugby team lost the Pacific Nations Cup semifinal on Sunday against Fiji.
- Brock Gallagher scored the only try; Peter Nelson kicked a conversion and a penalty.
- Next up, Canada will meet Tonga in the third-place game in Utah.
The Pacific Nations Cup men’s rugby semifinal on Sunday ended with a crushing 63-10 loss for the Canadians (ranked 24th), as Fiji (ranked 9th) managed to run in nine tries, once again proving their undeniable athletic skills.
Mason Flesch: “They Just Outworked Us in the First Half”
The “very difficult score line to take in” as described by captain Mason Flesch, represents the highest number of points ever to be yielded by a Canadian men’s team following the 70-14 loss to England in 2021 at Twickenham.
We were really looking to back up our performance against Japan. We had a pretty competitive first half against them (Canada trailed 17-10 at the break). We were just looked to build off that but I think Fiji, they just outworked us in the first half.”
The Pacific Islanders led 43-3 after a first half that counted six tries and held on to their advantage in the second, courtesy of Kalaveti Ravouvou, Taniela Rakuro, Mesake Vocevoce, Etonia Waqa, Eroni Mawi, Joji Nasova, and Kemu Valetini. The latter booted six conversions and two penalties.
Brock Gallagher brought the Canadian side its only try while Peter Nelson managed to kick a conversion and a penalty. Following Nelson’s seven-minute penalty that dropped Fiji’s advantage to 7-3, the latter eventually pulled 51 points before Gallagher pulled one through in the 59th minute.
Up Next
Next Saturday, Fiji will face Japan (ranked 13th) in the America First Field championship game, scheduled for Sandy, Utah. This matchup follows Japan’s win over 16th-ranked Tonga in the semifinal at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Fiji came out with flying colors in the 2024 final with a 41-17 score.
In the meantime, the Canadians, who played their fifth game under the reins of coach Steve Meehan, will meet Tonga in the third-place game which Canadian’s can live bet will be held at the same location, following their 30-17 loss in the fifth-place match from last year.
Samoa will also meet Chile in a two-legged South America/Pacific Playoff scheduled for September 20 in Salt Lake City and a week later in Chile, as the winner of the series aggregate will turn into the 23rd team to make it into the World Cup. The losing side will try their luck in Dubai at the Final Qualification Tournament between November 8 and 18.
While Fiji boasts six Pacific Nations Cup wins and five runner-up finishes, the Canadian side’s best tournament results were the 2013 runner-up to Fiji and a third-place ranking a year later.
The six-team cup event will send three teams to the World Cup, with Fiji and Japan already qualified due to their 2023 World Cup performance, and the US team joining Canada and Tonga in qualifications.
