Fiji

ANZ CEO Pacific and Fiji, Vishnu Mohan, officially announced the five-year renewal of ANZ Stadium’s naming rights at the stadium today with the Chairman of the Fiji Sports Council, Peter Mazey and CEO of the Fiji Sports Council Litiana Loabuka.

“Fiji has a long and distinguished sporting history and we all know how important sport is to all Fijians and Pacific Islanders. This was clearly evident with some amazing results recorded at last month’s 2015 Pacific Games,” Mohan said.  

Hoornweg coached Fiji in the 90s and was in charge for a short stint last year when the Pearls qualified for the World Cup by defending the Pacific Series title.

She will be in the crowd for the opening match but admits there will be an element of divided loyalties.

Fiji will firstly host Tonga on 19 August at Govind Park in Ba, before playing American Samoa at Prince Charles Park in Nadi on 27 August.

The two visitors will compete when Oceania FIFA World Cup qualifying commences on 31 August in Tonga. One spot will be up for grabs in Stage 2 over the course of the five-day tournament, which also features Cook Islands and Samoa.

Fiji coach Carlos Buzzetti has named a strong 23-man squad for the matches including Wellington Phoenix striker Roy Krishna, powerful attacker Osea Vakatalesau and U-20 captain Jale Dreloa.

Manu Samoa needed a try on the stroke of full-time to snatch a 21-20 victory over hosts Canada, to earn a place in the final.

The Manu Samoa captain, Alesana Tuilagi, says they will have to step up their game against Fiji.

"The way we played we need to look deep at it and we need to cut down the simple mistakes that we're giving away. You know playing [against] good teams coming up the final we can't afford to play like that and we know it."

Alesana Tuilagi.

They played out a thrilling 30-30 draw in round two in Sacramento, Samoa denying Fiji victory with a last gasp penalty by Patrick Fa’apale, and both reached the final with unbeaten records in the six-team competition.

Injuries have robbed coach Stephen Betham of hooker Motu Matuu (delayed concussion), scrum-half Pele Cowley (shoulder) and centre Paul Perez (rib), the latter having scored a brace of tries in the draw with Samoa.

The Samoans looked to be slipping to a surprise defeat after Canada's Sale Sharks wing Phil Mackenzie raced over for an opportunistic converted try to put the home side 20-16 up with four minutes left.

But Samoa punished a needlessly conceded penalty by setting up a line-out on Canada's goal-line with just seconds left.

And when Canada knocked on from the set-piece, Sakaria Taulafo was on hand to touch down for the winning score.

Canada had raced into a 13-0 lead through a try from centre Nick Blevins and eight points from the boot of full-back James Pritchard.

Manu Samoa coach Stephen Betham has made six changes to his starting side to face Canada in Toronto.

Viliamu Afatia, Iosefa Tekori and Faifili Levave get a start in the pack with local lad Faialaga Afamasaga getting a chance in the number 12 jersey.

The other two changes from the team that drew with Fiji is the return of Sinoti Sinoti and Ah See Tuala out wide.

Stephen Betham says this is the coaching team's final opportunity to test combinations and to give some players more game time.

Fiji and Samoa had both won their opening Pacific Nations Cup matches last weekend, against Tonga and USA respectively, and it was a typical encounter between two Pacific Island nations, each hungry for a morale-boosting victory as the countdown to RWC 2015 continues.

Michael Stanley kicked Samoa into an early lead and after their captain Alesana Tuilagi had lost the ball forward on the line, the Flying Fijians came storming back with two tries in quick succession, both through second-row Leone Nakarawa to lead 12-3.

The USA Eagles bounced back from a 21-16 defeat by another of Pool B rivals in Samoa last weekend to record a first win over the Brave Blossoms since their meeting at Rugby World Cup 2003 in Australia.

The hosts started brightly, keeping hold of the ball for the majority of the first 20 minutes at Bonney Field, Mike Petri dictating the play with quick ball from the breakdown and causing a frustrated Japanese outfit to concede a number of penalties.

The Brumbies player, who is clear to return from suspension for the Wallabies against the All Blacks in Sydney on 9 August, is allowed to represent Australia at the Rio Olympics in August under the new contract, should they qualify.

Speight has a background playing sevens in his native Fiji and is looking forward to playing the abbreviated form of the game again.