Pacific Challenge

The Kingdom’s defense line was not strong enough to hold off the hosts as they scored five tries in the second half compared to the two they managed in the first spell.

Wingers Epeli Momo and Marika Vularewa scored for the Warriors for a 12-0 lead at half time.

Former Fiji 7s rep Simione Kuruvoli started the Warriors campaign in the second half when he scored their third try.

The other four tries were scored by Taniela Soqonawasaloa, Osea Waqaninavatu, Kitione Salawa and Alipate Waidilo.

In the first match, Junior Japan thrashed Samoa A 76-3.

Fiji Warriors and Junior Japan both recorded bonus-point wins as the World Rugby Pacific Challenge 2017 came to a high-scoring conclusion at the ANZ Stadium in Suva.

Junior Japan doubled their tally of wins from the 2016 tournament with a 42-33 victory over Tonga A, before Fiji Warriors overcame Samoa A 48-25 to finish with a perfect record in the tournament.

Fuala Makisi became the second Japanese number eight after Tevita Tatafu in round one to score a hat-trick, while Fiji’s impressive Lepani Raiyala doubled his overall tally for the tournament with another brace.

FBC reports the visitors had no answers as Fiji piled on the pressure from the opening whistle.

Fiji led 16-0 at halftime from a penalty try and another try to winger, Lepani Raiyala.

RNZI reports the hosts were convincing 34-6 winners when the traditional rivals met in pool play two weeks ago and have racked up 134 points across their three matches so far.

But Samoa A bounced back have also been impressive in big wins against Tonga A and Junior Japan.

Team Manager and SRU Director of Coaching Alama Ieremia said these players are an important  part of Samoan rugby's ongoing development.

Former All Blacks centre and Samoa A manager Alama Ieremia said the changes were necessary because Junior Japan was a different type of opposition compared with Tonga A.

"We respect what Japan has to offer. They are playing very good rugby in this tournament and Japan is a well-coached side," he said.

Warriors halfback, Serupepeli Vularika led the charge in the first half as he kicked a penalty and crossed over for the first try.

Vularika kicked another penalty with a minute before half time.

During the weekend the Samoa A squad left for Fiji for the Pacific Challenge tournament.

The tournament will be played at the ANZ Stadium in Suva, with match days on 8, 12 and 17 March with the final on 21 March.

Four teams will take part in the round-robin competition. Hosts Fiji Warriors will be joined by their island neighbours Tonga A and Samoa A along with Junior Japan.  

World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "The Pacific Challenge is a key developmental tournament, which creates a quality competition pathway for our high performance investment unions.