Preview: Pacific Nations Cup Finals

Editor

Fiji and Samoa have rung the changes before facing off in the final of the Pacific Nations Cup in Burnaby on Monday.

John McKee has made six changes to his starting lineup for Fiji, while Stephen Betham has introduced seven new faces.

Among those starting for Fiji is a new centre combination of Gabiriele Lovobalavu and Waisea Nayacalevu, while Asaeli Tikoirotuma and Niko Matawalu also gets starts in the backs.

Up front the only changes see Masi Matadigo in at number eight, while Sunia Koto starts at hooker.

For Samoa Fa'atoina Autagavaia and Johnny Leota start in the three-quarters, while Kahn Fotuali'i also gets the nod.

In the pack Jack Lam replaces TJ Ioane while Zak Taulafo comes in to start at loosehead.

The two sides met in the pool stages when Samoa came from 27-10 down to secure a 30-30 draw, and it should be another high-scoring affair, with Fiji the side with both the best attack and worst defence in the tournament so far.

Elsewhere there will be a North American derby between USA and Canada to avoid last spot, while Japan and Tonga will battle for third place overall in the second game of the triple header.

USA v Canada

USA: 15 Chris Wyles (c), 14 Brett Thompson, 13 Folau Niua, 12 Andrew Suniula, 11 Zack Test, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Mike Petri, 8 Danny Barrett, 7 Andrew Durutalo, 6 Scott Lavalla, 5 Greg Peterson, 4 Hayden Smith, 3 Titi Lamositele, 2 Zack Fenoglio, 1 Eric Fry.
Replacements: 16 Phil Thiel, 17 Matekitonga Moeakiola, 18 Chris Baumann, 19 Cameron Dolan, 20 John Quill, 21 Al McFarland, 22 Shalom Suniula, 23 Thretton Palamo

Canada: 15 Harry Jones, 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 Ciaran Hearn, 12 Connor Braid, 11 Conor Trainor, 10 Liam Underwood, 9 Jamie Mackenzie, 8 Richard Thorpe, 7 John Moonlight, 6 Kyle Gilmour, 5 Brett Beukeboom, 4 Jon Phelan, 3 Jake Ilnicki, 2 Aaron Carpenter (c), 1 Hubert Buydens.
Replacements: 16 Ray Barkwill, 17 Djustice Sears-Duru, 18 Doug Wooldridge, 19 Evan Olmstead, 20 Nanyak Dala, 21 Phil Mack, 22 Nick Blevins, 23 James Pritchard.

Date: Monday, August 3
Venue: Swangard Stadium, Burnaby
Kick-off: 11:00 local (18:00 GMT)
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (France)


Tonga v Japan

Tonga: 15 Vunga Lilo, 14 'Otulea Katoa, 13 Sione Puikala, 12 Viliami Tahitu'a, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 Kurt Morath, 9 Sonatane Takulua, 8 Hale T-Pole, 7 Nili Latu (c), 6 Jack Ram, 5 Uili Kolo'ofa'i, 4 Lua Lokotui, 3 Halani Aulika, 2 Elvis Taione, 1 Tevita Mailau.
Replacements: 16 Kalafi Pongi, 17 Soane Tonga'uiha, 18 Sila Puafisi, 19 Sosefo Sakalia, 20 Viliami Fihaki, 21 Wayne Ngaluafe, 22 Martin Naufahu, 23 Latiume Fosita.

Japan: 15 Ayumu Goromaru, 14 Karne Hesketh, 13 Kotaro Matsushima, 12 Harumichi Tatekawa, 11 Yoshikazu Fujita, 10 Kosei Ono, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Ryu Holani, 7 Michael Broadhurst, 6 Michael Leitch (c), 5 Hitoshi Ono, 4 Shoji Ito, 3 Hiroshi Yamashita, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Keita Inagaki.
Replacements: 16 Hisateru Hirashima, 17 Hiroki Yuhara, 18 Kensuke Hatakeyama, 19 Hayden Hopgood, 20 Hendrik Tui, 21 Atsushi Hiwasa, 22 Craig Wing, 23 Tim Bennetts.

Date: Monday, August 3
Venue: Swangard Stadium, Burnaby
Kick-off: 14:00 local (21:00 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (France)


Fiji v Samoa

Fiji: 15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Metuisela Talebula, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu, 12 Gabiriele Lovobalavu, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Josh Matavesi, 9 Niko Matawalu, 8 Masi Matadigo, 7 Akapusi Qera (c), 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Tevita Cavubati, 3 Manasa Saulo, 2 Sunia Koto, 1 Campese Ma'afu.
Replacements: 16 Tuapati Talemaitoga, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Isei Colati, 19 Nemia Soqeta, 20 Peceli Yato, 21 Nemia Kenatale, 22 Ben Volavola, 23 Napolioni Nalaga.

Samoa: 15 Ahsee Tuala, 14 Fa'atoina Autagavaia, 13 Johnny Leota, 12 Faialaga Afamasaga, 11 Alesana Tuilagi (c), 10 Michael Stanley, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 Vavae Tuilagi, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 Fa'tiga Lemalu, 4 Joe Tekori, 3 Anthony Perenise, 2 Manu Leiautaua, 1 Zak Taulafo.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Williams, 17 Viliamu Afatia, 18 Jake Grey, 19 Filo Paulo, 20 TJ Ioane, 21 Vavao Afemai, 22 Patrick Faapale, 23 Sinoti Sinoti.

Date: Monday, August 3
Venue: Swangard Stadium, Burnaby
Kick-off: 17:00 local (00:00 GMT)
Referee: Pascal Gauzère (France)