Team Tracker: Pacific Nations Cup, Round One

Ahead of Round One of the Pacific Nations Cup, we bring you the team sheets as Samoa face Tonga, Japan meet Fiji and USA take on Canada. 

Nasi Manu, who missed the entire PRO14 season for Benetton after being diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2018, will captain Tonga after a remarkable comeback. Manu, 30, will start at number eight at Apia Park.

Elsewhere, Lappies Labuschagne will captain Japan on his Test debut against a strong Fiji side that includes Levani Botia and Leone Nakarawa while AJ MacGinty is at 10 for USA’s match against local rivals Canada.

Samoa v Tonga
Apia Park

Samoa: 15 Ahsee Tuala, 14 Johnny Vaili, 13 Alapati Leiua, 12 Reynold Lee-Lo, 11 Belgium Tuatagaloa, 10 Ulupano Seuteni, 9 Auvasa Falealii, 8 Afaesetiti Amosa, 7 TJ Ioane, 6 Chris Vui, 5 Kane Leaupepe, 4 Teofilo Paulo, 3 Paul Alo Emile, 2 Motu Matu’u (c), 1 Logovi’i Mulipola
Replacements: 16 Ray Niuia, 17 Jordan Lay, 18 Alofa’aga Sao, 19 Vaito’asa Senio Toleafoa, 20 Alamanda Motuga, 21 Dwayne Polataivao, 22 AJ Alatimu, 23 JJ Taulagi

Tonga: 15 Nafi Tu’itavake, 14 Tevita Halaifonua, 13 Malietoa Hingano, 12 Cooper Vuna, 11 Viliami Lolohea, 10 James Faiva, 9 Samisoni Fisilau, 8 Nasi Manu (c), 7 Maama Vaipulu, 6 Onehunga Havili, 5 Sam Lousi, 4 Leva Fifita, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Elvis Taione, 1 Paea Fa’anunu
Replacements: 16 Sefo Sakalia, 17 Toma Taufa, 18 Ma’afu Fia, 19 Zane Kapeli, 20 Fotu Lokotui, 21 Sione Vailanu, 22 Leon Fukofuka, 23 Otumaka Mausia

Japan v Fiji
Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium

Japan: 15 Will Tupou, 14 Kotaro Matsushima, 13 Timothy Lafaele, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 11 Kenki Fukuoka, 10 Yu Tamura, 9 Kaito Shigeno, 8 Amanaki Mafi, 7 Lappies Labuschagne (c), 6 Kazuki Himeno, 5 Luke Thompson, 4 James Moore, 3 Asaeli Ai Valu, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Keita Inagaki
Replacements: 16 Atsushi Sakate, 17 Shogo Miura, 18 Yusuke Kizu, 19 Wimpie van der Walt, 20 Michael Leitch, 21 Yutaka Nagare, 22 Rikiya Matsuda, 23 Romano Lava Lemeki

Fiji: 15 Alivereti Veitokani, 14 Filipo Nakosi, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu, 12 Levani Botia, 11 Patrick Osbourne, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Semi Kunatani, 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Albert Tuisue, 3 Manasa Saulo, 2 Sam Matavesi, 1 Eroni Mawi
Replacements: 16 Mesulame Dolokoto, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Lee-Roy Atalifo, 19 Apisalome Ratuniyarawa, 20 Peceli Yato, 21 Henry Seniloli, 22 Jale Vatubua, 23 Josh Matavesi

USA v Canada
Infinity Park

USA: 15 Will Hooley, 14 Blaine Scully, 13 Marcel Brache, 12 Bryce Campbell, 11 Martin Iosefo, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Shaun Davies, 8 Cam Dolan, 7 John Quill, 6 Malon Al-Jiboori, 5 Nick Civetta, 4 Ben Landry, 3 Paul Mullen, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 1 Chance Wenglewski
Replacements: 16 Kapeli Pifeleti, 17 David Ainuu, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Greg Peterson, 20 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Gannon Moore, 23 Madison Hughes

Canada: 15 Patrick Parfrey, 14 Conor Trainor, 13 Ben LeSage, 12 Ciaran Hearn, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Peter Nelson, 9 Phil Mack, 8 Tyler Ardron (c), 7 Matt Heaton, 6 Kyle Baille, 5 Conor Keys, 4 Evan Olmstead, 3 Cole Keith, 2 Benoit Piffero, 1 Hubert Buydens
Replacements: 16 Andrew Quattrin, 17 Rob Brouwer, 18 Jake Ilnicki, 19 Justin Blanchet, 20 Luke Campbell, 21 Gordon McRorie, 22 Shane O’Leary, 23 Nick Blevins