Fiji beat Samoa to lift Pacific Nations Cup
Saturday 18 June 2016 15:51, UK
Winger Patrick Osborne scored a try in the 78th minute to give Fiji a 26-16 victory over Samoa in Suva, which clinched the hosts' fourth successive Pacific Nations Cup title.
Fiji had to battle back from a 13-point deficit shortly before half-time and managed to gain some momentum in the second half with veteran fly-half Seremaia Bai slotting three penalties.
Samoa held a 16-3 lead shortly before the interval courtesy of fly-half Tusi Pisi's three penalties and a try to Motu Matu'u following a well-worked lineout move between flanker Greg Foe and the hooker.
Pisi's touchline conversion appeared to give the visitors the advantage heading into the break.
Fiji, however, struck back in the final two minutes of the half following some powerful bursts from their big forwards with captain Sunia Koto barrelling over.
Bai's conversion narrowed the gap to 16-10 at the break before he added two penalties early in the second half to level it at 16-16 as the home side began to gain some ascendancy.
His third gave the hosts a narrow lead they defended until Osborne burrowed over.
The Pacific Nations Cup concludes next week in Apia when Samoa host Tonga, who were beaten 23-18 by Fiji in the first game of the tournament last week.
Tonga lost again on Saturday when they went down 23-20 to Georgia who play Fiji next weekend.
The competition is the first stage of qualifying for the 2019 Rugby World Cup, with the two best teams over 2016 and 2017 automatically advancing to the tournament in Japan. The third-placed team meets a European side in a play-off.
