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LAUTOKA, Fiji (AP) — Japan won the Pacific Nations Cup rugby tournament for the first time by beating 12-man Fiji 24-13 on Tuesday, with Yuta Imamura scoring the crucial bonus-point try in the seventh minute of injury time.
Fiji had three players sent off and two more sin-binned, allowing Japan to come from 8-0 down at halftime and score the four tries it needed to pip Tonga for the title. Tonga had earlier beaten defending champion Samoa 29-19.
Fiji backrower Sisa Koyamaibole was sent off in the 23rd minute for a dangerous tackle, center Seru Rabeni in the 60th minute for a high tackle and Wise Luveniyali was red carded in injury time. Fiji captain Dominiko Waqaniburotu and flyhalf Seremaia Bai received yellow cards.
All four teams began the last round of the tournament with 1-1 records but Tonga had two bonus points while Japan, Fiji and Samoa had one each.
Tonga beat Samoa, with flyhalf Kurt Morath kicking 19 points, to move five points clear of Japan and Fiji on the championship table and to ensure a new champion would be crowned. Fiji needed a bonus point and a win by almost 40 points to clinch the title while Japan needed only a bonus point to finish in first place.
With four tries needed for a bonus point, Japan scored its third try 15 minutes from fulltime but has held out by a depleted and tiring Fiji until late in injury time when Imamura crossed.
Winger Napolioni Nalaga scored two tries for a Fiji team which had undergone 14 changes after its second round win over Samoa, which followed a first round loss to Tonga.
Fiji lead 8-0 at halftime but was already down to 14 men after the loss of Koyamaibole and played 10 minutes of the first half with only 13 players.
Go Aruga scored Japan's first try in the fifth minute of the second spell but Nalaga re-established Fiji's eight-point lead with his second try of the match.
Japan center Ryan Nicholas then scored and converted his own try to cut the lead to 13-12. Japan took the lead for the first time when Shota Hori scored its third try in the 65th minute.
Had Imamura not crossed for the last fourth try, Tonga would have claimed its first PNC title.
Fiji coach Sam Domoni said his team's lack of discipline cost it the match.
"It's unacceptable. We can't win test matches with 12 men," Domoni said.
"We can't blame the referees for the calls against us. We will go back to see the footage and review where we went wrong. It gives us a fair idea of what we need to do now.
Domoni said Fiji would decide Thursday which players will be available to face New Zealand next week.
"A few guys are carrying injuries and that is why there was so many changes in the team," Domoni said. "We will do an assessment tonight."
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Fiji had three players sent off and two more sin-binned, allowing Japan to come from 8-0 down at halftime and score the four tries it needed to pip Tonga for the title. Tonga had earlier beaten defending champion Samoa 29-19.
Fiji backrower Sisa Koyamaibole was sent off in the 23rd minute for a dangerous tackle, center Seru Rabeni in the 60th minute for a high tackle and Wise Luveniyali was red carded in injury time. Fiji captain Dominiko Waqaniburotu and flyhalf Seremaia Bai received yellow cards.
All four teams began the last round of the tournament with 1-1 records but Tonga had two bonus points while Japan, Fiji and Samoa had one each.
Tonga beat Samoa, with flyhalf Kurt Morath kicking 19 points, to move five points clear of Japan and Fiji on the championship table and to ensure a new champion would be crowned. Fiji needed a bonus point and a win by almost 40 points to clinch the title while Japan needed only a bonus point to finish in first place.
With four tries needed for a bonus point, Japan scored its third try 15 minutes from fulltime but has held out by a depleted and tiring Fiji until late in injury time when Imamura crossed.
Winger Napolioni Nalaga scored two tries for a Fiji team which had undergone 14 changes after its second round win over Samoa, which followed a first round loss to Tonga.
Fiji lead 8-0 at halftime but was already down to 14 men after the loss of Koyamaibole and played 10 minutes of the first half with only 13 players.
Go Aruga scored Japan's first try in the fifth minute of the second spell but Nalaga re-established Fiji's eight-point lead with his second try of the match.
Japan center Ryan Nicholas then scored and converted his own try to cut the lead to 13-12. Japan took the lead for the first time when Shota Hori scored its third try in the 65th minute.
Had Imamura not crossed for the last fourth try, Tonga would have claimed its first PNC title.
Fiji coach Sam Domoni said his team's lack of discipline cost it the match.
"It's unacceptable. We can't win test matches with 12 men," Domoni said.
"We can't blame the referees for the calls against us. We will go back to see the footage and review where we went wrong. It gives us a fair idea of what we need to do now.
Domoni said Fiji would decide Thursday which players will be available to face New Zealand next week.
"A few guys are carrying injuries and that is why there was so many changes in the team," Domoni said. "We will do an assessment tonight."
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