Manu Samoa players ready for the crucial game against the USA. Photo: Manu Samoa
It comes down to the wire.
For Manu Samoa at least, as fellow Pacific island nations Fiji and Tonga have already secured their spots at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Fiji qualified by virtue of finishing in the top eight at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
Tonga secured their seat after last weekend's Flying Fijians 29-15 victory over Manu Samoa in Rotorua.
By winning their first Pacific Nations Cup game, with this year's series also doubling as a qualifier for the World Cup, Tonga finished runner-up behind Fiji in Pool A.
Tonga had one win and a loss, against Samoa's two losses from three pool matches.
That result pushed Samoa to the bottom of the three-team pool and meant they would meet the US on Monday morning in Denver in the final PNC world cup qualifier match.
Only three places remain at Rugby World Cup 2027, with 21 teams confirmed, out of the 24 needed in the new competition expansion.
The three remaining vacancies will be claimed through three qualifying rounds, starting off this weekend with the PNC qualifier, then the Sudamérica 2 vs Pacific 4 play-off series and then repechage - Final Qualification Tournament.
The Flying Fijians marching into rhythm as they prepare to face Canada. Photo. Photo: Fiji Rugby Union
Whoever wins Monday's clash between Samoa and the US gets to Australia directly, as the third Pacific Nations Cup team.
Luckily, the loser will still have two more chances to qualify.
If Samoa wins on Monday they can book their flights to Australia in 2027.
If they lose they will be classified as Pacific 4 and face Chile, who lost the South American playoffs, in two matches of the Sudamérica 2 series.
Game one of the series will be in Salt Lake City, Utah on 20 September with the return fixture taking place at the Estadio Sausalito in Viña del Mar, Chile on 27 September.
The winner of Sudamérica 2 vs Pacific 4 will qualify for Australia, while the loser will join Belgium, Namibia and Sudamérica 3 (Brazil or Paraguay) in the final place repechage tournament.
Samoa v US
On record, Samoa are the favourites in the clash, having won six of the eight matches between the two sides, including the most recent in last year's tournament at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Japan.
World Rugby said qualifying for Australia would be the goal of both sides.
"Samoa will want to maintain their run of featuring in every tournament since 1991, while USA will want to make sure they don't miss out this time, after failing to qualify for France 2023," World Rugby said.
Piling the pressure further on Scott Lawrence's Eagles, his side's loss to Japan in California last weekend was their fifth in a row in the Pacific Nations Cup, their worst losing streak in the competition since they lost their first five matches between 2013 and 2014.
But both Lawrence and first-time captain Jason Damm saw progress in their performance in defeat last weekend compared to the loss to Canada in Calgary in their first match.
"We generally did well for longer periods of time in this game, in terms of executing our plan for more minutes with ball in play," Lawrence said. "We just ran into a good team who punished us in the minutes we didn't have the ball.
Damm, meanwhile, told RugbyPass TV: "Obviously, it's not the result we wanted but it's a step ahead of the performance against Canada, so we'll keep building on that energy and that work."
Samoan head coach Lemanu Tusi Pisi told RNZ Pacific in Rotorua last weekend, following their loss to Fiji, they were focused on America.
He said they know what they need to improve on.
"We are on the right track," he stated.
Samoa will face the US at 6.35am New Zealand time on Monday at the Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Denver.
Samoa match-day 23: 1 Aki Seiuli 2 Luteru Tolai, 3 Michael Alaalatoa (captain); 4 Benjamin Petaia Nee-Nee, Michael Curry; 6 Olajuwon Noa, 7 Alamanda Motuga, 8 Iakopo Mapu; 9 Connor Tupa'i, 10 Rodney Iona; 11 Tuna Tuitama, 12 Henry Taefu, 13 Melani Nanai, 14 Elisapeta Alofipo; 15 Lolagi Visinia; Bench: 16 Ray Niuia, 17 Jarred Adams, 18 Marco Fepulea'i, 19 Potu Leavasa, 20 Abraham Papali'i, 21 Melani Matavao, 22 Christian Leali'ifano, 23 Thomasi Alosio.
USA's match-day 23: 1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Kapeli Pifeleti, 3 Pono Davis; 4 Marno Redelinghuys, 5 Jason Damm (captain); 6 Viliami Helu, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Paddy Ryan; 9 Ruben de Haas, 10 Chris Hilsenbeck; 11 Toby Fricker, 12 Tommaso Boni, 13 Dominic Besag, 14 Rufus McLean; 15 Mitch Wilson; Bench: 16 Kaleb Geiger, 17 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18 Maliu Niuafe, 19 Tevita Naqali, 20 Christian Poidevin, 21 Ethan McVeigh, Luke Carty, 23 Erich Storti.
Tonga v Japan
Tongan head coach Tevita Tuifu'a said midweek the unavailability of some key players meant they would have to field a second-string side against Japan.
Having secured their 2027 spot in Australia, the Tongans will use the clash against Japan to gauge where they are and what they will need to improve on moving forward.
The return of inspirational heavyweight prop and captain Ben Tameifuna was appreciated by Tuifu'a.
Their focus was on recording their best-ever finish in this tournament. They had never won the Pacific Nations Cup, but finished second in 2011 and 2016.
Laying down the challenge, members of the 'Ikale Tahi of Tonga laying it down as they prepare to face Japan. Photo: Tonga Rugby Union
Japan remain clear favourites, having won against both Canada and USA and with high scorelines.
It looks like the odds are stacked in the favour of last year's finalists. But Tonga will want to show more of their improvement from their PNC 2024 challenge, when they finished fifth after losing both of their pool phase matches.
Tonga takes on Japan at 9.35am New Zealand time on Monday at the Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Denver.
Tonga's match-day 23: 1 Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, 2 Samiuela Moli, 3 Ben Tameifuna (captain); 4 Veikoso Poloniati, 5 Harison Mataele; 6 Tupou Afungia, 7 Foto Lokotui, 8 Siosiua Moala; 9 Sonatane Takulua, 10 Patrick Pellegrini; 11 John Tapueluelu, 12 Uilisi Halaholo, 13 Fetuli Paea, 14 Nikolai Foliaki; 15 Salesi Piutau; Bench: 16 Sosefu Sakalia, 17 Tau Koloamatangi, 18 Solomone Tukuafu, 19 Justin Mataele, 20 Tevita Ahokovi, 21 Siaosi Nai, 22 James Faiva, 23 Josiah Unga.
Japan's match-day 23: 1 Sena Kimura, 2 Hayate Era, 3 Shuhei Takeuchi; 4 Jack Cornelsen, 5 Warner Dearns (captain); 6 Ben Gunter, 7 Kanji Shimokawa, 8 Amato Fakatava; 9 Shinobu Fujiwara, 10 Seungsin Lee; 11 Tomoki Osada, 12 Charlie Lawrence, 13 Dylan Riley, 14 Kippei Ishida; 15 Sam Greene; Bench: 16 Kenji Sato, 17 Kenta Kobayashi, 18 Keijiro Tamefusa, 19 Waisake Raratubua, 20 Tiennan Costley, 21 Faulua Makisi, 22 Kenta Fukuda, 23 Yuya Hirose.
Fiji v Canada
Canada, who missed out on a spot at Rugby World Cup 2023, face the Flying Fijians, who have won their last two games in the series.
Having secured their 2027 spot last weekend, the Canadians will be keen to do one better against the islanders.
History, however, is now against the Canadians as they haven't beaten Fiji since 2013.
The Flying Fijians won't want to give up the title they won for a record sixth time in 2024.
Head coach Mick Byrne knows the challenge but stated midweek his side is ready, despite having to play at high altitude.
Missing out on key players as well, Byrne has to rely on Fijian Drua players to fill in the gaps.
Sevens flyer Joji Nasova will make his debut off the bench.
Fiji squares off against Canada 12.35pm New Zealand time on Monday at the Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Denver.
Fiji match-day 23: 1 Eroni Mawi, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (captain), 3 Mesake Doge; 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 5 Isoa Nasilasila; 6 Etonia Waqa, 7 Elia Canakaivata, 8 Viliame Mata; 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 10 Caleb Muntz; 11 Taniela Rakuro, 12 Inia Tabuavou, 13 Seta Tamanivalu, 14 Kalaveti Ravouvou; 15 Ponipate Loganimasi; Bench: Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Haereiti Hetet, 18 Samu Tawake, 19 Temo Mayanavanua, 20 Motikai Murray, 21 Sam Wye, 22 Kemu Valetini, 23 Joji Nasova.
Canada match-day 23: 1 Calixto Martinez, 2 Dewald Kotze, 3 Cole Keith; 4 Piers Von Dadelszen, 5 Callum Botchar; 6 Mason Flesch (captain), 7 Siôn Parry, 8 Matthew Oworu; 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Peter Nelson; 11 Josiah Morra, 12 Spencer Jones, 13 Noah Flesch, 14 Nic Benn; 15 Shane O'Leary; Bench: 16 Jesse Mackail, 17 Emerson Prior, 18 Conor Young, 19 Izzak Kelly, 20 Matt Heaton, 21 Brock Gallagher, 22 Talon McMullin, 23 Kainoa Lloyd.
