Sad to see so many big names missing for both teams! Stadium also not as full as I would have thought! This tournament could be amazing if all teams would bring their best, sadly it doesnt mean much now.
For the seats, it could be the ticket prices. Crowd looks pretty decent though compared to past PNC matches. The best players not being there is strange though. I get the Europe based players need a rest after their gruelling season and they may rejoin the team in November. But what’s strange is a lot of island players are playing in the NPC in NZ instead. What’s going on there? Do they not want to play in the PNC or are they being pressured by clubs not to go? William Havili is playing for Tasman instead. Nigel Ah Wong played for Auckland this weekend. Some of the Samoan squad are from amateur clubs. Good thing for Fiji they have built a good base of local players with the Drua to fall back on. Samoa and Tonga still rely on NZ based players, even the ones in the Moana squad.
Historically for some reason crowds don't turn up in Suva to support the Flying Fijians. There would have been a lot more people had it been played out West in Lautoka. Also it's the weekend for the Deans rugby competition, Fijis annual Secondary Schools Championship which people would have prioritized over this match
SAD TO SEE NO NO ITS A JOY TO SEE THESE BREED OF PLAYERS EXPOSED TO THIS LEVEL OF RUGBY JUST GOES TO SHOW THE AMOUNT OF TALENT BOTH TEAMS HAVE TO OFFER. GOOS TRY WITH YOUR SAD THEORY!!
Vinaka Viti...No 9 Samoa is someone to look out for in the future. Superb rugby player. Make sure NZ doesn't steal him off you, Samoa.. give him money now 😂
@@mrchico2621 It would be a step down for them. SH teams are always dominant in the world rankings, even Australia is a better contender that Italy, Wales or Scotland.
@@goodshipkaraboudjan Was leaving the domestic Super Rugby competition to join the URC and the European cup also a step down for them? They seem perfectly happy with their decision. And Australian RU is going down the toilet, we saw that at the world cup.
As a Manu fan it was pathetic some of the poor defence. Many who took the field arent at that level. A shame to see 3 starting Manu players turn out for Hawkes Bay in the NPC at the same time of the match. Not good enough
It's not nice to see but I don't blame the players for going to the NPC. They already sacrificed in July. They need to earn some money before the NPC is finished for the year.
Japan will be a tough test. They had a good win against NZ Maori this year too. Also Fijis handling and lineouts were really bad in this game. You won’t see that from the highlights though.
Good game both teams let's work with the players we have to improve rugby in the South Pacific to represent your team in the world cup to have better chances to be in the top table with bigger country that has developed they rugby to a higher professional level one love Pacifica stay strong united we stand together divided fall 👍
Just out of interest, how many 1st choice players missing from both teams, doing pre-season with their NH clubs and unavailable? And how does that same issue affect all the teams in the competition?
Just look at the World Cup squads from last year and then look up the pnc squads and you’ll see all the missing players. Fiji has some of these players for the tests against NZ, but then they went back to Europe. Works out well for Fiji though because they can get some younger players more experience.
Fiji around 10 players missing that would be in the squad but its good young guns get a taste at this level slowly building the teams depth for the long run? Alot of the old boys won't make next WC so good to start mow
Good job shame on SAMOA got smashed. Those dropped passes by international players shows how useless these players are!!!! MAPASUA was an awesome coach!! Respected by international players!!! Had a mean squad at World Cup…. But this idiot schulger thinking he gonna do a better job lol shame!!!
Because SANZAR are too uptight. They invited Japan and Fiji into the 2025 competition a couple years ago, but have now done a U-turn on their decision..
Politics from the top..they still can't get through a small Nations would beat them hard on their Ground..Keep Going Fiji ..Samoa..Tonga..you are the pride of our Pacific Youngsters Ruggers..
@@LanceODoherty5905 brother the sport is not dying in fiji are you okay?! have you seen the crowds that the drua get, the problem is they chose to hold it in suva instead of lautoka
@@LanceODoherty5905no it isn’t? The viewership of the rugby World Cup is always high and doesn’t seem to go down last time I checked, there’s also still tons of rugby matches that have people or have tons of views
Fiji were deserved winners but that assist from the Samoa 9 was something else.
Scary being a Welsh fan knowing these guys are just around the corner 😂
Welsh Fijian here, I always love it when they go against each other it’s a win win for me lol
@@restlessbeing1398cnjteldkejsjsjs0zokdkdk4oeieijeieid
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Sad to see so many big names missing for both teams! Stadium also not as full as I would have thought! This tournament could be amazing if all teams would bring their best, sadly it doesnt mean much now.
For the seats, it could be the ticket prices. Crowd looks pretty decent though compared to past PNC matches. The best players not being there is strange though. I get the Europe based players need a rest after their gruelling season and they may rejoin the team in November. But what’s strange is a lot of island players are playing in the NPC in NZ instead. What’s going on there? Do they not want to play in the PNC or are they being pressured by clubs not to go? William Havili is playing for Tasman instead. Nigel Ah Wong played for Auckland this weekend. Some of the Samoan squad are from amateur clubs. Good thing for Fiji they have built a good base of local players with the Drua to fall back on. Samoa and Tonga still rely on NZ based players, even the ones in the Moana squad.
Historically for some reason crowds don't turn up in Suva to support the Flying Fijians. There would have been a lot more people had it been played out West in Lautoka. Also it's the weekend for the Deans rugby competition, Fijis annual Secondary Schools Championship which people would have prioritized over this match
It's actually good see a breed of new young flying Fijians..this gives a lot of depth in the team... Wel done Wantoks!
SAD TO SEE NO NO ITS A JOY TO SEE THESE BREED OF PLAYERS EXPOSED TO THIS LEVEL OF RUGBY JUST GOES TO SHOW THE AMOUNT OF TALENT BOTH TEAMS HAVE TO OFFER.
GOOS TRY WITH YOUR SAD THEORY!!
Baloney. Any match that gives young talent an opportunity to play at the next level is a good thing. That’s what development is all about.
Two of my favorite South Pacific Island teams. And the winner is Jesus.✝️🇼🇸🇫🇯
Vinaka Viti...No 9 Samoa is someone to look out for in the future. Superb rugby player. Make sure NZ doesn't steal him off you, Samoa.. give him money now 😂
That is because he was always superperb in the sevens. That is why are sevens are a good platform for our fifteens.
He can't be "stolen" by NZ. He was born and raised in Samoa and already capped by Samoa.
Well done to both teams. Congratulations Fiji. Better luck next time to Manu Samoa.
Jesus loves you and God has a plan for your life 😊 thanks and God bless 😊
fiji too good, hats off to the performance.
Please add Fiji and Japan to the rugby championship.
They might have to when SA leave to join the 6 Nations 😅
@@mrchico2621It will never happen
@@michelefavaretto627 There's talk that it will though. They've already joined the NH domestic rugby competition.
@@mrchico2621 It would be a step down for them. SH teams are always dominant in the world rankings, even Australia is a better contender that Italy, Wales or Scotland.
@@goodshipkaraboudjan Was leaving the domestic Super Rugby competition to join the URC and the European cup also a step down for them? They seem perfectly happy with their decision. And Australian RU is going down the toilet, we saw that at the world cup.
Not bad for Fiji filled with reserves and Druas players on the team 👍🏾 spot on
Why doesn’t WR not run this comp like the 6-nations. More rugby is better for these teams.
Yes that would've been better. Even if it's all played in one country to cut costs that'd be worth it. Three matches every weekend over 5-6 weeks.
@@YallCrazies801 Used to do that in the 2010s edition of the comp.
As a Manu fan it was pathetic some of the poor defence. Many who took the field arent at that level. A shame to see 3 starting Manu players turn out for Hawkes Bay in the NPC at the same time of the match. Not good enough
It's not nice to see but I don't blame the players for going to the NPC. They already sacrificed in July. They need to earn some money before the NPC is finished for the year.
Bruhhh I thought Samoa had it in first half...keep it up Manu
Welp, a win is a win for Fiji even though majority of the crowd attendance was taken up by the local high school rugby final the next day.
High school rugby finals was held in the same venue, not in Lautoka.
If Fiji don't win this tournament it will be a huge letdown. They're head and shoulders above everyone
Fiji v Japan is shaping up to be a great Test.
Japan haven't been looking in form lately, but they are still a talented side. I wouldn't be surprised if either of them won it
Y it's a huge letdown
Let them play the game all u have to do is support them
Japan will be a tough test. They had a good win against NZ Maori this year too. Also Fijis handling and lineouts were really bad in this game. You won’t see that from the highlights though.
Good game both teams let's work with the players we have to improve rugby in the South Pacific to represent your team in the world cup to have better chances to be in the top table with bigger country that has developed they rugby to a higher professional level one love Pacifica stay strong united we stand together divided fall 👍
Vinaka Viti🇫🇯☝🏼
Just out of interest, how many 1st choice players missing from both teams, doing pre-season with their NH clubs and unavailable?
And how does that same issue affect all the teams in the competition?
For Samoa the ones that have shown interest after the RWC that they'd like to play for the team maybe 10-15 players.
Just look at the World Cup squads from last year and then look up the pnc squads and you’ll see all the missing players. Fiji has some of these players for the tests against NZ, but then they went back to Europe. Works out well for Fiji though because they can get some younger players more experience.
Fiji around 10 players missing that would be in the squad but its good young guns get a taste at this level slowly building the teams depth for the long run? Alot of the old boys won't make next WC so good to start mow
Bula!
What a shellacking!
💪🏽💯💥🔥🔥🔥
🔥⚡🔥⚡🔥🙌
Bula Vinaka
The standard of Rugby this competition has not progressed, very average performance from both teams.
Fiji drua vs samoa locals
Vinaka Fiji
Good job shame on SAMOA got smashed. Those dropped passes by international players shows how useless these players are!!!! MAPASUA was an awesome coach!! Respected by international players!!! Had a mean squad at World Cup…. But this idiot schulger thinking he gonna do a better job lol shame!!!
Why are these countries not playing in the rugby championship
Because we are tiny islands with limited funding. If the championships could be held in the Pacific then we would be in it.
Because SANZAR are too uptight. They invited Japan and Fiji into the 2025 competition a couple years ago, but have now done a U-turn on their decision..
Politics from the top..they still can't get through a small Nations would beat them hard on their Ground..Keep Going Fiji ..Samoa..Tonga..you are the pride of our Pacific Youngsters Ruggers..
Multiple reasons including lack of infrastructure, no fiscal security, corruption within their unions etc.
@@Shendersonsports3003That's incorrect. Fiji were told what they had to put in place before they could be included.
Miller Donald Lee Brenda Gonzalez Nancy
Why was the stadium so empty?
Drinking kava and watching game at home
The sport is dying it’s sad imo
@@LanceODoherty5905 brother the sport is not dying in fiji are you okay?! have you seen the crowds that the drua get, the problem is they chose to hold it in suva instead of lautoka
@@LanceODoherty5905no it isn’t? The viewership of the rugby World Cup is always high and doesn’t seem to go down last time I checked, there’s also still tons of rugby matches that have people or have tons of views
Waiting for the fiji school final tomorrow
😢😢
Boring set up games with Big teams
@@NasavuKava You're talking about Australia A and the NZ Maori
Dumb