Samoa claimed third place in the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2024 with a tense 18-13 victory over USA at the Hanazono Rugby Stadium on Saturday.
The gates to Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium were yet to open when fans started to arrive in numbers to watch Japan take on Samoa.
Manu Samoa are up against the Pacific Nations Cup playoff hosts in Tokyo and have named a side eager to take that challenge in their stride.
Samoa extended their 44-year unbeaten home record against Tonga in Apia to 20 matches with a 43-17 win that keeps their hopes of a fifth Pacific Nations Cup title alive.
Head coach Mahonri Schwalger has made six personnel changes and one positional to last weekend's starting XV as Samoa look to sign off their centennial celebrations as a test-playing nation with a victory against Tonga.
Samoa player ratings versus Fiji in the opening match of the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2024, from HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
Mahonri Schwalger has named two uncapped players to start for Samoa on Friday against Fiji in the Pacific Nations Cup, with a further two on the bench.
Eight players from Moana Pasifika have been picked in Manu Samoa’s squad for the upcoming Pacific Nations Cup.
Eight Moana Pasifika players have been named in Manu Samoa’s matchday squad ahead of their blockbuster clash with Italy.
Glasgow coach Franco Smith refused to engage in talk of his side going on to win the Challenge Cup after their record-breaking last-16 destruction of Dragons at Scotstoun.