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.
Manu Samoa head coach Mahonri Schwalger has delivered a dose of confidence to his team who suffered a 22-point loss at the hands of Japan.
Fans were lined up outside the Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium before the gates had even opened on a sunny Sunday afternoon in Tokyo
The gates to Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium were yet to open when fans started to arrive in numbers to watch Japan take on Samoa.
The Pacific Nations Cup has found its semi-finalists after three action-packed rounds from across the Pacific rim, with two sides also relegated to a fifth-place final and set to miss the final week in Osaka.
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.
Except for a 15-minute flurry in the second half where Tonga scored 17 unanswered points, 'Ikale Tahi were never likely winners.
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.