2011 IRB Pacific Nations Cup

2011 IRB Pacific Nations Cup
2011 IRB Pacific Nations Cup
Tournament details
Countries	Fiji; Japan; Samoa; Tonga
Tournament format(s)	Round-robin
Date	2–13 July 2011
Tournament statistics
Teams	4
Matches played	6
Attendance	25,345 (4,224 per match)
Tries scored	36 (6 per match)
Top point scorer(s)	Kurt Morath (Tonga); (56 points)
Top try scorer(s)	Koliniasi Holani (Japan); Seko Kalou (Fiji); Alisona Taumalolo (Tonga); Alesana Tuilagi (Samoa); Naipolioni Nalaga (Fiji); (2 tries)
Final
Champions	Japan (1st title)
Runners-up	Tonga
	← 2010 (Previous) (Next) 2012 →

The 2011 Pacific Nations Cup was a rugby union tournament held between the four national sides on the Pacific Rim: Fiji, Japan, Samoa and Tonga.

Samoa was the reigning champion after they defeated Fiji in the 2010 competition at Apia Park. The tournament began on July 2 and ended on July 13, 2011 with most of the matches hosted by Fiji. Only the match between Asian 5 Nations champion, Japan and Samoa was played at Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium in Japan. The tournament was moved to Fiji from Japan after the devastating March, 2011 Japan Tsunami.

The tournament was a round-robin where each team plays all of the other teams once. There were four points for a win, two for a draw and none for a defeat. There were also bonus points offered with one bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match and one bonus point for losing by 7 points or less.

Japan were crowned Champions after defeating Fiji and scoring their fourth try the last play of the final match of the tournament giving them the bonus point they needed to go with an earlier win over Tonga.^[1] Ill discipline by Fiji cost them the game and gifted the Pacific Nations Cup to Japan at the expense of Tonga. Fiji finished the match with 12 men after conceding 2 red and 3 yellow cards, an unenviable world record.

Table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
1	Japan (C)	3	2	1	67	74	−7	10	9	2	0	10^[a]
2	Tonga	3	2	1	101	68	+33	10	7	1	1	10^[a]
3	Fiji	3	1	2	70	87	−17	9	10	1	0	5^[b]
4	Samoa	3	1	2	71	80	−9	7	9	1	0	5^[b]

Source: IRB
(C) Champion
Notes:

^ ^a ^b Head-to-head: Tonga 27–28 Japan
^ ^a ^b Head-to-head: Samoa 18–36 Fiji

Schedule

Round 1

2 July 2011
15:10 (UTC+12)

Tonga	45–21	Fiji
Try: Vahafolau 5' c Taufa 25' c Penalty try 43' c Iongi 77' c S. Taumalolo 79' m Con: K. Morath (4/5) 5', 26', 43', 77' Pen: K. Morath (4/4) 10', 14', 31', 50' Drop: K. Morath (0/1)	Report	Try: Kalou 59' m Ravulo 66' c Con: Little (1/2) 66' Pen: Little (3/3) 3', 7', 37'

Churchill Park, Lautoka
Attendance: 4,075
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)


FB	15	Vunga Lilo
RW	14	Viliami Helu
OC	13	Alaska Taufa
IC	12	Andrew Mailei
LW	11	Viliame Iongi
FH	10	Kurt Morath
SH	9	Samisoni Fisilau
N8	8	Sione Kalamafoni
OF	7	Samiu Vahafolau (c)	26'
BF	6	Lisiate Faʻaoso	78'
RL	5	Paino Hehea
LL	4	Tukulua Lokotui
TP	3	Tonga Leaʻaetoa	60'
HK	2	Ephraim Taukafa	64'
LP	1	Sona Taumalolo	62' to 72'
Replacements:
PR	16	Semisi Telefoni	60'
HK	17	Sione Vaiomoʻunga	64'
FL	18	Joe Tuineau	26'
LK	19	Tevita Ula	78'
SH	20	Soana Havea
FH	21	Hudson Tongaʻuiha
FB	22	Mateo Malupo
Coach:
Isitolo Maka


FB	15	Kini Murimurivalu	45'
RW	14	Vereniki Goneva
OC	13	Albert Vulivuli
IC	12	Gabiriele Lovobalavu
LW	11	Timoci Nagusa
FH	10	Nicky Little
SH	9	Nemia Kenatale	59'
N8	8	Dominiko Waqaniburotu
OF	7	Malakai Ravulo
BF	6	Josefa Domolailai	47'
RL	5	Tevita Cavubati	71'
LL	4	Sekonaia Kalou
TP	3	Deacon Manu (c)
HK	2	Viliame Veikoso	57'
LP	1	Graham Dewes	57'
Replacements:
HK	16	Talemaitoga Tuapati	57'
PR	17	Penijamini Makutu	57'
FL	18	Samu Bola	71'
FL	19	Leone Nakarawa	47'
SH	20	Vitori Buatava	59'
PR	21	Waisea Luveniyali
FB	22	Adriu Delai	45'
Coach:
Sam Domoni

Touch judges:
Peter Fitzgibbon
James Bolabiu

2 July 2011
18:10 JST (UTC+09)

Japan	15–34	Samoa
Try: Holani 20' m Usuzuki 46' c Con: Nicholas (0/1) Webb (1/1) 47' Pen: Nicholas (0/2) Webb (1/2) 32'	Report	Try: Al. Tuilagi (2) 2' c, 14' c Salavea 34' c G. Pisi 59' c Con: J. So'oialo (4/4) 3', 15', 36', 61' Pen: J. So'oialo (2/3) 12', 65'

Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo
Attendance: 9,700
Referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand)


FB	15	Goshi Tachikawa	70'
RW	14	Kosuke Endo
OC	13	Yuta Imamura
IC	12	Ryan Nicholas
LW	11	Takehisa Usuzuki	69'
FH	10	Shaun Webb
SH	9	Fumiaki Tanaka	70'
N8	8	Koliniasi Holani
OF	7	Tadasuke Nishihara	70'
BF	6	Takashi Kikutani (c)
RL	5	Luke Thompson
LL	4	Toshizumi Kitagawa	48'
TP	3	Kensuke Hatakeyama
HK	2	Yusuke Aoki	76'
LP	1	Hisateru Hirashima
Replacements:
HK	16	Takeshi Kizu	76'
PR	17	Naoki Kawamata
LK	18	Justin Ives	48'
FL	19	Itaru Taniguchi	70'
SH	20	Atsushi Hiwasa	70'
FB	21	Murray Williams	70'
WG	22	Hirotoki Onozawa	69'
Coach:
John Kirwan


FB	15	James So'oialo
RW	14	Sailosi Tagicakibau
OC	13	George Pisi
IC	12	Seilala Mapusua (c)
LW	11	Alesana Tuilagi	51'
FH	10	Tusi Pisi	70'
SH	9	Lualua Vailoaloa	58'
N8	8	Tai Tu'ifua
OF	7	Manu Salavea	49'
BF	6	Ezra Taylor
RL	5	Joe Tekori	39'
LL	4	Daniel Leo
TP	3	Anthony Perenise
HK	2	Ti'i Paulo	77'
LP	1	Sakaria Taulafo	68'
Replacements:
HK	16	Ole Avei	77'
PR	17	Logovi'i Mulipola	68'
LK	18	Filipo Levi	39'
FL	19	Maurie Fa'asavalu	49'
SH	20	Uale Mai	58'
FH	21	Tasesa Lavea	70'
WG	22	Timoteo Iosua	51'
Coach:
Titimaea Tafua

Touch judges:
TBC
TBC

Round 2

9 July 2011
12:40 (UTC+12)

Tonga	27–28	Japan
Try: V. Maʻafu 24' c K. Morath 29' c H. Tongaʻuiha 73' c Con: K. Morath (3/3) 25', 30', 74' Pen: K. Morath (2/2) 7', 62'	Report	Try: Holani 5' c Endo 34' c Kikutani 47' c Taira 51' c Con: Arlidge (4/4) 6', 35', 48', 52'

National Stadium, Suva
Attendance: 2,550
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)


FB	15	Vunga Lilo (c)
RW	14	Viliame Helu
OC	13	Alaska Taufa
IC	12	Andrew Mailei	54'
LW	11	Viliame Iongi
FH	10	Kurt Morath
SH	9	Samisoni Fisilau	60'
N8	8	Sione Kalamafoni
OF	7	Viliame Maʻafu
BF	6	Lisiate Faʻaoso	16' 25'
RL	5	Joe Tuineau
LL	4	Paino Hehea	68'
TP	3	Sila Puafisi	15' to 25'
HK	2	Ephraim Taukafa	48'
LP	1	Sona Taumalolo
Replacements:
HK	16	Ilaisa Maʻasi	48'
PR	17	Maleko Latu	16' 25'
LK	18	Lua Lokotui	68'
FL	19	Sione Vaiomoʻunga
SH	20	Soane Havea	60'
CR	21	Hudson Tongaʻuiha	54'
FB	22	Mateo Malupo
Coach:
Isitolo Maka


FB	15	Shaun Webb
RW	14	Kosuke Endo
OC	13	Koji Taira
IC	12	Ryan Nicholas
LW	11	Hirotoki Onozawa
FH	10	James Arlidge
SH	9	Fumiaki Tanaka
N8	8	Koliniasi Holani	78'
OF	7	Michael Leitch
BF	6	Takashi Kikutani (c)
RL	5	Luke Thompson	63'
LL	4	Justin Ives
TP	3	Kensuke Hatakeyama
HK	2	Yusuke Aoki	40'
LP	1	Hisateru Hirashima	69'
Replacements:
HK	16	Shota Horie	40'
PR	17	Naoki Kawamata	69'
LK	18	Hitoshi Ono	63'
N8	19	Itaru Taniguchi	78'
SH	20	Atsushi Hiwasa
FB	21	Go Aruga
WG	22	Takehisa Usuzuki
Coach:
John Kirwan

Touch judges:
Keith Brown
James Bolabiu

9 July 2011
15:10 (UTC+12)

Samoa	18–36	Fiji
Try: Tagicakibau 22' m Iosua 74' c Con: Lavea (0/1) J. So'oialo (1/1) 74' Pen: Lavea (1/2) 11' J. So'oialo (1/1) 14'	Report	Try: Goneva 8' c C. Ma'afu 40' c Fatiaki 46' m T. Rawaqa 70' c Kalou 79' c Con: Little (2/3) 9', 40' Luveniyali (2/2) 70', 79' Pen: Little (1/2) 20' T. Rawaqa (0/1)

National Stadium, Suva
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa)


FB	15	James So'oialo
RW	14	Sailosi Tagicakibau
OC	13	Johnny Leota	71'
IC	12	Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu
LW	11	David Lemi
FH	10	Tasesa Lavea	63'
SH	9	Uale Mai	40'
N8	8	Tai Tu'ifua
OF	7	Maurie Fa'asavalu
BF	6	George Stowers	58'
RL	5	Daniel Leo	56'
LL	4	Filipo Levi	36' to 46'
TP	3	Logovi'i Mulipola
HK	2	Mahonri Schwalger (c)	70'
LP	1	Simon Lemalu	72'
Replacements:
HK	16	Ti'i Paulo	70'
PR	17	Anthony Perenise	72'
LK	18	Ezra Taylor	56'
FL	19	Ofisa Treviranus	58'
SH	20	Lualua Vailoaloa	40'
FH	21	Tusi Pisi	63'
CR	22	Timoteo Iosua	71'
Coach:
Titimaea Tafua


FB	15	Taniela Rawaqa
RW	14	Ilikena Bolakoro	75'
OC	13	Albert Vulivuli
IC	12	Ravai Fatiaki
LW	11	Vereniki Goneva
FH	10	Nicky Little	66'
SH	9	Nemia Kenatale	54'
N8	8	Masi Matadigo
OF	7	Malakai Ravulo	56'
BF	6	Rupeni Nasiga	69'
RL	5	Leone Nakarawa
LL	4	Sekonaia Kalou
TP	3	Deacon Manu (c)
HK	2	Talemaitoga Tuapati	75'
LP	1	Campese Ma'afu	71'
Replacements:
HK	16	Viliame Veikoso	75'
PR	17	Penijamini Makutu	71'
FL	18	Josefa Domolailai	69'
FL	19	Samu Bola	56'
SH	20	Vitori Buatava	54'
FH	21	Waisea Luveniyali	66'
WG	22	Adriu Delai	75'
Coach:
Sam Domoni

Touch judges:
Keith Brown
James Bolabiu

Round 3

13 July 2011
12:40 (UTC+12)

Tonga	29–19	Samoa
Try: S. Taumalolo 32' c Helu 76' c Con: K. Morath (2/2) 32', 77' Pen: K. Morath (5/6) 1', 16', 20', 35', 67'	Report	Try: Lemi 17' c Con: J. So'oialo (1/1) 18' Pen: J. So'oialo (4/5) 4', 42', 44', 60' Drop: J. So'oialo (0/1)

Churchill Park, Lautoka
Attendance: 2,020
Referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand)


FB	15	Vunga Lilo
RW	14	William Helu
OC	13	Suka Hufanga
IC	12	Hudson Tongaʻuiha	64'
LW	11	Mateo Malupo
FH	10	Kurt Morath	77'
SH	9	Soane Havea	41'
N8	8	Samiu Vahafolau (c)
OF	7	Sione Vaiomoʻunga
BF	6	Viliame Maʻafu	41'
RL	5	Joseph Tuineau	41'
LL	4	Tukulua Lokotui	40' to 50'
TP	3	Sila Puafisi
HK	2	Ilaisa Maʻasi	61'
LP	1	Sona Taumalolo
Replacements:
HK	16	Ephraim Taukafa	61'
PR	17	Maleko Latu
LK	18	Paino Hehea	41'
FL	19	Sione Kalamafoni	41'
SH	20	Samisoni Fisilau	41'
FH	21	Tomasi Palu	77'
CE	22	Viliame Iongi	64'
Coach:
Isitolo Maka


FB	15	James So'oialo
RW	14	Timoteo Iosua	67'
OC	13	Fautua Otto
IC	12	Herman Porter
LW	11	David Lemi
FH	10	Fa'atonu Fili	67'
SH	9	Brenton Helleur	41'
N8	8	Ofisa Treviranus
OF	7	Ray Ofisa	41'
BF	6	Manaia Salavea
RL	5	Jonathan Fa'amatuainu
LL	4	Filipo Levi (c)
TP	3	Census Johnston	60'
HK	2	Ole Avei	47'
LP	1	Simon Lemalu	76'
Replacements:
HK	16	Ti'i Paulo	47'
PR	17	Logovi'i Mulipola	60'
PR	18	James Johnston	76'
FL	19	Afa Aiono	41'
SH	20	Lualua Vailoaloa	41'
FH	21	Uale Mai	67'
WG	22	Johnny Leota	67'
Coach:
Titimaea Tafua

Touch judges:
Marius Jonker
James Bolabiu

13 July 2011
15:10 (UTC+12)

Japan	24–13	Fiji
Try: Aruga 45' m Nicholas 58' c Horie 63' m Imamura 80'+8' c Con: Nicholas (0/1) Webb (2/3) 59', 80'+9'	Report	Try: Nalaga (2) 6' m, 48' m Con: Bai (0/1) Buatava (0/1) Pen: Bai (1/2) 1'

Churchill Park, Lautoka
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)


FB	15	Go Aruga	56'
RW	14	Takehisa Usuzuki
OC	13	Koji Taira
IC	12	Ryan Nicholas	68'
LW	11	Hirotoki Onozawa
FH	10	Murray Williams
SH	9	Atsushi Hiwasa
N8	8	Takashi Kikutani (c)
OF	7	Michael Leitch
BF	6	Itaru Taniguchi
RL	5	Toshizumi Kitagawa	63'
LL	4	Justin Ives
TP	3	Nozomu Fujita	53'
HK	2	Takeshi Kizu	40'
LP	1	Naoki Kawamata
Replacements:
HK	16	Shota Horie	40'
PR	17	Kensuke Hatakeyama	53'
LK	18	Hitoshi Ono	63'
FL	19	Tadasuke Nishihara
SH	20	Tomoki Yoshida
FB	21	Shaun Webb	56'
CR	22	Yuta Imamura	68'
Coach:
John Kirwan


FB	15	Iliesa Keresoni	63'
RW	14	Timoci Nagusa
OC	13	Ravai Fatiaki	74'
IC	12	Seru Rabeni	61'
LW	11	Napolioni Nalaga
FH	10	Seremaia Bai	41' to 51'
SH	9	Vitori Buatava	59'
N8	8	Sisa Koyamaibole	23'
OF	7	Akapusi Qera	64'
BF	6	Dominiko Waqaniburotu (c)	21' to 31'
RL	5	Ifereimi Rawaqa	52'
LL	4	Tevita Cavubati
TP	3	Setefano Somoca	59'
HK	2	Sunia Koto
LP	1	Graham Dewes	74'
Replacements:
PR	16	Waisea Daveta	74'
PR	17	Penijamini Makutu	59'
LK	18	Rupeni Nasiga	52'
FL	19	Jim Naikadawa
SH	20	Waisale Vatuvoka	59'
CR	21	Waisea Luveniyali	74' 79' to 80'
FB	22	Taniela Rawaqa	63'
Coach:
Sam Domoni

Touch judges:
Marius Jonker
James Bolabiu

Top scorers

Top points scorers

Rank	Player	Team	Points
1	Kurt Morath	Tonga	56
2	James So'oialo	Samoa	33
3	Nicky Little	Fiji	18
4	Koliniasi Holani	Japan	10
	Seko Kalou	Fiji
	Alisona Taumalolo	Tonga
	Alesana Tuilagi	Samoa
	Naipolioni Nalaga	Fiji
9	Shaun Webb	Japan	9
10	James Arlidge	Japan	8

Source: irb.com

Top try scorers

Rank	Player	Team	Tries
1	Koliniasi Holani	Japan	2
	Seko Kalou	Fiji
	Alisona Taumalolo	Tonga
	Alesana Tuilagi	Samoa
	Naipolioni Nalaga	Fiji
6	25 players, Penalty try		1