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. This year the tournament began on 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. 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.
Contents |
| Pos | Country | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | BP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 67 | 74 | −7 | 2 | 10 |
| 2 | Tonga | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 101 | 68 | +33 | 2 | 10 |
| 3 | Fiji | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 70 | 87 | −17 | 1 | 5 |
| 4 | Samoa | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 71 | 80 | −9 | 1 | 5 |
| 2 July 2011 15:10 (UTC+12) |
Tonga | 45–21 | Fiji | Churchill Park, Lautoka Attendance: 4,075 Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Try: Vahafolau 5' c Taufa 25' c Penalty try 43' c Iongi 77' c Taumalolo 79' m Con: Morath (4/5) 5', 26', 43', 77' Pen: Morath (4/4) 10', 14', 31', 50' Drop: Morath (0/1) |
Report | Try: Kalou 59' m Ravulo 66' c Con: Little (1/2) 66' Pen: Little (3/3) 3', 7', 37' |
| 2 July 2011 18:10 (UTC+09) |
Japan | 15–34 | Samoa | Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo Attendance: 9,700 Referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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: Tuilagi (2) 2' c, 14' c Salavea 34' c G. Pisi 59' c Con: So'oialo (4/4) 3', 15', 36', 61' Pen: So'oialo (2/3) 12', 65' |
| 9 July 2011 12:40 (UTC+12) |
Tonga | 27–28 | Japan | National Stadium, Suva Attendance: 2,550 Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Try: Ma'afu 24' c Morath 29' c Tonga'uiha 73' c Con: Morath (3/3) 25', 30', 74' Pen: 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' |
| 9 July 2011 15:10 (UTC+12) |
Samoa | 18–36 | Fiji | National Stadium, Suva Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Try: Tagicakibau 22' m Iosua 74' c Con: Lavea (0/1) So'oialo (1/1) 74' Pen: Lavea (1/2) 11' So'oialo (1/1) 14' |
Report | Try: Goneva 8' c Ma'afu 40' c Fatiaki 46' m Rawaga 70' c Kalou 79' c Con: Little (2/3) 9', 40' Luveniyali (2/2) 70', 79' Pen: Little (1/2) 20' Rawaga (0/1) |
| 13 July 2011 12:40 (UTC+12) |
Tonga | 29–19 | Samoa | Churchill Park, Lautoka Attendance: 2,020 Referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Try: Taumalolo 32' c Helu 76' c Con: Morath (2/2) 32', 77' Pen: Morath (5/6) 1', 16', 20', 35', 67' |
Report | Try: Lemi 17' c Con: So'oialo (1/1) 18' Pen: So'oialo (4/5) 4', 42', 44', 60' Drop: So'oialo (0/1) |
| 13 July 2011 15:10 (UTC+12) |
Japan | 24–13 | Fiji | Churchill Park, Lautoka Attendance: 3,000 Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Try: Aruga 45' m Nicholas 58' c Horie 63' m Imamura 80'+8' c Con: Nicholas (0/1) Webb (2/3) 59', 80'+9' |
Try: Nalaga (2) 6' m, 48' m Con: Bai (0/1) Buatava (0/1) Pen: Bai (1/2) 1' |
Leading try scorers
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Leading point scorers
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