Japan Defeats Samoa, Advances to Final

Japan secured a convincing 49-27 victory over Samoa in the Pacific Nations Cup semi-final, marking a significant shift in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings as they overtook Samoa to claim the 13th position. The Brave Blossoms, under head coach Eddie Jones, displayed a dominant performance, scoring seven tries, including four in the first half. Seungsin Lee excelled with a try and assists, maintaining a perfect record of 20 goals from 20 attempts in the tournament. Japan will face defending champions Fiji in the final next weekend, while Samoa will compete against the USA for third place. This match highlighted Japan's attacking prowess and set the stage for a highly anticipated final in Osaka. The victory also underscores Japan's resurgence in rugby following their last PNC title win in 2019.