OSAKA, Japan (AP) — Fiji overwhelmed Japan from a 10-10 halftime deadlock to win an energetic Pacific Nations Cup final 41-17 at Hanazono Stadium on Saturday.
Fiji wore down the fast-starting Japanese with weight and speed and with impact off the bench, scoring five tries — two more were disallowed — for a record-extending sixth PNC title, and first since 2018.
The defense was also special. For the only time in five PNC matches, Fiji conceded points in a second half, less than three minutes from fulltime, to wing Malo Tuitama who scored Japan's second try.
“We just had to stay in there, work really hard to set ourselves up in the second half by maintaining really good pressure in that first half,” first-year Fiji coach Mick Byrne said.
After early penalty kicks, Japan center Dylan Riley scored a brilliant solo try by cutting inside three defenders and collecting his own chip.
Counterpart Inia Tabuavou then had a try chalked off by a knock-on in the buildup, but Fiji eventually tied the score against the run of play when Harumichi Tatekawa's grubber kick rebounded off Eroni Mawi, Tabuavou hacked ahead, and wing Vuate Karawalevu won the race to the ball.
Fiji started the new half with a man advantage while Japan hooker Mamoru Harada was sin-binned. Standout flyhalf Caleb Muntz had a try disallowed because of obstruction but his 56th- minute penalty gave Fiji the lead for the first time.
The Fijian pack was on a roll and Japan was struggling to contain it. With defenders dragged in by Fiji's pick and goes, there was space out wide and Fiji used it.
Replacement and Olympic sevens silver medallist Ponepati Loganimasi finished a try on his test debut then Tabuavou was tackled into touch in the right by Tuitama. But a minute later, Fiji was in again through replacement forward Albert Tuisue.
Fiji crossed twice more in the next eight minutes, Loganimasi's offload released Karawalevu for his second try, then Loganimasi broke from a midfield ruck and stepped the last defender for try number two.
Muntz, the player of the tournament, kicked six from six and let Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula convert their last try.
Tuitama gave Japan some consolation with the last converted try but the hosts lost to Fiji for the sixth time in their last seven contests.
For third place, Samoa beat the United States 18-13 with a 77th-minute try by Melani Nanai.
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
Fijian players celebrate scoring a try against Japan during the second half of the final at Pacific Nations Cup rugby match in Higashi Osaka city, Osaka prefecture, western Japan, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.(Kyodo News via AP)
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma City Thunder announced Monday that forward/center Chet Holmgren will miss at least eight weeks with a pelvic fracture.
Holmgren sustained a right iliac wing fracture during the first quarter of Sunday night's game against the Golden State Warriors. The team says it expects him to return this season, and an update will be provided in eight to 10 weeks.
It’s a big loss for a team that started the season with seven straight wins and currently is tied for the Western Conference lead with an 8-2 record. Holmgren was runner-up for Rookie of the Year last season and has been one of the league’s most efficient players this season. He is averaging 18.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game.
Holmgren contested a layup by Andrew Wiggins, collided with him and hit the floor hard. He immediately reached for his right hip and stayed down for a while before he was helped off the court. He did not put pressure on his right leg, but he gave a thumbs up as he hobbled off.
The Thunder led 16-12 when Holmgren was taken out and eventually fell behind by 30 late in the third quarter. Oklahoma City made it a game before losing 127-116.
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander said it was difficult to refocus after the injury.
“It’s hard," he said. "Hopefully, he’s OK. It’s part of the game, but it sucks.”
Oklahoma City entered Sunday night leading the league in defensive rating but didn't look like it in the second and third quarters without the team's anchor in the paint. The 7-foot-1 Holmgren is one of the league's top shot blockers, and he is agile enough to defend guards when he has to switch.
“It changed a lot for us defensively, for sure," Gilgeous-Alexander said. “You guys can probably tell, he does so much on that end of the floor. He cleans up so many things, deters so many things around the rim when he’s not blocking them (shots).”
Still, the Thunder started the fourth quarter strong, and Oklahoma City trimmed its deficit to six in the closing minutes.
Gilgeous-Alexander said there was a lesson to be learned from the second half.
“Especially against good teams, you can’t go down that big," he said. “It’s almost impossible to come back. You’ve got to be better on both ends of the ball for longer periods of time.”
The Thunder, one of the deepest teams in the league, are suddenly thin in their frontcourt. Holmgren had moved from forward to center because newly-acquired big man Isaiah Hartenstein was out with a fractured left hand. The Thunder were also missing forward/center Jaylin Williams (right hamstring) and guard/forward Kenrich Williams (right knee).
Oklahoma City hosts the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren (7) gives a thumbs-up as he is helped off the court by Thunder forward Jaylin Williams, left, and center Isaiah Hartenstein, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, left, and Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins (22) collide as Wiggins shoots during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Oklahoma City. Holmgren was injured on the play and helped off the court. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Chet Holmgren, center, gives a thumbs-up as he is helped off the court by Thunder forward Jaylin Williams, left, and center Isaiah Hartenstein, right, during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Golden State Warriors, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, in Oklahoma City. (AP Photo/Nate Billings)
