The countdown is on, and the final preparations are being made. 

We are almost exactly a month from the Rugby World Cup in France, and as part of the final rounds of international competitions and warm-up fixtures occurring in advance of the greatest spectacle in international rugby, the Pacific Nations Cup — a competition featuring four of Oceania/Asia’s best in the sport — has been ruled by one country this year. 

That being said, teams never can be too prepared for the RWC, especially when all four nations in the competition (Japan, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga) have tough draws ahead of them after the plane ride to Europe. 

Any win is a productive and beneficial one at this point in the cycle. Even as the 2023 PNC comes to a close this weekend, what’s at stake, and the attention to detail, cannot be ignored. 

As the final days before RWC 2023 are on the horizon, the matches left to be played have limitless value. 

Here’s a look ahead at the final fixtures of this year’s Pacific Nations Cup, which will be streamed live this weekend on FloRugby: 

Japan Vs. Fiji 

Fiji has Samoa to thank for giving it a lot of breathing room in this fixture, considering that it’s going to be played in Tokyo and probably would’ve been considered by most going into the competition to be the de-facto title match. 

Alas, Samoa’s first win in 11 years over the Cherry Blossoms back in Round 1 in Sapporo made the mission much more straightforward for the Flying Fijians: take care of business elsewhere to control your destiny. 

Sure enough, Fiji is unbeaten, including victories over rivals Samoa and Tonga in this year’s PNC, and holds a five-point cushion (and a 27-point scoring differential advantage) over the Japanese heading into the final match week. 

That means that as long as Fiji avoids disaster at the Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, it’ll escape with its sixth PNC championship, and first since 2018 — and get a critical boost of momentum heading into the World Cup. 

The only nation in this year’s competition to have picked up a try bonus (which it’s done twice), Fiji has scored nine tries through eight players, scurrying past opponents effectively with its trademark rapid style and breaking the 30-point barrier in both of its matches. 

Fijian Drua man Tevita Ikanivere crossed over twice in the 33-19 win over Samoa last weekend in Apia, and other five-pointers from club teammates Iosefo Masi and Selestino Ravutaumada, had the Fijians well away from their opponents inside a half-hour at Apia Park. 

Back to the grind #FIJIWaterFlyingFijians #FIJIWater pic.twitter.com/Skmt1lU8Ff

— Fiji Rugby Union (@fijirugby) July 31, 2023

Japan, which won the PNC the last time it participated in 2019, likely won’t repeat, but will be determined to put on a good show for its home support and instill some added confidence in a squad that may have been the home quarterfinal darlings at the last World Cup four years ago, but instead will need to prove themselves in France in a few weeks in a tricky Pool D that includes England and a red-hot Argentina. 

Black Rams Tokyo lock Amato Fakatava, who made his senior international debut in the Samoa game, has been a bright spot, as he’s 2-for-2 on scoring tries in his Sakura appearances, perhaps showing a bit of indication that the 28-year-old could be a man to watch at the RWC. 

Samoa Vs. Tonga 

A classic rivalry between two tiny Pacific Island nations that consistently punch above their weights in the sport, Samoa-Tonga is worth your attention for multiple reasons. 

First and foremost, the pregame challenges the two nations perform in front of their opponents before each match — Samoa the Sivi Tau, Tonga the Sipi Tau — is an epic showcase of tradition and ferocity that feels all the more raw between two adversaries from the middle of the southern Pacific Ocean. 

When the Sipi Tau faced the Siva Tau 🇹🇴 🇼🇸

Nothing but respect between these word-class sides 👏 #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/qZuqKxWzJQ

— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) August 3, 2023

Secondly, there are often high stakes between the two whenever they meet on a rugby pitch.

Samoa pummeled Tonga by a 79-28 aggregate over two legs in the Oceania 1 playoffs two years ago for the right to be one of the continent's representatives at the World Cup, and though Tonga eventually qualified by going the Asia/Pacific route (beating Hong Kong in July 2022 to seal its spot in France).

Samoa still firmly reinforced that it’s the big brother and all-time leader in the series by defeating Tonga 34-18 at last year’s PNC, a match in which Moana Pasifika’s Ray Niuia scored a hat trick en route to Samoa capturing the 2022 PNC outright. 

Le Manu’s spirits will especially be up for this year’s PNC finale, considering that the match will be played in Apia, and Samoa already holds a win over Japan in this year’s tournament, but Tonga (by a 21-16 margin in Round 2) wasn’t far from taking down the Japanese, either, and the Sea Eagles would love nothing more than to get one over an opponent who has toyed with them lately heading into France. 

With both having tough pools ahead at the RWC — Samoa in the aforementioned Pool D, Tonga in Pool B with South Africa, Ireland, Scotland and Romania — a possible burst of momentum from a rivalry victory would be welcomed from either side.