The 2014 IRB Pacific Nations Cup, was the ninth edition of the IRB Pacific Nations Cup, the annual Tier 2 Rugby union tournament. Unlike previous competitions, the tournament was divided into two conferences of three teams each, with no interconference matches. Samoa emerged as the winner of the Pacific Islands conference title ahead of Fiji and Tonga,[2][3] while Japan took out the Asia/Pacific conference remaining undefeated ahead of United States and Canada.[3]
Each team played each other once in their respective conferences, with no interconference matches. Four points were awarded for a win, two points for a draw and one point for a bonus point; the bonus point being awarded should a team score four or more tries in a match, or for a loss by seven points or less. The winner of each conferences was the team with the most log points, with tiebreakers being the head to-head results between teams equal on log points, followed points difference for-and-against.[3]
As the three-week tournament coincided with the three-week June international window, players were able to be released from their clubs for their national teams. When a team was not in action in either conference, they played host to a touring Tier 1 nation from Europe. In Round 1, the United States hosted Scotland, while Fiji hosted Italy. In Round 2, Canada played Scotland, and Samoa played Italy. In Round 3, Japan hosted Italy and Tonga played a Pacific Barbarians side.[4][5]
The full match schedule was announced on 9 April 2014.[6]
Asia/Pacific conference
Table
|
|
Team
|
Played
|
Won
|
Drawn
|
Lost
|
Points For
|
Points Against
|
Points Diff
|
Tries For
|
Tries Against
|
Try Bonus
|
Losing Bonus
|
Points
|
| 1 |
 Japan (12) |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
71 |
54 |
+17 |
7 |
7 |
1 |
0 |
9
|
| 2 |
 United States (18) |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
67 |
72 |
–5 |
8 |
9 |
2 |
0 |
6
|
| 3 |
 Canada (15) |
2 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
60 |
72 |
–12 |
8 |
7 |
1 |
1 |
2
|
Points breakdown:
*4 points for a win
*2 points for a draw
*1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less
*1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match
Pre-tournament rankings are in parentheses.
Source: IRB[7] Updated: 15 June 2014
|
Fixtures
Round 1
Notes:
Round 2
| United States | 29–37 | Japan |
Try: Dolan 9' c
Scully (3) 32' c, 61' c, 68' m
Con: Wyles (3/4) 10', 33', 22'
Pen: Wyles (1/1) 23' | Report[9] | Try: Tanaka 13' c
Yamada 27' c
Holani (2) 43' c, 54' c
Con: Goromaru (4/4) 14', 29', 44', 55'
Pen: Goromaru (3/4) 20', 50', 75' |
Round 3
| United States | 38–35 | Canada |
Try: Scully (2) 26' m, 60' c
Wyles 31' c
Thompson 70' c
Con: Wyles (3/4) 32', 61', 71'
Pen: Wyles (4/4) 5', 11', 52', 68' | Report[10] | Try: Jones (2) 22' c, 43' c
Carpenter 36' c
Pritchard 39' c
Hearn 40' c
Con: Pritchard (5/5) 24', 36', 39', 40', 44' |
Notes:
- Brett Thompson made his international debut for the United States.
- This was the United States first win over Canada in seven attempts. United States last won in July 2009.
Pacific Islands conference
Table
|
|
Team
|
Played
|
Won
|
Drawn
|
Lost
|
Points For
|
Points Against
|
Points Diff
|
Tries For
|
Tries Against
|
Try Bonus
|
Losing Bonus
|
Points
|
| 1 |
 Samoa (9) |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
36 |
31 |
+5 |
2 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
6
|
| 2 |
 Fiji (11) |
2 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
58 |
35 |
+23 |
8 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
6
|
| 3 |
 Tonga (13) |
2 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
35 |
63 |
–28 |
4 |
8 |
0 |
0 |
2
|
Points breakdown:
*4 points for a win
*2 points for a draw
*1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less
*1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match
Pre-tournament rankings are in parentheses.
Source: IRB[7] Updated: 15 June 2014
|
Fixtures
Round 1
Notes:
Round 2
Notes
- Fijian winger, Sireli Bobo became the oldest player ever to represent Fiji when he ran onto the field at 38 years and 137 days old.
Round 3
Statistics
Points scorers
|
Try scorers
|
Squads
Note: Number of caps and players' ages are indicated as of 7 June 2014 – the tournament's opening day, pre first tournament match.
Canada
Canada's 27-man roster for the 2014 IRB Pacific Nations Cup.[14]
On 19 June, Nathan Hirayama and Kyle Gilmour were added to the squad as further cover for their respective positions.
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
Fiji
Fiji 29-man squad for the 2014 IRB Pacific Nations Cup.[15]
On 31 May, it was announced that Vereniki Goneva and Levani Botia were withdrawn from the squad due to injury. Watisoni Votu was added to the squad to replace Goneva, while Botia was not replaced.[16]
Ahead of the final Round 3 match against Samoa, McKee added former footballer Isoa Donaldson to the squad to increase depth in the Fly Half position.[17]
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
Japan
Japanese 28-man squad for the 2014 IRB Pacific Nations Cup.[18]
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
Samoa
Samoa 31-man squad for the 2014 IRB Pacific Nations Cup.[19]
On 19 June, Joe Tekori was added to the squad to cover the back row.
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
Tonga
Tonga's 29-man squad for the 2014 IRB Pacific Nations Cup.[20]
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
United States
United States 40-man roster for the 2014 IRB Pacific Nations Cup.[21] Caps are current as of June 1, 2014.
Note: Head coach Tolkin, will weekly reduce the squad to 28 for each test.
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.
See also
References
External links
