On Saturday Nasi Manu will captain Tonga in their Pacific Nations Cup clash with Samoa in Apia in what should be an important competition with a view to the World Cup. Read more about Nasi Manu’s journey back to the highest level Beyond Manu, there is plenty more reason for Guinness PRO14 fans to tune in however. The kick-off times may not be the most sociable for those in Europe, who, in some cases, may need to catch up on the action later over the weekend. But the rugby itself should be box office and will give us a real indication of where some of the tier two sides stand midway through 2019. Irish and Scottish fans will be especially interested to get a look at Samoa and Japan, who join them in Pool A. The same is true for Italy and South Africa supporters, who are in a pool with Canada at the World Cup, while Fiji join Wales in Pool D. However, it goes much deeper than that. This competition will give us the chance to see a few Guinness PRO14 newcomers in action before they join the league. If that was not enough, there just happens to be the Guinness PRO14 Players’ Player of the Year on show. Viliame Mata was exceptional for Edinburgh last season and will be in action for a Fiji team that is similarly blessed in the back row. Fiji’s 27-man squad includes a fellow Sevens Olympic gold medallist in Semi Kunatani, as well as Clermont dynamo Peceli Yato. Add in former Glasgow Warriors cult hero Leone Nakarawa, and you have as exciting a pack of forwards as there is in the game. Warriors fans will also get a chance to see new hooker Mesulame Dolokoto before his move to Scotstoun. The clash with Japan is taking place in Kamaishi, where Fiji play Uruguay at the World Cup later this year, and after splitting their series with the Maori All Blacks, John McKee’s team look like they will be a real force. We should have a good idea of just how dangerous they will be against Japan, who are perhaps going to struggle to be the force they were four years ago. Injuries in the front row to Koo Jiwon and veteran Hiroshi Yamashita leave them very short at tighthead, while their centre stocks also look rather thin against a Fiji side that boasts the likes of Waisea Nayacalevu and Levani Botia, even if Semi Radradra is absent. In the aforementioned clash between Samoa and Tonga in Apia, it is not just Manu who will be worth looking out for. Samoa are overflowing with midfield options, including Welsh-based pair Kieron Fonotia and Rey Lee-Lo, the latter of whom starts at 12. He will combine with Alapati Leiua on Saturday. The pack also has plenty of depth, if not quite the same star power as Fiji. For Tonga, future Scarlets lock Sam Lousi will certainly be worth watching, while their front-row depth is impressive, boasting the likes of Ma’afu Fia of the Ospreys and Siua Halanukonuka of the Warriors, not to mention Big Ben Tameifuna, who gets the starting nod this weekend. The final game sees a North American derby as the USA take on Canada in Glendale, with the Eagles looking to underline their status as the dominant rugby force on the continent. Under Gary Gold, the USA have picked up some notable scalps in recent years, including Scotland in a thriller last summer. As well as former Cardiff Blues trio Blaine Scully, Cam Dolan and Samu Manoa, they will also have a host of Sevens stars to watch out for. While the USA have been improving in the XVs game, they are now a true powerhouse in Sevens, and Martin Iosefo, in particular, is worth keeping a close eye on. The Canada team could also have a strong Guinness PRO14 feel to it, with the ever-dependable DTH van der Merwe among the wing options. Long-time Osprey Tyler Ardron, now plying his trade with success for the Chiefs in Super Rugby, is another familiar face, as is Peter Nelson, a surprise inclusion in the squad for the former Ulsterman who is being tipped to start at ten. Canada have struggled on the whole in recent seasons, so it will be a big test to see if they can reverse that trend ahead of the World Cup. Whatever happens, it is certainly worth keeping a close eye to gauge where these teams stand a couple of months out from the World Cup.
