There is only one team to be confirmed in Pool D for the Japan tournament in two years time. Australia, Wales and Georgia were confirmed at the draw and Fiji will be joined by the second team after the United States to emerge from the qualifying process.
It was a tense affair at the Teufaiva Stadium in the Tongan capital of Nuku’alofa, where a capacity crowd of 10,000 crammed in to watch the game. Victory earned the Pacific Nations Cup for the visitors for the second year in a row.
Tonga came into the game on the back of a win over Samoa, who Fiji play this weekend. John McKee’s Fijan side have enjoyed a wonderful summer having beaten Italy and Scotland before qualifiying for the World Cup with their triumph in Tonga.
It was 3-3 at half-time, with Sonatane Takulua and Ben Volavola swapping penalties, and Tonga led 10-3 early in the second half thanks to a try from prop Siegfried Fisihoi that scrum half Takulua converted. But Fiji hit back with an 80 metre try finished off by Racing 92 lock Leone Nakarawa and two late penalties to outside half Volavola.
Samoa will host Fiji at the weekend and remain in the running with Tonga for the Oceania 2 qualifying position. Whoever finishes as the runners-up to Fiji will earn a place alongside England, Argentina and France in Pool C.
The Oceania qualifying process is based on combined results of Pacific Nations Cup tournaments in 2016 and 2017. The third team from Oceania will compete in a repecharge against a European team for a place in Japan.
The American Eagles have already clinched the Americas 1 place for the first time and Wales will face either Canada or Uruguay, who were in their pool in 2015, as Americas 2. They meet in home and away fixtures on 27 January and 3 February, 2018.
