Tournament hosts Fiji line up this weekend against Samoa in Lautoka in a tie that could yet have a huge influence in the outcome of this year's ANZ Pacific Nations Cup.
The Junior All Blacks currently lie top of the standings after three wins, but they still have to play against the unpredictable Tongans, who first line up at the weekend against Japan.
Based on results so far, the gap between the tier two unions and the second string line-ups of the game's superpowers has all but closed. There is still some way to go, but Samoa went down to the Junior All Blacks by just a single point on the first match day and none of the games have been one-sided.
On top of the advances being made in Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and Japan, the new condensed tournament format also seems condusive to more competitive rugby.
Apart from the first weekend, the entire tournament is being hosted by the Fiji Rugby Union, meaning that matches can be played every four days. This, in turn, allows the Pacific Island teams in particular greater access to their overseas-based players.
The likes of Seilala Mapusua, Alesana and Henry Tuilagi, Sailosi Tagicakibau, Gavin Williams, George Stowers and Census Johnston bring Samoa's squad up to Rugby World Cup standards and the same can be said of Fiji and Tonga, who between them boast the likes of Semisi Naevo, Nili Latu, Hale T Pole and Sililo Martens.
"You only need to look at the team lists to see the standard and calibre of players that the teams have been able to assemble, and that's being reflected not only in the scorelines, but also in the standard of rugby being played, which is certainly being appreciated by the Fijian rugby public," said Will Glenwright, IRB General Manager for Oceania.
LISTEN TO WILL GLENWRIGHT >>
Fijian Fan festival
Owing to the tight-knit nature of the tournament, the players have also made themselves very accessible to the fans.
The Samoans have been seen playing beach volleyball and training on the public beaches, while the Junior All Blacks have often taken 30 minutes to the walk the few yards to their match day bus to satisfy the massed ranks of avid autograph hunters.
Samoa warm up ahead of their crunch match against Fiji by playing beach volleyball - photo: Oceaniarugby.com
"I think the players have been very appreciative of the stature in which they're held in the country and of course it's not just the Junior All Blacks, it's all the countries, there are so many famous rugby players here from this part of the world," added Glenwright.
Fiji's match against the Junior All Blacks in Lautoka brought in 10,000 spectators, a high figure for a match played in Fiji on a Thursday afternoon, and the entire event has been well attended. The hosts' crunch tie against Samoa this weekend is likely to top that figure.
"It certainly augurs well for the weekend, but also justifies the restructure of the tournament to a single host union model. The interest in the tournament has been massive.
"The Fijian rugby public has responded warmly to the opportunity to watch a great array of high level international rugby in their back yard."
Nadi to Suva
After initial rounds in Nadi, the tournament and all the teams will head to Suva, and another set of Fijian fans, but first comes the giant clash this weekend.
"Fiji-Samoa is going to be a huge game, the media have been talking about it all week," said Glenwright.
"Fiji had the bye in the last round so they've been preparing for it since their loss to the Junior All Blacks, it's a mouth-watering proposition and I think the crowd will respond favourably.
"Before that we also have the Japan-Tonga game, and Japan have held sway over the Tongans in this competition for the last two years, so Tonga will be trying to exact some revenge. But Japan will be carrying some impressive form into the game after winning the second half on Tuesday against the New Zealanders, so it's a massive weekend.
"But it's the Fiji-Samoa game that will be the talk of the town."
