(Reuters) - Flanker Kitione Salawa scored a hat-trick of tries as Fiji came from behind to get their Pacific Nations Cup title defence underway with a 42-16 win over Samoa in Suva on Friday.
Salawa scored two of his tries after the break with scrumhalf Frank Lomani and debutant fullback Vuate Karawalevu also crossing in the last 20 minutes as the Flying Fijians turned a 16-15 halftime deficit into a convincing win.
Winger Pisi Leilua scored an early try for Samoa and flyhalf D'Angelo Leuila kicked the conversion and three penalties to help the visitors to their slender halftime lead, but two yellow cards in the second half took their toll.
Fiji and Samoa have been grouped with Tonga in Pool A of the new-look tournament this year. Canada, Japan and the United States will face off in Pool B.
The top two from each pool will advance to the semi-finals in Tokyo in mid-September with the final taking place a week later at the Hanazono Rugby Stadium near Osaka.
(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Peter Rutherford)
