Falcons new boys Filipo Levi and Josh Afu both started their IRB Pacific Nations Cup campaigns with defeat on Saturday.

Levi's Samoa bravely battled against tournament hot favourites the Junior All Blacks in the Samoan capital Apia, losing by the slimmest of margins in a dramatic 17-16 loss.

Josh Afu's Tonga, meanwhile, fell to Fiji in the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa, losing 36-22.