Fiji off to a winning start
Fiji opened their Pacific Nations Cup campaign with a comfortable 22-8 win over Japan on Saturday in Lautoka.
Fiji opened their Pacific Nations Cup campaign with a comfortable 22-8 win over Japan on Saturday in Lautoka.
The Fijians could only muster a 3-0 half-time lead in a tight match which was a direct contrast to the 40-39 thriller of last year.
Both Jaoji Dakuvula of Fiji and Shaun Webb of Japan missed three other kicks at goal in the first half, but Dakuvula had notched one early one for the lead.
The second half was much better, and within ten minutes of the restart Fijian scrum-half Nikola Matawalu, who made a dazzling debut for his country, finished a brilliant solo break with a try converted by Dakuvula.
Winger Timoci Naqusa finished off another break by Matawalu with the second try, also converted by Dakuvula for a comfortable 17-0 lead as Fiji's size proved overwhelming.
With just seven minutes to go, Japan gave themselves a glimmer of hope with a try to captain Takashi Kikutani off the back of a ruck to bring the scores closer at 17-8.
But Fiji's inside centre Iliesa Keresoni extinguished any Japanese hopes with Fiji's third touchdown from a brilliant breakout by the backline just three minutes later.
The scorers:
For Fiji:
Tries: Matawalu, Nagusa, Keresoni
Cons: Dakuvulu 2
Pen: Dakuvulu
For Japan:
Try: Holani
Pen: Nicholas
Fiji: 15 Jaoji Dakuvula, 14 Timoci Naqusa, 13 Ropate Ratu, 12 Sireli Naqelevuki, 11 Nemani Nasiganiyavi, 10 Jonetani Ralulu, 9 Nikola Matawalu, 8 Kelepi Ketedromo, 7 Jimilai Naikadawa, 6 Rupeni Nasiga, 5 Dominiko Waqaniburotu (c), 4 Seko Qaraniqio, 3 Alefoso Yalayalatabua, 2 Vili Veikoso, 1 Campese Ma'afu.
Replacements: 16 Tuapati Talemaitoga, 17 Graham Dewes, 18 Anthony Wise, 19 Samu Bola, 20 Emosi Vucago, 21 Naipolioni Nalaga, 22 Iliesa Keresoni.
Japan: 15 Kaoru Matsushita, 14 Alisi Tupuailei, 13 Koji Taira, 12 Ryan Nicholas, 11 Kosuke Endo, 10 Shaun Webb, 9 Fumiaki Tanaka, 8 Takashi Kikutani (c), 7 Touetsu Taufa, 6 Micheal Leitch, 5 Luke Thompson, 4 Hitoshi Ono, 3 Shinsuke Nakamura, 2 Shota Horie, 1 Hisateru Hirashima.
Replacements: 16 Hiroki Yuhara, 17 Naoki Kawamata, 18 Toshizumi Kitagawa, 19 Ryukoliniasi Holani, 20 Koji Wada, 21 James Arlidge, 22 Hirotoki Onozawa.
Referee: George Clancy