Despite the mounting political crisis at home, Fiji gave their country something to cheer about by beating defending champions Japan 47-22 in the opening game of the Epson Cup Pacific Rim at the Chichibu Stadium, Tokyo.
"We came here with the mission to play rugby. There's no point worrying about what's going on at home," said Fiji's captain Simon Raiwalui, whose team was the only country to have beaten Japan last season.
Fiji needed only a minute to open the scoring, with half-back Mosese Rauluni receiving a pass from Saimoni Rokini just in front of the Japanese goal line for a try, converted by stand-off Nicky Little.
Although penalties from Keiji Hirose kept Japan in touch, a try from Saimoni Rokini on his debut put Fiji in the lead. However, a try from promising wing Daisuke Ohata ten minutes before the break narrowed the gap to leave the home side trailing by just nine points at half-time.
After Japan conceded another try three minutes into the second half through veteran lock Katalau, they fought back.
An offside by the visitors enabled stand-off Keiji Hirose to reduce the deficit to 17-30 in the 48th minute and then Ohata got his second try of the game, his eleventh in 19 international appearances, 10 minutes later to make it 22-30. But that completed the scoring for the Japanese.
With ten minuties remaining Fiji's Jonetani Waqa intercepted a stray Japanese pass to sprint home for a converted try. Then just two minutes later Lauluni, Sirilo Lala, Kameli Tilalati, Katalau and Waqa all combined in a slick passing exchange for Jope Tuikabe to touchdown two minutes later to put the game beyond the reach of the home side.
"I stressed to my players at half time that we have to take the initiative in the early part of the second half. However Japan played some outstanding football in the second half," said Fiji's head coach Greg Smith.
"The game was a lot closer than the score indicates. Had they been able to score another try when they were making nice penetrative runs, the game could have gone either way.
"However, we came back and were able to break the line and scored a couple of outstanding tries, which really consolidated the victory for us," added Smith.
Next Saturday, Fiji will take on Tonga in Suva, while Japan will play the United States in Osaka.
The Teams:
Fiji: 1 Paula Biu, 2 Isaia Rasila, 3 Joeli Veitayaki, 4 Emori Katalau, 5 Simon Raiwalui (c), 6 Alifereti Doviverata, 7 Sailosi Naiteqe, 8 Inoke Male, 9 Mosese Rauluni, 10 Nicky Little, 11 Saimoni Rokini, 12 Sirilo Lala Ragata, 13 Kameli Tilalati, 14 Imanueli Tikomaimakogai, 15 Jonetani Waqa
Reserves: Seremaia Bai, Peniasi Damu, Bill Gadolo, Alipate Naqaya, Seru Rabeni, Jope Tuikabe, Ilaitia Tuisese
Japan: 1 Toshikazu Nakamichi, 2 Shin Hasegawa, 3 Masahiko Toyoyama, 4 Naoya Okubo, 5 Karl Todd, 6 Masahiro Kurokawa, 7 Hiroshi Sugawara, 8 Yasunori Watanabe, 9 Yuji Sonoda, 10 Keiji Hirose, 11 Terunori Masuho (c), 12 Hideki Nanba, 13 Akira Yoshida, 14 Daisuke Ohata, 15 Koji Fukuoka
Reserves: Kazuya Koizumi, Toru Kurihara, Kohei Oguchi, Syotaro Oonishi, Hiroyuki Tanuma
Referee: Tuisila m.
Points Scorers:
Fiji
Tries: Katalau E.S. 2, Rauluni M. 1, Rokini S. 1, Tuikabe J. 1, Waqa J. 1
Conv: Little N.T. 4
Pen K.: Little N.T. 3
Japan
Tries: Ohata D. 2
Pen K.: Hirose K. 4
