Fiji beat Japan 35-12 to build World Cup momentum
TOKYO AFP Aug 5, 2023: Fiji beat Japan 35-12 in Tokyo on Saturday for their fifth straight win as they build momentum towards the Rugby World Cup. Fiji, who have been drawn with Australia, Wales, Georgia and Portugal in World Cup Pool C, scored three first-half tries and added two more after the break.
Japan, who pulled back two late tries, faced an uphill struggle when loose forward Pieter Labuschagne was shown a red card in the sixth minute for a high tackle. It was their second red card in three games, after former captain Michael Leitch was sent off in their defeat to Samoa two weeks ago.
It was also Japan’s last home game before heading to the World Cup, where they will face England, Argentina, Samoa and Chile in Pool D. Fiji scored four tries in the first half-hour of their 33-19 win over Samoa the previous week, and they started quickly again against Japan.
Captain Waisea Nayacalevu stormed through the centre of the defence to score the opening try in the fourth minute. Ben Volavola added the conversion before Japan’s night went from bad to worse two minutes later. Labuschagne hit centre Vilimoni Botitu so high in the tackle that their heads collided, and the loose forward was shown the red after a video review.
Fiji made Japan pay with their second try in the 17th minute. Prop Eroni Mawi barged over at the line and Volavola slotted the conversion. Scrum-half Simione Kuruvoli bagged a third two minutes before half-time, darting over after a scrum near the Japanese line.
Fiji cut Japan’s defence to ribbons to score a fourth through Selesitino Ravutaumada less than 10 minutes into the second half.
Fiji had two more tries chalked off after video reviews before Japan finally got on the scoreboard when Jone Naikabula wriggled over the line in the 70th minute.
They got a second try through Semisi Masirewa with three minutes remaining, before Frank Lomani rounded off the scoring for Fiji. Fiji will play away warm-up games against France and England before they begin their World Cup campaign against Wales on September 10 in Bordeaux.
Japan will take on Italy away before playing their World Cup opener against Chile on September 10.