TEST RUGBY: PACIFIC NATIONS CUP Day 1

05.06.2012
Fiji v Japan in Nagoya (Pacific Nations Cup)

Venue: Mizuho Park Rugby Field, Aichi Mizuho

Referee:

Preview
Japan and Fiji clash at Nagoya in what is the main game of the day. Samoa and Tonga meet in the earlier game.

Japan has a number of advantages over Fiji. Firstly they have a greater number of match day games under there belt. Japan has played four test matches so far in the Asia Five Nations Cup. Not only have they won all their games by wide margins but new selector Eddie Jones has kept to a core of players. The combinations and tried and tested.

Japan is also playing at home. Their recent record against Fiji at home has not been good.

Fiji were a major disappointment at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Many of their overseas-based players failed to fire and the coach came under criticism. Today Fiji has a new coach and a large number of new players many of them Fiji-based. This is an inexperienced side. They may well let Japan get off to a flying start before they can crawl their way back into the game.

Last Five Encounters
13.07.2011 Japan 24-13 in Lautoka (Pacific Nations Cup)
12.06.2010 Fiji 22-8 in Lautoka (Pacific Nations Cup)
03.07.2009 Fiji 40-39 in Suva (Pacific Nations Cup)
22.06.2008 Fiji 24-12 in Tokyo (Pacific Nations Cup)
12.09.2007 Fiji 35-31 in Toulouse (World Cup, Pool B)

The last time Japan defeated Fiji at home was back in 1994, The Cherry Blossoms winning 20-8 in Tokyo.

Japan Last Five
19.05.2012 v Hong Kong W 67-0 in Tokyo (Asia Five Nations)
12.05.2012 v Korea W 52-8 in Seoul (Asia Five Nations)
05.05.2012 v United Arab Emirates W 106-3 in Fukuoka (Asia Five Nations)
28.04.2012 v Kazakhstan W 87-0 in Almaty (Asia Five Nations)
22.09.2011 v Canada D 23-23 in Napier (World Cup, Pool A)

Fiji Last Five
02.10.2011 v Wales L 0-66 in Hamilton (World Cup, Pool D)
25.09.2011 v Samoa L 7-27 in Auckland (World Cup, Pool D)
17.09.2011 v South Africa L 3-49 in Wellington (World Cup, Pool D)
10.09.2011 v Namibia W 49-25 in Rotorua (World Cup, Pool D)
19.08.2011 v Tonga L 20-37 in Lautoka (World Cup Warm-up)

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table-Japan 13th, Fiji 15th

IRB Ranking Points
Japan 70.45, Fiji 68.78

Prediction: Japan by 10 points

Teams

 

   

   JAPAN

 

15		Ayumu Goromaru	Yamaha
14		Toshiaki Hirose (Capt.)	Toshiba
13		Tomohiro Senba	Toshiba
12		Harumichi Tatekawa	Kubota
11		Hirotoki Onozawa	Suntory
10		Kosei Ono	Suntory
9		Atsushi Hiwasa	Stade Français, France
8		Michael Leitch	Toshiba
7		Takamichi Sasaki	Suntory
6		Yuta Mochizuki	Toshiba
5		Hitoshi Ono	Toshiba
4		Shinya Makabe	Suntory
3		Kensuke Hatakeyama	Suntory
2		Takeshi Kizu	Kobe Steel
1		Yusuki Nagae	Chugoku Electric Power
16		Ryuhei Arita	Coca Cola
17		Hiroshi Yamashita	Chugoku Electric Power
18		Shoji Ito	Kobe Steel
19		Takashi Kikutani	Toyota Verblitz
20		Jun Fujii	Toshiba
21		Ryan Nicholas	Suntory
22		Yasunori Nagatomo	Suntory
		HEAD COACH: Eddie Jones

FIJI

15		Isimeli Koniferedi *	Nadroga
14		Waisea Nayacalevu	Melbourne RFC, Australia
13		Vereniki Goneva	Tarbes, France
12		Isake Katoniabu *	Tailevu
11		Watisoni Votu *	Lautoka
10		Setareki Koroilagilagi *	Lautoka
9		Nikola Matawalu	Suva
8		Netani Talei (Capt.)	Edinburgh, Scotland
7		Ratu Malakai Ravula	North Harbour, New Zealand
6		Iliesa Ratuva *	Nadroga
5		Leone Nakarawa	Tailevu
4		Apisai Naikatini *	Toyota Verblitz, Japan
3		Setefano Somoca	Nadroga
2		Viliame Veikoso	Suva
1		Graham Dewes	Counties Manukau, New Zealand
16		Seremaia Naureure *	Nadroga
17		Waisea Daveta	Naitasiri
18		Malakai Volau	Suva
19		Kelepi Ketedromo	Nadi
20		Kelemedi Bola	Lautoka
21		Benedito Koroi *	Lautoka
22		Alusio Butonidualevu *	Grenoble, France
		HEAD COACH: Inoke Mali

* New caps