Fiji rally past Japan in Pacific Nations Cup

Fiji rally past Japan in Pacific Nations Cup

Fiji overturned a 12-point half-time deficit to triumph over Japan 30-15 in their Pacific Nations Cup match at Churchill Park, Lautoka on Saturday afternoon.

Fiji bounces back

by: Paul Neazor
Sportal

Those who thought Fiji’s superior power and pace would carry them to victory over Japan at Lautoka on Saturday afternoon had to wait 50 minutes before Fiji got its act together and maximised that advantage.

Japan, who played much of the game without the ball, had a surprisingly large 15-3 lead at halftime after taking advantage of its few scoring opportunities while Fiji squandered possession too freely for coach Ilie Tabua’s peace of mind.

After local fullback Taniela Rawaqa had opened the scoring with a simple penalty goal, Japan scored the first of its two tries on the back of two excellent set pieces. The visitors won a tighthead at a scrum, gained a penalty and kicked into the corner where the lineout was again perfectly executed and Luke Thompson was driven across for the five-pointer.

Eiji Ando was unable to convert but he nailed a 38m penalty to increase the lead before Japan scored again through fullback Goshi Tachikawa, who was on the end of a good movement that saw Thompson bust the line, the ball recycled quickly and worked left to create a simple run-in. Ando converted and Japan was value for its lead at the interval.

Fiji began the second half in a much better frame of mind and attacked from the opening kickoff. Rawaqa kicked his second penalty within a minute of play restarting before scoring Fiji’s first try in the 50th minute.

The try began when Ando missed touch from a penalty, Vesi Rauluni made a strong return and the recycled ball was worked to the left where Rawaqa was in plenty of space. For good measure he converted from the sideline.

Buoyed by the try, Fiji took only three minutes to increase the lead. Flanker Netani Talei, who had an outstanding match, created and scored a 70m try that featured an outstanding break by the flanker after another wayward touch-finder and a clever piece of interplay with Rauluni.

Two tries followed off the back of strong Fijian scrums, the first on its own feed when a slick loose forward move saw replacement Akapusi Qera touch down 60 seconds after coming on and the second when halfback Sevici Taka bustled his opposite off the ball, Talei flicked it up to Isoa Neivua and the powerful wing ran 45m untouched to score.

This was a classic game of two halves, with the fumbling, bumbling Fijians of the first spell replaced by a much sharper, more accurate outfit after halftime. Talei, Taka and 2.02m lock Langi Peters had excellent matches and in the end Fiji deserved both its win and a bonus point for four tries.

Japan tried hard and its set pieces were impressive for the first hour, but weight of possession and too much tackling told in the end. Thompson had a strong match for Japan but the backline saw too little ball to be really effective, although wing Christian Loamanu was a strong-running attacking threat.

Fiji 30
Tries: Taniela Rawaqa, Netani Talei, Akapusi Qera, Isoa Neivua
Conversions: Taniela Rawaqa (2)
Penalty goals: Taniela Rawaqa (2)

Japan 15
Tries: Luke Thompson, Goshi Tachikawa
Conversion: Eiji Ando
Penalty goal: Eiji Ando

I noticed that ex EWF player Vitori Buatava was playing fly half for Fiji in this game