Rugby Live

Finished Toulouse

Japan 31 - Fidji 35

Japan

Fiji

  1. Fiji hold out for victory

    Fiji hold out for victory

    Fiji withstood a determined fightback from Japan to win a thrilling Pool B clash 35-31 on Wednesday and get their World Cup campaign off to a perfect start. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:80'
    • Japan
    • Fiji
    • 84' It's still going as ref plays advantage for Fiji offside! Amazing passage of play and the Japanese drive again - one last effort but the ball is knocked on and Fiji kick the ball dead for full-time. A fantastic finale with Fiji holding out and winning a bonus point! Great effort from the Brave Blossoms who go down 35-31.
    • 80' But Little steals the ball and Fiji kick for touch to end the game. But they miss touch and Japan come back again. It's still alive and Loamanu brings it clear. They're up to the 22m line now - this is great stuff!!
    • 79' Onishi almost clear but the ball is knocked on. But Fiji play adavantage and Japan have a line-out with 30 second to go. But it's on the halfway and this is their last chance!
    • 79' Onishi makes it 35-31 with two minutes to go!
    • 78' Another great Japan drive just held up short, though Thomson gets his second after crashing over from the second wave. Good strength from the lock! 35-29.
    • 76' Japan refusing to give up and spin the ball wide at pace. But Fiji defence holds firm though they concede a penalty. Japan kick for the corner.
    • 74' Little strokes it betwen the posts for a 35-24 lead. Japan need at least two scores to win with just over five minutrs to go.
    • 73' Nice up and under from Little and Fiji win penalty for Japan not releasing. Another chance for Little to extend their lead.
    • 72' Little makes it 32-24.
    • 70' Fiji win scrum and Leawere drives over from the second wave. 30-24 to Fiji.
    • 69' Fiji spread the ball wide and make inroads into Japan 22m area. Japan concede penalty for handling on the ground and Fiji opt for the scrum. One more try and they get the bonus point.
    • 66' Japan caught in possession and turn ball over deep in their own half. Fiji make space down the left by Bai's pass misses his wing and goes right into touch! Yatomi is off!
    • 65' Fiji move the ball wide and Neivua makes good ground before the Japan cover hauls him down.
    • 61' Great tap and go by replacement scrum-half Yatomi and Japan awarded another penalty. They kick for the corner and have line-out 5m from Fiji line. Great chance for Japan who drive the ball superbly for a well worked try! Soma comes up with the ball and Japan are right back in it! 24-25 to Fiji.
    • 60' Aruga off, Onozawa on.
    • 59' Good break by Robins but the ball is turned over only for Fiji to kick the ball back to Japan. They find some space on the left but dreadful passing sees the ball go to ground!
    • 59' Japan scrum-half Yoshida is injured an taken off.
    • 56' Lovely break from Fiji down the right and Rabeni is put over in the corner. 25-19 Fiji! It's all happening now!
    • 53' High tackle from Imamura on Bai gives Fiji's Little the cahnce to move Fiji 20-19 ahead.
    • 52' Onishi kicks the conversion to move Japan ahead at 19-17.
    • 51' But almost straight from the kick off Japan lock Luke Thompson bursts through to score under the posts. Amazing stuff! 17-17.
    • 50' Little makes 17-12.
    • 49' Lovely break from Rauluni, good supprot by Qera and he goes over again for Fiji's second try and his second try. Great play from the flanker! 15-12.
    • 46' Great nudge by Japan at the scrum and Fiji release binding and concede penalty. Robins misses touch but the chasers tackle Neivua into touch and make amends.
    • 46' Loamanu caught in possession after a forward pass and Fiji win scrum just outside Japan 22m line.
    • 44' Japan drive from the restart, taking advantage of Fiji's seven men up front. Makiri makes a decent break and moves Japan into Fiji 22m area.
    • 43' No problems for Onishi as Japan move ahead 12-10.
    • 42' Japan press Fiji line and the Fijians give away another penalty for offside!
    • 41' Robins gets the second half started and Fiji turn the ball over right away! Their half-time talk clearly didn't get through!
    • 40' Ref blows for half-time and Japan will be pleased they are within sight of Fiji and even enjoying the better of the action. But it's been a scrappy affair and both sides will expect to improve in the second half. Still all to play for and an exciting 40 minutes ahead of us!
    • 40' Nice kick Onishi, who cuts the deficit to 10-9.
    • 40' Delasau is sin-binned for a swinging arm and Japan have chance to cut the deficit.
    • 39' Onishi tries to get through on the outside of the centres but is hauled down. Japan retain possession and continue to attack Fiji lines!
    • 37' Little adds conversion to make it 10-6.
    • 36' Japan win scrum but make a mess at the base and Fiji flanker Qera steals the ball and shows great speed to race nearly whole length of the pitch to score the opening try. 8-6 Fiji.
    • 34' Up and under from Robbins, Fiji win ball but Japan turn it over and set up another attack.!
    • 33' Yoshida takes quick tap penalty and the ball is moved to Endo in space - but the winger drops the pass! Agggh!
    • 31' Little flow to the game in the first half hour. Too many mistakes for either side to build any momentum. Japan steal Fiji ball at the end of line-out!
    • 30' Japan take restart well through Ono and find touch in Fiji half. Efficient play by Japan but they are handing possession away every time they kick for touch!
    • 29' Onishi makes no mistakes and puts the Asian side 6-3 ahead. Well played Japan.
    • 28' Fiji ruled offside in the midfield and Japan have a penalty in a very kickable position in front of the posts.
    • 28' Japan's Robbins makes a nice outside break but is halted by Fiji defence.
    • 24' Good clearance by Aruga but Japan would be better served not taking the Fijians on at the line out, where they have a distinct size disadvantage!
    • 20' Japan slowly finding parity in the game now and seem to be doing the basics better than Fiji. Certainly making less mistakes. Yoshida puts in great kick and wins a scrum on Fiji 22m line.
    • 19' Japan try to break from the kick off but Fiji turn the ball over but again they knock on and hand possession back to the Asian side. Rather error-ridden at the moment and Imamura is down following a tackle from Delasau. Looked a bit of a trip to me!!
    • 17' Fiji overthrow the ball and allow Japan to grab possession and set up a series of drives. Fiji have conceded a penalty and Robbins nearly puts Endo clear. Onishi from right in front of the posts levels the scores are 3-3.
    • 16' Japan turn the ball over and Robins find touch near the Fiji 22m line. Nice kick.
    • 15' Great break from Neivua and Fiji really putting Japan under pressure now and seriously testing their defence. Superb take by Japan flanker O'Reilly to take the mark and kick the ball into touch just inside the Japan half.
    • 12' Another penalty Fiji for Japan hooker Matsubara holding on. But Little misses touch and allows Endo to clear the danger up to the half-way line.
    • 8' Knock on from Rabeni allows Japan to hack through and put pressure on Fiji for the first time.
    • 7' Japan secure the ball well from a scrum and clear their lines. Solid scrum bodes well for the Asian side.
    • 5' Fiji win scrum and Bai almost bursts through. Already the Japanese look like they will struggle with Fiji size and speed.
    • 3' Early penalty chance for Fiji and Little puts the Pacific Islanders 3-0 ahead.
    • 1' Fiji's Nicky Little gets the game underway and immediately the Fijians steal the ball and put the Brave Blossoms under pressure. Great start by Fiji.
    • - Welcome to Eurosport.com's online coverage of Japan v Fiji at the Stade de Toulouse. It is Japan's second World Cup match while Fiji are playing their first game of the tournament. Japan coach John Kirwan has named a completely different XV to the one thrashed 91-3 by Australia in their opener and is confident his side can produce a far more competitive performance.

  • Summary

    Japan versus Fiji
    Thomson 51’, 78’, Nishiura 62’ Tries Qera 35’, 49’, rabeni 56’, Leawere 71’
    Onishi 52’, 79’ Conversions Little 37’, 50’, 72’
    Onishi 18’, 30’, 40’, 43’ Penalties Little 4’, 55’, 74’
      Drops  

Live Team Line-Up

  • Referee: Marius Jonker

  • Japan

    Manager: John Kirwan

    On the Field

    • Nishiura Try
    • Matsubara
    • Soma Substitution Out (68′)
    • Ono
    • Thomson Tries×2
    • Makiri
    • O'Reilly
    • Miuchi
    • Yoshida
    • Robins
    • Endo
    • Onishi
    • Imamura
    • Loamanu
    • Aruga Substitution Out (60′)

    Subs

    • Onozawa Substitution In (60′)
    • Yamamura Substitution In (68′)
    • Asano
    • Kumagai
    • Inokushi
    • Yatomi Substitution In (58′) Substitution Out (65′)
    • Taira Substitution In (65′)

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Fiji

    Manager: Ilivasi Tabua

    On the Field

    • Dewes
    • Koto
    • Qiodravu Substitution Out (68′)
    • Leawere Try
    • Lewaravu
    • Naevo
    • Qera Tries×2 Substitution Out (58′)
    • Koyamaibole Substitution Out (68′)
    • Rauluni
    • Little
    • Naivua
    • Bai
    • rabeni Try
    • Delasau Yellow Card Substitution Out (71′)
    • Ratuvou

    Subs

    • Ligairi Substitution In (71′)
    • Ratuva Substitution In (58′)
    • Sauturaga
    • Railomo Substitution In (68′)
    • Talei Substitution In (68′)
    • Dunivucu
    • Lovobalavu

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None