Pool B Report: Fiji 41 - Japan 13Two tries each for Aisea Tuilevu and Norman Ligairi inspired Fiji to a 41-13World Cup pool B victory over Japan yesterday that kept them in the hunt for a quarter-final berth.
The two backs both scored once in each half, with replacement Marika Vunibaka adding a late fifth as Fiji showed some signs of their classic handling game - amid a welter of errors and messy forward play.
Fiji turned on the power in the second half after hard-working Japan had held them to a 16-13 lead at half-time.
The victory keeps them in with a chance of reaching the quarter-finals for the first time since 1987, but they will almost certainly have to beat Scotland in their final game on November 1st in Sydney to do so.
Japan were within range early in the second half but they fell away alarmingly after an hour, failing to add to their 13-point first-half tally, all scored by flyhalf Andy Miller with a try, conversion, penalty and drop goal.
Fiji coach Mac McCallion's plan to spark up his troops by the inclusion of Waisale Serevi lasted only 10 minutes as the long-serving flyhalf, who opened the scoring with a third-minute penalty, injured a shoulder and was replaced by Nicky Little.
Little was quickly called into action to kick a penalty but a penalty and a 50-metre drop goal for Miller had the teams level at 6-6 after 20 minutes as Japan's forwards took control and the Fiji attacks fell down in a series of handling errors.
Just when the Townsville fans were beginning to sense an upset, however, Fiji's fabulous running skills came to the fore.
Centre Seru Rabeni set up full back Ligairi for the opening try after 21 minutes. Four minutes later, Vilimoni Delasau left four men in his wake before feeding Tuilevu, who got to the line.
Japan regrouped well, their forwards again earning them time and space for Miller to finish off a nice move with a try. The flyhalf converted his own score as Fiji led 16-13 at the break.
But it was the traditional Fijian methods that made the difference as Tuilevu found space on the right to score his second try following good work from centre Epeli Ruivadra in the 55th minute.
Ligairi then produced another piece of magic, kicking and chasing from 30 metres out, scooping the ball up one-handed to get his double. Vunibaka added a fifth try and Little finished the scoring with a penalty.
FIJI: Ligairi; Tuilevu, Ruivadra, ( Vunibaka, 71 mins), S Rabeni, V Delasau; W Serevi (Little, 11), Rabaka (Rauluni, 50); Rasila, Smith, (Gadolo,73), Seru (Veitayaki, 41), Katalau, Leawere (Maimuri, 57), Mocelutu (Koyamaibole, 18), Sewabu, Doviverata (capt).
JAPAN: Matsuda (Kuihara, 60 mins); Ohata, Parkinson, Motoki, Onozawa (Konia, 68); Miller, Tsuji (Sonoda, 54); Yamamato (Hasegawa, 60), Sakata (Amino, 53), Toyoyama, Parker, Kiso, Okubo, Miuchi, Ito (Asano, 72).
Referee: Nigel Williams (Wales).
