Japan begin RWC preparations with win over Fiji

Japan bagged five tries to Fiji’s three in their opening match of the Pacific Nations Cup, two months before Japan hosts the first Rugby World Cup (RWC) to be held in Asia.

Earlier, Samoa opened the tournament with a 25-17, come-from-behind win against Tonga in a match played in a greasy mudbath in Apia.

Japan, hosting their first Test match at World Cup venue Kamaishi, which was ravaged by the 2011 tsunami disaster, took an early lead.

After a Yu Tamura penalty, Kenki Fukuoka dived over for their first try before Levani Botia crossed at the other end for Fiji.

However, Matsushima scored his first try shortly afterwards before Timothy Lafaele and Kazuki Himeno made it four tries to Japan in the opening half-hour.

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Matsushima’s second effort, in the second half, rounded off the scoring for the hosts in front of 13,000 fans.

“I’m so glad to win against the wonderful team,” fly-half Tamura said. “We outperformed them in contact,” he added.

Captain Michael Leitch said: “We really felt progress in our team. Fiji were really tough.”

“People’s strife was our motivation,” added Leitch, referring to Kamaishi’s efforts to recover from the 2011 disaster.

Kamaishi’s World Cup stadium is on the site of two schools devastated by the tsunami, where 400 pupils managed a miraculous escape. 

Fiji will return to the Stadium on 25 September to face Uruguay in the opening match of their RWC campaign.

Japan caused a stir at the last RWC with a sensational win over the Springboks in their opening game of the tournament. Despite that victory Japan failed to get out of their group finishing behind Scotland and South Africa on the table.

The World Cup hosts have been drawn against Six Nations heavyweights Ireland and Scotland as well as Samoa and Russia.

Japan begin their RWC campaign against Russia in Tokyo on 20 September.

Note: Additional reporting by AFP.

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