Fiji 41 Japan 13
Two tries each for Aisea Tuilevu and Norman Ligairi inspired Fiji to a 41-13 World Cup pool B victory over Japan today 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 numerous errors and poor forward play.
Fiji, crushed 61-18 by France before edging the United States 19-18, turned on the power in the second half after hard-working Japan had held them to a 16-13 lead at halftime.
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.
Defeat for Japan ends their already slim qualification hopes and takes their tournament losing streak to nine, dating back to 1991 when they claimed their sole World Cup win, a 52-8 success over Zimbabwe.
As in both their previous games against Scotland and France, Japan were within range early in the second half but again 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 a drop goal.
Fiji coach Mac McCallion's plan to spark up his troops by the inclusion of sevens specialist 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 another 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, unusually turning to the rolling maul, 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 running skills came to the fore. Centre Seru Rabeni carved his way through the middle to set up fullback Ligairi for the opening try after 21 minutes.
Four minutes later, Vilimoni Delasau left four men in his wake before feeding fellow winger Tuilevu, who continued the sidestepping all the way 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, giving him a first-half full house as Fiji led 16-13 at the break. McCallion acted to stiffen his team's creaking scrum by bringing on prop Joeli Veitayaki.
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 for his individual tally of 13 points.
"It was a bit tense out there for 20 minutes but as the game went on we managed to revert to our game plan," said Fiji captain Alifereti Doviverata.
"It was a very important game for us, especially building up to our next game against Scotland."
Teams:
Fiji- 15-Norman Ligairi; 14-Aisea Tuilevu, 13-Epeli Ruivadra, (22-Marika Vunibaka 71), 12-Seru Rabeni, 11-Vilimoni Delasau; 10-Waisale Serevi (21-Nicky Little 11), 9-Sami Rabaka (20-Moses Rauluni 50); 8-Alifereti Doviverata (captain), 7-Koli Sewabu, 6-Alivereti Mocelutu (18-Sisa Koyamaibole 18) 5-Kele Leawere, (19-Vula Maimuri 57), 4-Emori Katalau, 17-Naca Seru (3-Joeli Veitayaki 41), 2-Greg Smith (16-Bill Gadolo 73), 1-Isaia Rasila.
Japan- 15-Tsutomu Matsuda (22-Toru Kuihara 60); 14-Daisuke Ohata, 13-Reuben Parkinson, 12-Yukio Motoki, 11-Hirotoki Onozawa (21-George Konia 68); 10-Andrew Miller, 9-Takashi Tsuji (20-Yuji Sonoda 54); 8-Takeomi Ito (19-Ryota Asano 72), 7-Takuro Miuchi, 6-Naoyo Okubo, 5-Hajime Kiso, 4-Adam Parker, 3-Masahiko Toyoyama, 2-Masaaki Sakata (17-Masao Amino 53), 1-Masahito Yamamato (16-Shin Hasegawa 60).
Referee:Nigel Williams (Wales)