PACIFIC NATIONS CUP: Fiji v Japan

Briefly
Running out of time to do a full preview. I believe Japan will be stronger for their encounter and loss to Tonga last weekend.

Fiji has the disadvantage of not playing together as a time as this is their first outing. Such an excuse will not apply to Japan.

Fiji is still rebuilding after their shocking showing at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

‘Absolutely filthy conditions here at Churchill Park in Lautoka for the PNC match between Fiji and Japan. Kick off in 45 minutes.’
https://twitter.com/fijirugby/statuses/340662739024371713

Those conditions will play into Fiji’s hands.

Prediction: Fiji by 5 points

TEAMS

Japan

15		Ayumu Goromaru	Yamaha
14		Yuta Imamura	Kobelco
13		Male Sau	Yamaha
12		Harumichi Tatekawa	Kubota
11		Hirotoki Onozawa	Suntory
10		Yu Tamura	NEC
9		Atsushi Hiwasa	Suntory
8		Takashi Kikutani (Capt.)	Toyota
7		Hendrik Tui	Panasonic
6		Michael Leitch	Waikato Chiefs, New Zealand
5		Michael Broadhurst	Ricoh
4		Hitoshi Ono	Toshiba
3		Kensuke Hatakeyama	Suntory
2		Yusuke Aoki	Suntory
1		Masataka Mikami	Toshiba
16		Takeshi Kizu	Kobelco
17		Takuma Asahara	Toshiba
18		Hiroshi Yamashita	Kobelco
19		Toshizumi Kitagawa	Toyota
20		Shoji Ito	Kobelco
21		Keisuke Uchida	Tsukuba
22		Craig Wing	Kobelco
23		Kenki Fukuoka	Tsukuba
		HEAD COACH: Eddie Jones

Fijian team not available