We were our own worst enemies, admits Rauluni

FIJI captain Mosese Rauluni admitted his side were “our own worst enemies” after struggling to an opening 35-31 victory over plucky Japan in Toulouse yesterday.

Gloucester-bound lock Akapusi Qera spared the Fijiians’ blushes by grabbing two tries as they held off a tremendous effort by Japan to make a winning start to their Pool B campaign.

The lead changed hands six times before Fiji eventually clinched a bonus-point victory – but most of the plaudits went to Japan, who sent out a clear warning to Wales ahead of their clash at the Millennium Stadium next Thursday.

“We were disappointed but we got the win,” said Saracens scrum-half Rauluni. “We were our own worst enemies.’’

Fly-half Nicky Little became the 13th man to pass 600 points in international rugby union when he opened the scoring with a fourth minute penalty but little else went right for his side. Shotaru Onishi his side in front with the second of two penalties 11 minutes before the break and, but for some poor execution, the Japanese would have been ahead by half-time. Fiji’s opening try came when Qera picked up a stray Japanese pass and went 80 minutes for an opportunist score.

Onishi cut the deficit to a single point with his third penalty.

Qera grabbed his second try on 48 minutes, doubling his tally for his country after supporting a break from Saracens scrum-half Mosese Rauluni, the Fijian captain, but Japan’s New Zealand-born lock Luke Thompson hit back with a delightful sidestep for his side’s first try.

Onishi’s fifth goal from as many attempts made it 19-17 but Little edged his side back in front with a penalty before Leicester centre Seru Rabeni took a pass from the returning Delasau to score Fiji’s third try.

Little was off target for the first time and it looked as though the miss might be costly when Japan prop Tomokazu Soma was driven over for his first Test try on 61 minutes for his side’s second try.

The game was eventually settled when lock Kele Leawere went over for the bonus-point try on 70 minutes – but that was not the end of the drama.

Little’s penalty made it 35-24 but Thompson went in for his second try and Fiji were forced to defend desperately as Japan piled on the pressure in the closing moments.

Japan scorers: Tries: Thompson 2, Soma. Cons: Onishi 2. Pens: Onishi 4.

JAPAN: Aruga, Loamanu, Imamura, Onishi, Endo, Robins, Yoshida, Nishiura, Matsubara, Soma, H. Ono, Thompson, Makiri, O’Reilly, Miuchi, Yatomi.

Replacements: Onozawa for Aruga (60), Yatomi for Yoshida (58), Yamamura for Soma (69), Taira for Yatomi (65).

Fiji scorers: Tries: Qera 2, Rabeni, Leawere. Cons: Little 3. Pens: Little 3.

FIJI: Ratuvou, Delasau, Rabeni, Bai, Neivua, Little, Rauluni, Dewes, Koto, Qiodravu, Leawere, Lewaravu, Naevo, Qera, Koyamaibole.

Replacements: Ligairi for Delasau (70), Railomo for Qiodravu (68), Ratuva for Qera (58), Talei for Koyamaibole (70).

Ref: M Jonker (South Africa).