McCallion axes seven

Fiji coach Mac McCallion has made seven changes and demanded his team improve their discipline for tomorrow’s World Cup Pool B clash with Japan in Townsville.

McCallion was unimpressed with his team’s efforts against the United States, particularly as they failed to stick to the tactics he had laid out, and his changes reflect that dissatisfaction.

The key alteration is at fly-half, where veteran Waisale Serevi starts ahead of Nicky Little, who will watch from the bench to start with.

“We have focused on a number of things all week at training, such as discipline, the penalty count, ball handling errors and our defensive pattern,” said McCallion.

Fiji need to beat Japan and, ideally, take a bonus point to ensure they go into their final match against Scotland, on November 1, at best on even terms as the two sides look likely to battle for second place in the pool behind France.

But McCallion is well aware of the potent threat offered by the Cherry Blossoms after they pushed both Scotland and France hard in their opening two matches in Townsville.

“They are playing very well and have shown a lot of commitment, much more than we have done,” he said.

Apart from Serevi’s selection at fly-half, McCallion has dropped scrum-half Moses Rauluni and brought in Sami Rabaka for a completely new halves combination.

Japan have also made changes to their line-up after the defeat by France, bringing back centres Ruben Parkinson and Yukio Motoki, as well as loosehead prop Masahito Yamamoto.

Scrum-half Takashi Tsuji, who played against Scotland, is back in the starting 15 for just his second cap after staying on the bench against France.

Townsville is currently experiencing temperatures of around 31 degrees Celsius during the day, although evening kick-offs have meant playing conditions in the low 20s. Unsettled weather inland could send showers across the town by tomorrow.

The match will be refereed by Welshman Nigel Williams and is the sixth encounter between the two countries, with Fiji winning three and Japan two.

Fiji team: N Ligairi; A Tuilevu, E Ruivadra, S Rabeni, V Delasau; W Serevi, S Rabaka; I Rasila, G Smith, N Seru, E Katalau, K Leawere, A Mocelutu, K Sewabu, A Doviverata (captain).

Replacements: B Gadolo, J Veitayaki, S Koyamaibole, V Maimuri, M Rauluni, N Little, M Vunibaka.

Japan team: T Matsuda; D Ohata, R Parkinson, Y Motoki, H Onozawa; A Miller, T Tsuji; M Yamamoto, M Sakata, M Toyoyama, H Kiso, A Parker, N Okubo, T Miuchi (captain), T Ito.

Replacements: S Hasegawa, M Amino, K Kubo, R Asano, Y Sonoda, G Konia, T Kurihara.