Fiji and Japan ring in the changes

Fiji v Japan

Fiji coach Mac McCallion made seven changes to his side ahead of today’s Pool B encounter with Japan.

The switches include a new lock pairing of Emori Katalau and Kele Leawere, but the key change is the introduction of veteran fly-half Waisale Serevi for his first start of the tournament in place of Nick Little.

The New Zealand-born coach was unhappy with the way his team failed to carry out his game plan in the narrow win over the United States and Little’s demotion to the bench along with scrum-half Moses Rauluni is part of the fallout.

He said: “This team has a lot of potential and I am hoping we will hit the right notes against Japan. We are a far better side than we have shown so far in this tournament.”

Meanwhile, 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.

The match is the sixth encounter between the two countries, with Fiji winning three and Japan two.

Fiji : 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: 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.