Japan v Fiji

Japan out to atone for opening loss (from RWC site)

TOULOUSE, 11 September - Fiji will play its opening match of the IRB Rugby World Cup against a Japan team eager to atone for their 91-3 opening match loss to Australia when the two teams meet at the Stade Municipal in Toulouse on Wednesday.

The tight four-day turnaround between matches, and the greater likelihood of a victory against Fiji, has seen Japan name a stronger side for this match, not to mention an entirely different starting XV to the one that faced the Wallabies.

Led by regular captain Takuro Miuchi, the talent-laden Japan team features the likes of former Hurricanes fly half Bryce Robins and former Crusaders strong man Philip O'Reilly at openside flanker.

Robins has not played in the crucial pivot position for over three years while O'Reilly is no certainty to go the distance because of a suspect hip.

Takamichi Sasaki, Japan's captain for the Australia match, has returned home after an MRI scan revealed he had sustained a grade two MCL injury to his left knee.

Treasuring possession is the key message Japan head coach John Kirwan (NZL) has given his team.

"Against the Australians there were six turnovers in the second half and they scored six tries from those. If we do the same against Fiji the result will be the same," warned Kirwan.

Fiji bulk up

Fiji have opted for bulk in its tight five with the selection of props Graham Dewes and Henry Qiodravu in an effort to anchor their scrum and shore up Fiji's traditional set-piece problems.

"We can play with the ball, but we need to win the ball and those battles are won upfront in regards to set pieces," said Fiji head coach Ilie Tabua.

The only major selection surprise comes at full back, where Saracens utility Kameli Ratuvou has edged incumbent Norman Ligairi to the bench to win his first Test start in the number 15 jumper.

If Fiji's forwards can lay a significant-enough platform and achieve parity in the scrum, then their always-dangerous backline could find points easy to come by.

Fly half Nicky Little (FJI) needs just one more point to become only the 12th player in international rugby history to pass 600 points.

Fiji's starting XV will feature nine players making their rugby world cup debuts with a further six, including the uncapped scrum half Jone Daunivucu, to possibly debut off the bench.

The match kicks off at 18:00 (CEST).