Japan Take the Applause But Qera Tries Help Fiji Pocket the Points

A startling match in Toulouse ended with a five-minute standing ovation for the Japanese, who fell just short of what would have been their second victory in six World Cups. For all the applause, the Japanese were bowed in disappointment, as they had fully deserved to win. John Kirwan's team were a revelation. Fiji, in stark contrast, were error-prone, their back-play lacking fluency.

A poor first half saw Shotaro Onishi kick two penalties as Japan took a 6-3 lead. That was overturned by a breakaway try from the Gloucester flanker Akapusi Qera, who gathered a loose ball from a scrum and ran in from 60 yards. Another Onishi penalty made it 10-9 to Fiji at half-time.

Fiji started the second half a man down, with Vilimoni Delasau in the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle. The game, though, got better and better. Japan retook the lead with Onishi's fourth penalty but shortly afterwards a Fijian scrum resulted in a score, from Qera again. This time the ball went through several pairs of hands to get to him, with the scrum-half Mosese Rauluni floating a brilliant loop pass out to the wing before the ball was popped inside to the flanker.

Japan replied immediately, the New Zealand-born lock Luke Thompson scoring from the kick-off. Fiji took the lead back with a penalty from Nicky Little and then stretched it with a try from Seru Rabeni. With 20 minutes to play, Kirwan made substitutions and exhorted his team to kick for the corner if they won a penalty. They did so, and the prop Tomokazu Soma finished a catch-and-drive to make the score 25-24 to Fiji with 18 minutes to go.

Fiji opted to scrummage when presented with a penalty in front of the posts, and the lock Kele Leawere bullocked his way over the line. A penalty gave them an 11-point lead. This sparked another comeback, as Thompson scored a second from a lineout. Through four minutes of extra time Japan desperately attacked. They could not score, but in defeat they cemented themselves a place in the memories and affections of the crowd.

Fiji Ratuvou; Delasau (Ligairi 69), Rabeni, Bai, Neivua; Little, Rauluni (capt); Dewes, Koto, Qiodravu (Railomo 67), Leawere, Naevo, Qera (Ratuva 57), Koyamaibole (Talei 67).

Tries Qera 2, Rabeni, Lewaravu Cons Little 2 Pens Little 4.

Japan Aruga (Onozawa, 59); Loamanu, Imamura, Onishi, Endo; Robins, Yoshida (Yatomi 58; Tairi, 66); Nishiura, Matsubara, Soma, Ono, Thompson, Makiri, O'Reilly, Miuchi (capt).

Tries Thompson 2, Soma Cons Onishi 2 Pens Onishi 4.

Referee M Jonker (South Africa) Attendance 34,500