The visitors come into this one in a commanding position and Japan would need to beat them by 14 points or more and secure a try-scoring bonus point if they were to stop Fiji lifting the title.
Japan v Fiji
Saturday 5 August
Prince Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
Japan | Draw | Fiji
Odds TBA*
While it seems unlikely, Japan thrive against the odds and Fiji will need to be wary when they take on the ‘Brave Blossoms’ at the Prince Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium this Saturday.
The hosts for Saturday started their campaign off with a narrow 22-24 loss to Samoa. They played the majority of that game without talismanic loose forward Michael Leitch who received a red card during the early salvos of the first half. It was Japan’s first defeat to Samoa in a decade and one that would have been a bitter pill for the ‘Brave Blossoms’ to swallow.
Japan managed to bounce back last weekend as they managed a narrow 21-16 win over Tonga. They were actually pretty lucky to win that fixture with Tonga only three points adrift until a 67th-minute penalty gave Japan some breathing room.
Fiji have enjoyed a far better campaign then the Japanese with the men from the Pacific Islands claiming bonus point wins n their opening two fixtures as they beat Tonga 36-20 in their opener and followed that up with a 19-33 win over Samoa.
While Fiji will be ecstatic with their results, they will be more pleased with the showing of some of their players, no more so than with fly-half Calen Muntz who seems to have secured the fly-half jersey heading in the Rugby World Cup.
I fancy the Fijians for the win here. They look a galvanized unit who could really cause the likes of Australia and Wales some really problems come the World Cup pool phase in September.
Verdict: Fiji
