Pool B nail-biter takes a toll on both teams

Japan coach John Kirwan (NZL) was forced to move his fly half Bryce Robins to scrum half following injuries to both recognised number 9s, Tomoki Yoshida and replacement Yuki Yatomi.

"It's a situation I've never been in before. It was different, but the guys showed courage," Kirwan said.

Along with the usual ruck marks and bruises, Japanese prop Tomokazu Soma was sporting gashes to his eye and cheek area.

And the bells were still ringing in Philip O'Reilly's head on Thursday morning after a head-high tackle from Vilimoni Delasau sent the Japan flanker to the turf and earned the Fijian a yellow card.

"Bro, I wasn't out cold, but the game's just coming to me now. I can remember the first but not the second (half)," O'Reilly said later.

The Fijians did not come out of the contest unscathed, either, with man of the match Akapusi Qera leaving the field in the second half with a knee injury.

For his part, Robins accepted his move to scrum half, albeit with some surprise.

He said: "It was tough, it did change the game a little. It took away a lot of our options, but in saying that, I think the boys dug deep.

"I had said to JK (Kirwan) before the match that I am happy to play anywhere - but number 9?

"He might have me on the wing next week and then I'll have all the positions covered , but like I said, I don't care - I'll play anywhere."

Match Statistics

35		31
Fiji		Japan
Tournament: Rugby World Cup Date: Wednesday 12 Sep 2007 Venue: Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse Crowd: 34995 Half-time: 10-9 Referee: Marius Jonker (South Africa) Touch judges: Paul Marks, Federico Cuesta Fiji Game Number: 608 Fiji Test Match Number: 258

						FIJI		JAPAN
Card	PTS	D	P	C	T	PLAYER	V	PLAYER	T	C	P	D	PTS	Card
	0	-	-	-	-	Ratuvou, Kameli	15	Go Aruga	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Delasau, Vilimoni	14	Christian Loamanu	-	-	-	-	0
	5	-	-	-	1	Rabeni, Seru	13	Yuta Imamura	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Bai, Seremaia	12	Shotaro Onishi	-	2	4	-	16
	0	-	-	-	-	Neivua, Isoa	11	Kosuke Endo	-	-	-	-	0
	15	-	3	3	-	Little, Nicky	10	Bryce Robins	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Rauluni, Mosese	9	Tomoki Yoshida	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Koyamaibole, Sisa	8	Takuro Miuchi (capt)	-	-	-	-	0
	10	-	-	-	2	Qera, Akapusi	7	Phillip O' Reilly	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Naevo, Semisi	6	Hare Makiri	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Lewaravu, Wame	5	Luke Thompson	2	-	-	-	10
	5	-	-	-	1	Leawere, Kele	4	Hitoshi Ono	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Qiodravu, Henry	3	Tomokazu Soma	1	-	-	-	5
	0	-	-	-	-	Koto, Sunia	2	Yuji Matsubara	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Dewes, Graham	1	Tatsukichi Nishiura	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Sauturaga, Vereniki	16	Taku Inokuchi	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Railomo, Jone   (Qiodravu Henry)	17	Ryo Yamamura	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Talei, Netani   (Koyamaibole Sisa)	18	Takanori Kumagae	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Ratuva, Aca   (Qera Akapusi)	19	Ryota Asano	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Daunivucu, Jone	20	Yuki Yatomi	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Lovobalavu, Gabiriele	21	Koji Taira	-	-	-	-	0
	0	-	-	-	-	Ligairi, Norman   (Delasau Vilimoni)	22	Hirotoki Onozawa	-	-	-	-	0
Coach: Ilivasi Tabua								Coach: John Kirwan

Key:

Captain
Yellow Card
Red Card
Sub In
Sub Out
Bloodbin

Scoring Sequence

04 min - PEN GOAL for Fiji by Little, Nicky 3-0 17 min - PEN GOAL for Japan by Shotaro Onishi 3-3 28 min - PEN GOAL for Japan by Shotaro Onishi 3-6 36 min - TRY for Fiji by Qera, Akapusi 8-6 36 min - CONVERSION for Fiji by Little, Nicky 10-6 40 min - PEN GOAL for Japan by Shotaro Onishi 10-9 Half-Time 42 min - PEN GOAL for Japan by Shotaro Onishi 10-12 49 min - TRY for Fiji by Qera, Akapusi 15-12 49 min - CONVERSION for Fiji by Little, Nicky 17-12 50 min - TRY for Japan by Luke Thompson 17-17 51 min - CONVERSION for Japan by Shotaro Onishi 17-19 54 min - PEN GOAL for Fiji by Little, Nicky 20-19 56 min - TRY for Fiji by Rabeni, Seru 25-19 56 min - CONVERSION MISSED for Fiji by Little, Nicky 25-19 61 min - TRY for Japan by Tomokazu Soma 25-24 62 min - CONVERSION MISSED for Japan by Shotaro Onishi 25-24 71 min - TRY for Fiji by Leawere, Kele 30-24 71 min - CONVERSION for Fiji by Little, Nicky 32-24 74 min - PEN GOAL for Fiji by Little, Nicky 35-24 77 min - TRY for Japan by Luke Thompson 35-29 78 min - CONVERSION for Japan by Shotaro Onishi 35-31 Full-Time