Fiji under Jake White beat Japan 34-28 in Tokyo

White's winning debut

The Fiji rugby team beat Japan 34-28 on Saturday in Tokyo in the first match under new head coach Jake White. The 62-year-old specialist, who led his native South Africa to the 2007 World Cup title and worked in Australia, France and Japan, took charge of Fiji this month. The match, played in the rain, was held to mark the centenary of the Japan Rugby Football Union, and White's side faced a team led by Eddie Jones — the Australian who served as technical adviser to White during South Africa's victorious 2007 World Cup campaign.

How the match unfolded

Both teams scored three tries in the first half and one after the break. Naoto Saito opened the scoring for Japan, before tries from Kitione Salawa and captain Tevita Ikanivere put Fiji ahead. Japan replied with a try from captain Warner Deans, Fiji went back in front through Tudraki Samusamuvodra, and Faoulua Makisi levelled the scores by halftime. After the restart Terio Tamani crossed, then Deans scored his second try, but the substitute Ben Volavola kicked two penalty goals late on and ultimately sealed the win for Fiji. According to Jones, «the main difference in the game was the number of turnovers».

White believes in the squad ahead of the World Cup

White did not call up a single player from European clubs and handed out four debut caps. He said Fiji «can beat anyone on their day» and expressed confidence that the team will become «a force to be reckoned with» at next year's World Cup in Australia: «If we can give them a bit of control, structure and organisation, and I can assemble the best 33 players for the World Cup, I genuinely believe they can become a powerful force». He added that he was proud of the team's performance in the final 15 minutes. Next month both sides head to Europe for Nations Championship fixtures: Japan will face Wales, England and Scotland, while Fiji will take on France, Ireland and Italy. Jones, for his part, backed White: according to him, White has already brought in four or five newcomers and plans to search for talent across all the islands of Fiji.

Context of the rivalry

A month earlier the teams met in the Pacific Nations Cup final in Tokyo, where Japan won 20-15. Editorially, it is worth noting: victory in the rematch gives White a strong start, but it was achieved with a squad without European-based players, which strengthens his argument about the depth of talent on the islands — though Fiji's real strength will be shown in November's matches against Europe's top teams.