Fiji vs. Japan: Pacific Nations Cup 01/06/13

[LittleGuy]

Fiji vs. Japan: Pacific Nations Cup 01/06/13 15:40 FJT(UTC +12) @ Churchill Park, Lautoka, Fiji

Referee: Garratt Williamson(NZ)

14th ranked Fiji get their 2013 PNC off to a start with a home test against 15th ranked Japan. Japan will be looking to rebound from a loss to Tonga a match in which they did show some good promise. Fiji will need a good start as they fly out to Canada and play them on short rest after a long flight to Ottawa on Wednesday.

Fiji

FB 15 Simeli Koniferedi
RW 14 Adriu Delai
OC 13 Nemani Nadolo
IC 12 Leone Tabuarua
LW 11 Sireli Bobo
FH 10 Setareki Koroilagilagi
SH 9 Nemia Kenatale
N8 8 Netani Talei
OF 7 Akapusi Qera (c)
BF 6 Apisai Naikatini
RL 5 Wame Lewaravu
LL 4 Apisalome Ratuniyarawa
TP 3 Jerry Yanuyanutawa
HK 2 Talemaitoga Tuapati
LP 1 Setefano Somoca

Replacements:
HK 16 Viliame Veikoso
PR 17 Manasa Saulo
PR 18 Campese Ma'afu
LK 19 Rupeni Nasiga
FL 20 Malakai Ravulo
SH 21 Nikola Matawalu
FH 22 Jiuta Lutumailagi
WG 23 Aisea Natoga



Japan

FB 15 Ayumu Goromaru
RW 14 Yuta Imamura
OC 13 Male Sa'u
IC 12 Harumichi Tatekawa
LW 11 Hirotoki Onozawa
FH 10 Yuu Tamura
SH 9 Atsushi Hiwasa
N8 8 Takashi Kikutani (c)
OF 7 Hendrik Tui
BF 6 Michael Leitch
RL 5 Michael Broadhurst
LL 4 Hitoshi Ono
TP 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama
HK 2 Yusuke Aoki
LP 1 Masataka Mikami

Replacements:
HK 16 Takeshi Kizu
PR 17 Takuma Asahara
PR 18 Hiroshi Yamashita
LK 19 Toshizumi Kitagawa
N8 20 Shoji Ito
SH 21 Keisuke Uchida
FH 22 Craig Wing
WG 23 Kenki Fukuoka

 

[dudeabides]

Looking forward to some Friday night rugby, going to watch here: http://www.irb.com/live/video.html

Less than an hour to kickoff and hoping the stream is more like PNC match #1 and less like PNC match #2.

Edit: here we go again with the weather, check out Fiji's latest tweet:

Absolutely filthy conditions here at Churchill Park in Lautoka for the PNC match between Fiji and Japan. Kick off in 45 minutes.

https://twitter.com/fijirugby/status/340662739024371713

 

[LittleGuy]

Probably to Fiji's advantage the conditions with generally the bigger bodies, although Fiji's scrum is awful.

 

[LittleGuy]

Try Fiji immediately off the kickoff.

 

[dudeabides]

Yes I heard they were missing Bobo too, sure took them long enough.

 

[LittleGuy]

Conditions do look atrocious, pitch looks like a swamp.

 

[LittleGuy]

This is abysmal conditions. Massive puddles, I wonder how close it was to being cancelled.

I was just thinking the same thing the pitch looks completely waterlogged. This reminds me of the (I think it's) Scotland vs. New Zealand game from ages ago. It's also still raining so this could get even worse.

Edit yes it was: Though there aren't the completely flooded corners, a match like "Lake Eden" would certainly be cancelled these days.

 

[lynam1104]

Seriously bad conditions looks like it's going to be a tough game.

 

[LittleGuy]

Goromaru just missed from about 35 metres out short and Fiji turning down points from similar range. Must be blowing a gale as well. Apart from the try, sloppy play from both teams so far.

Scrum not going well for Japan, looks like they shouldn't have changed to a lighter front row from the Tonga match where the scrum went well.

It's getting even worse out there, absolutely pouring, the crowd retreating to cover now, looks like it's seriously effected turnout. The kicking so far has been expectedly awful, Fiji are at least working hard and adjusting Japan look like they want to head to the saki bar.

Saw that with the Japanese scrum, Jones is probably regretting his lineup choices, I wonder if the lighter forwards are having trouble getting grip on the wet pitch.

Edit: Wow fairly easy penalty missed way right, won't be much goal kicking I would think unless things start to ease off.

 

[usausa]

I have a bad feeling somebody is going to get hurt, not safe conditions. Whoever has the ball and can go forward has a serious advantage.

 

[LittleGuy]

This is actually approaching that Lake Eden game vid I linked. Nice play by Fiji there a few seconds ago. Probably the worst conditions I've ever seen in a sporting event live.

Edit: This is where the "pants on head" scheduling of the PNC this year comes into play, if not for the short turn around for Fiji to travel to Ottawa this game could have been postponed until tommorow with little difficulty.

 

[usausa]

Collpase at scrum, feared that, luckily nobody hurt on that first one. They should consider going uncontested.

 

[Muzzy]

goddamn some easy kicks missed by Fiji, maybe its just the conditions

Happy to see Fiji's scrum so dominant, but they can't capitalize on it if they keep missing kicks and lineouts

 

[usausa]

goddamn some easy kicks missed by Fiji, maybe its just the conditions

Happy to see Fiji's scrum so dominant, but they can't capitalize on it if they keep missing kicks and lineouts

I don't think it is possible for the plant foot to get any solid base on the follow through, it's all water/mud.

 

[lynam1104]

looks like it's let up now would be nice to see some rugby in the next half.

 

[LittleGuy]

The Swimming Fijians lead the Brave Seaweeds at half time 5-0, with a try almost immediatley off the opening kickoff being the only scoring.

 

[dudeabides]

I guess today's halftime music is brought to you by 1997.


Edit: At least they said the rain has passed.

 

[LittleGuy]

I guess today's halftime music is brought to you by 1997.

The better albums are being moved to higher ground.

 

[usausa]

Mike Leitch, first casualty.

 

[LittleGuy]

Right when Japan were building some momentum, huge blow.