Fiji off to winning start under World Cup-winning coach Jake White

Fiji are off to a winning start under new coach Jake White, with veteran playmaker Ben Volavola kicking them to a 34-28 triumph over Japan in Tokyo. The visitors had played 20 minutes with 14 men too, as backrower Motikai Murray was shown a red card during the first half.

Japan tasted Grand Final-winning victory when these sides last met, holding on in a thrilling Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup Final on September 19. Ben Gunter received Player of the Match honours after the Brave Blossoms claimed their first title in seven years.

But a much-changed Flying Fijians side returned to Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium over one month later, with a Rugby World Cup-winning coach now leading the charge through to Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.

White was appointed on October 13, taking over from interim coach Senirusi Seruvakula, ahead of the Japan Centennial Test. The matchday 23 looked a bit different his time around too, with a two-time World Cup representative ending a three-year absence from the Test arena.

Mamoru Harada impressed for the Brave Blossoms during the 2026 PNC campaign, and the front-rower carried that form into this Test. The hooker hit Warner Dearns with an accurate lineout throw and benefited, crashing over form a rolling maul about 25 seconds later.

Fullback Takuro Matsunaga added the extras as Japan played at more than one-point per minute early, but Fiji bounced back during a decisive period. Kitione Salawa and Tevita Ikanivere crossed for a try each, as the visitors took a 14-7 lead in the blink of an eye.

Dearns and Fiji’s Tuidraki Samusamuvodre effectively traded tries before the match took a turn, with Murray shown a yellow card under review. That was upgraded to a 20-minute red card, with Fiji not returning to a full 15-man contingent until beyond the 50-minute mark.

Japan made the most of their one-man advantage immediately, with No. 8 Lua Makisi scoring a crucial five-point. Those five-points and the successful conversion that followed saw the two teams go into the break locked at 21-all.

It was more of the same in the second term, with neither team able to run away with it. Scrum-half Terio Tamani was first to touch down for five points, before Dearns completed a double with about 30 minutes left.

The scoreboard read ’28-28’ for about six minutes, before Volavola nailed a shot at the uprights, but the match remained tense until the final bell. Volavola added another three to Fiji’s score soon after, and that’s how the score remained.

Volavola hadn’t played for the Flying Fijians in about three years but proved the difference on Saturday evening. It was Fiji’s second win of the season, following a clinical effort against Canada in the PNC semi-finals.

Japan had 67 per cent possession in the final 10 minutes but couldn’t turn that dominance into points. Other stats will tell you the hosts had more 22 entries, made more dominant tackles and won more turnovers, but Fiji got the job done in another tense clash between the sides.