Fiji end Japan's winning streak
Churchill Park, Lautoka, 5 June, 1999

Fiji 16 Japan 9

Fiji breathed a collective sigh of relief when the final whistle blew to leave them 16-9 winners over Pacific Rim front-runners Japan, ensuring the tournament will not be decided for a few weeks yet.

Deep in injury time, Japan's lightning fast winger Daisuke Ohata headed for the corner, just five metres out, and looked ready to give emulate team-mate Jamie Joseph's late heroics against Canada and Samoa. But Fiji No. 8 Koli Sewabu had just enough stretch to catch Ohata's shirt and swing him round and out, ending the late surge from the visitors.

Played in front of a capacity 14,000 crowd with many more fans in nearby trees and on rooftops, Fiji dominated an intense, physical game played mostly in the middle of Lautoka's Churchill Park.

Fiji coach Brad Johnstone, though relieved that his team had broken Japan's winning streak, expressed disappointment with Fiji's performance overall.

"I was pleased with the victory, but not the way we achieved it," the former All Black captain said. "Both sides committed a lot of unforced errors, but we just managed to hang on."

An exquisite try from home crowd favourite Vili Satala proved the difference between the sides, with 11 points coming from the boot of North Harbour's Nicky Little. Japan's superstar kicker Keiji Hirose had an off-day, connecting with only three of seven penalty attempts.

Former Wallaby Ilivasi Tabua showed he hadn't lost any of his competitive edge leading the Fijian pack with some impressive drives through the Japanese defence, while former All Black trialist Alfred Uluinayau and sevens star Marika Vunibaka combined well to snuff out the few chances Japan had.

Japan, fielding what is now a customary collection of five New Zealanders and one Fijian, appeared affected by the humidity and didn't get the ball into the Fiji 22 until late in the second half.

For Joseph and Graeme Bachop, it was their first loss in Japanese colours after helping the Cherry Reds to three wins in a row.

Japan winger Pat Tuidraki, facing his old team for the first time, struggled to hold back the tears when the Fiji national anthem was played.

“Before the game I told myself I wouldn’t show any emotions," Tuidraki said afterwards, "but when the music started, I just couldn’t stop the tears.”

Fiji (1-15): Dan Rouse (replaced by Niko Qoro), Greg Smith (capt), Joeli Veiteyaki, Simon Raiwalui (replaced by Emori Katalau), Apisai Naevo, Ilivasi Tabua, Setareki Tawake, Koli Sewabu, Jacob Raulini (replaced by Sami Rabaka), Nicky Little, Waisake Sotutu, Alfred Uluinayau, Marika Vunibaka, Imanueli Tiko, Vili Satala.

Japan (1-15): Shin Hasegawa (replaced by Norikazu Nakamichi), Masahiro Kunda, Naota Nakamura, Rob Gordon, Naoya Okubo, Takeomi Ito, Greg Smith, Jamie Joseph, Graeme Bachop, Keiji Hirose, Yukio Motoki, Andrew McCormick (capt), Pat Tuidraki, Daisuke Ohata, Goshi Tachikawa (replaced by Tsutomu Matsuda).

Crowd: 14,000
Referee: Dan Hamaia (Tonga)