Japan v Fiji
Saturday 5 August 2023
Prince Chichibu Rugby Stadium, Tokyo
Kick-off 10.15pm NZT (7.15pm local time)
:television: Live on Sky Sport 3

Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistant Referee 1: James Doleman (NZR)
Assistant Referee 2: Takehito Namekawa (JRFU)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZR)

I've noticed that Japan doesn't have to travel for this Pacific Series. Why do they get all the home games?

This will be an interesting watch for Welsh and English fans

Japan line-up:

I missed the beginning of this game. I see Japan has scored another red card.

Did anyone see what it was for?

@Stargazer said in Japan v Fiji:

I missed the beginning of this game. I see Japan has scored another red card.

Did anyone see what it was for?

accidental head on head tackle, a bit similar to Ta'avao's vs Ireland, only it wasn't the tackler who got knocked out but the opposition player

@Tordah replay looked like a harsh red. Wasn't anything like Angus'.

Tackler looked to be stopped and bent, not upright and charging.

I know that all these TMO checks are there to help prevent an undeserved try from being awarded and to spot foul play, but they slow down the game immensely.

Some of the ref and tmo calls in this match seemed questionable. Very scrappy match.

Oh, and now another red card?

I think they got that right: it's yellow.

Disappointing campaign for Japan. Lucky to get away with victory against Tonga, lost to a very underdone Samoa side and now completely done by Fiji, and they didn't even have to travel out of Japan for any games. I'd expect a lot better from them with all their resources available and how long they've been together for. They were lucky it was as close as it was against Fiji.