The Fiji Airways National 7s team started their defence of the HSBC World 7s series title with a 24-17 win over Japan in their opening match of the Dubai 7s.
Vilimoni Botitu, Jerry Tuwai, Isoa Tabu, and Sevuloni Mocenacagi all scored in the win.
Kavekini Tabu was shown a yellow card in the second half.
Fiji led 10-5 at the break.
In other matches Samoa beat Canada 19-12, New Zealand beat Wales 36-7, Australia beat Scotland 43-14, USA beat Ireland 24-19 while France defeated Argentina 12-10.
Fiji will now take on Argentina in their second pool match at 10.04pm tonight before taking on France in their last pool match at 4.02am tomorrow.
The quarterfinals will be held at 8.14pm tomorrow, the semifinals will be at 12am Sunday while the final will be at 4.02am this Sunday.
Barring any upsets, Fiji is likely to meet South Africa, England or Kenya in the quarter-final, they can face South Africa or France in the semi-final and is likely to meet New Zealand or the USA in the final of the Dubai 7s.
| PLAY BY PLAY |
Fiji |
24-17 |
Japan |
| TIME | ||
| First Half Begins! | '1 | |
| Vilimoni Botitu opens Fiji's account 22 seconds in! | '1 | |
| Japan make a mistake during their own scrum on their 5m line. Jerry Tuwai collects and gets his first try for 2019/2020 season. | '3 | |
| '6 | Japan make up for their slow start by getting one back | |
| Halftime 10-5 |
| TIME | ||
| Isoa Tabu sets the benchmark for his brothers by getting one for himself. Conversion is good | '9 | |
| Sevu Mocenacagi refuses to be left out so he grabs one for himself. Conversion is good. | '10 | |
| Kavekini Tabu grabs himself a yellow card. Fiji down to 6 men. | '12 | |
| '14 | Fujita of Japan finally gets through the Fijian defence. | |
| '16 | Japan close out the game with back to back scores. Conversion is good. | |
| FULLTIME |
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