For two players on the Japan side, tonight’s Punjas Pacific Battle Series match against FIJI Water Flying Fijians is not just a chance to book a ticket to represent their adopted country at the Rugby World Cup but one to play against the land of their birth.
Semisi Masirewa and Jone Naikabula were both born in Fiji and are keen to put on a show at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground tonight.
Masirewa says he has a lot of mixed emotions playing against his home country but at the same time it's exciting.
He says he knows what is coming and he is looking forward to it.
Masirewa says they want to keep the ball more, so he would expect more running from the backs and at the same time, they want to be smart as well.
He says if they have to kick, they need to kick on their terms, and they have to apply pressure as they know the Fiji team love unstructured rugby.
Masirewa says his long-term goal is to get into the World Cup squad, but he has to take it one week at a time and be consistent in his performance.
Naikabula says he is really excited to play against his home country.
He is also aware of what needs to be done.
Naikabula adds they need to focus on their individual roles and the backs need to work hard and give energy to the forwards, work together and hopefully they get the result.
Both speedsters were on the scoresheet last week as Japan beat Tonga and showed glimpses of the rugby that will be needed if they are to have a chance of getting out of their pool when the World Cup kicks off in September.
Masirewa first came to Japan in 2017 to play for Kintetsu (now Hanazono) Liners.
He also spent two seasons playing for Japan's Super Rugby side, the Sunwolves, where his ability to create something from nothing out on the wing soon made him a fan favorite.
Naikabula, meanwhile, attended Setsunan University before joining the club now known as Brave Lupus Tokyo.
Japan’s attack coach Tony Brown says their two Fijian boys are playing very good rugby and they are exciting on the field and have got as much flair as the team they are playing against.
He adds they just have to get them the ball more.
The Flying Fijians take on Japan in Tokyo at 10.15 tonight.
[Source: Kyodo News]
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