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Miller © Getty Images
Andrew Miller will resume kicking duties as Japan look for their first RWC 2003 victory

Running game set to explode

23/10/2003

By Ben Grace

Expect an explosion of running rugby to be detonated upon the crowd at Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville tonight when Japan and Fiji, two teams with everything to win, take to the field.

The Tournament hopes of the two sides depend on this match and both Fiji and Japan know only one way to win - throw it wide and let their speed merchants attack.

The revelation of Rugby World Cup 2003 has undoubtedly been Japan.

Though the Cherry Blossoms sit winless on the bottom of Pool B, the opposite is true of the esteem they are now held in by the rugby world because of their performances in the Tournament.

Japan have already played the two sides currently positioned atop Pool B. They scared the feathers off the French, trailing by one point early in the second half, and received a standing ovation from the crowd after pushing Scotland hard in their first match.

Quarter final ambitions

And what is more, they still have a chance of making the quarter finals.

If Japan beat Fiji with a bonus point and then go on to similarly defeat the USA, whilst having other matches go there their way, then the nation that has not won a RWC match since beating Zimbabwe 52-8 in 1991, could find itself in the quarter finals.

A huge ask, yes, but if fly half Andrew Miller can continue to provide direction to wings Daisuke Ohata and Hirotoki Onozawa, then they may have a side capable of this. In any case they certainly have a side capable of troubling any defence out wide.

Fiji on the other hand have been seen as disappointing by many at this Tournament, which is possibly why coach Mac McCallion has elevated sevens’ god Waisale Serevi to the starting line up.

Something that Miller has taken into account.

"They have bought in new halves and a few new players, so it is obvious that the Fiji side are going to move the ball around. We just want to control the ball and not turn it over, " Miller said.

Winning is first goal

Japan captain Takuro Miuchi has his eyes on that prize at the end of the Pools, although his focus is first on winning tonight's match.

"In order to qualify for the quarter finals we need to aim to win with a bonus point. Although we need it [the bonus point], it does not matter if we only win by one point, just as long as we win," Miuchi said.

The game will kick off at 20:00 local time in Townsville, to be covered live here at rugbyworldcup.com

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