Rugby-Japan stun Fiji to pinch Pacific Nations Cup

WELLINGTON, July 13 (Reuters) - Japan stunned hosts Fiji
24-13 to capture the Pacific Nations Cup for the first time in
dramatic fashion on Wednesday, giving Asia's top side a huge
boost ahead of this year's World Cup. 

The Brave Blossoms needed a four-try bonus-point victory
over the Fijians and got it when Yuta Imamura skipped over just
before the buzzer to trigger wild Japanese celebrations. 

"Great courage from the boys," Japan coach John Kirwan told
Reuters. "They were very physical and we kept getting up. I'm
very proud of them." 

Japan finished level with Tonga on 10 points in the
standings but won the tournament by virtue of their 28-27 win
over the Tongans at the weekend. 

Tonga beat Samoa 29-19 before Japan's fireworks tore up the
script. Fiji let themselves down with some poor discipline and
finished the game with just 12 players left on the pitch. 

They had three players sent off and two more sin-binned,
allowing Japan to come from 8-0 down at halftime and score the
four tries they needed to pinch the title from Tonga. 

Go Aruga scored Japan's first try five minutes into the
second half, before winger Napolioni Nalagain stretched Fiji's
lead to eight again with his second try of the match. 

Japan centre Ryan Nicholas then converted his own try to cut
the lead to 13-12 and the visitors took the lead when Shota Hori
went over in the 65th minute. 

With Fiji's defence exhausted and outnumbered, Imamura
darted over deep into injury time to give Japan their first
Pacific Nations title. 

"It's unacceptable," fumed Fiji coach Sam Domoni. "We can't
win test matches with 12 men and we can't blame the referees. 

"We will go back to see the footage and review where we went
wrong. It gives us a fair idea of what we need to do now." 

Domoni admitted he did not know who would be fit to face New
Zealand next week. 

"A few guys are carrying injuries, that's why there were so
many changes," he said. "We will assess things tonight."     

All four teams were using the competition as a warm-up for
this year's World Cup in New Zealand. Fiji reached the
quarter-finals of the last World Cup in 2007. 

Japan face Tonga in Pool A at this year's tournament, along
with Canada, France and hosts New Zealand. The World Cup begins
on Sept. 9.