While Japan showcased flashes of their signature Cho-soku rugby in the first half, the second half saw a clinical Fijian side take control, dominating Japan’s defence.
Japan head coach Eddie Jones has adopted the classic 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' motto in his selections for the Pacific Nations Cup final against Fiji.
Japan produced a powerful performance in their Pacific Nations Cup semi-final win over Manu Samoa, and key to that performance was the heavy dose of inspiration the team received pregame.
Driven by a strong desire to reach the finals on home soil, Japan emerged victorious once again with a score of 49-27.
Head coach Eddie Jones has enjoyed consistency of selection thus far in Japan's Pacific Nations Cup campaign and has opted to stick to the tried and true for his side's semi-final contest with Manu Samoa.
In their Pacific Nations Cup opener, Japan defeated the USA 41-24 at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, showcasing strong performances from key players like Dylan Riley and Harumichi Tatekawa.
Japan head coach Eddie Jones has turned to Takuya Yamasawa at full-back after naming an otherwise unchanged starting XV for the visit of USA this weekend.
Head Coach Eddie Jones has named 34-year-old centre Harumichi Tatekawa as the captain of Japan's squad in the Pacific Nations Cup.
Eddie Jones' inexperienced Japan side may have slumped to a 52-17 loss in Tokyo, but there were performances that would have pleased the coach in his first game back.