11 Jul 2011

Sport: Confident Flying Fijians to make more changes against Japan

10:26 am on 11 July 2011

Buoyed from their 36-18 win over Samoa at the weekend, the Flying Fijians say they will take renewed confidence into Wednesday's final Pacific Nations Cup clash against Japan.

The Fijians overturned last weekends heavy loss to Tonga with a resounding win over their great rivals, in a game where both sides made a number of changes to their lineups.

Flying Fijians manager Talemo Waqa says they team will make further changes against the Cherry Blossoms as they seek to give everyone an opportunity to impress ahead of the world cup team being named.

He says injuries are also a factor with captain Deacon Manu and first five Nicky Little among those who wont be fit.

"With that brutal game and a very physical up-front game with Tonga and Samoa the injury toll is ticking and therefore some niggling ones from the Tonga test have now surfaced after the Samoa test so therefore we will be making a few other changes this week so we don't injure them too much and they go into our rehabilitation process. Because as we have alluded to the Rugby World Cup is the focus and for us it's also the All Blacks test next weekend."

Tonga still lead the Pacific Nations Cup on six points from two matches and the Ikale Tahi can secure the title if they beat Samoa this week.