Tevita Ikanivere of Fiji makes a break during the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup semi-final between Fiji and United States at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium on 14 September 14. Photo: Toru Hanai - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images
Japan head coach Eddie Jones is a good motivator and he is urging his players to go beyond their best efforts when they battle Fiji in the 2024 Pacific Nations Cup final in Osaka on Saturday night.
The former England and Wallaby coach knows full well the Flying Fijians capabilities, as he witnessed that first-hand when the current PNC champs - and most successful team in the competition's history - dumped the Wallabies in France last year.
Having come through the current PNC campaign undefeated, the Japanese are favourites at home.
But Jones told the media in Tokyo there was no guarantee of a win against the unpredictable Fijians.
He has pinpointed two crucial areas his side must improve on ahead of the final.
"We started the game really well against Samoa, but we know we need to improve our defence around the ruck and our kick chase defence. These will be key areas we focus on this week," Jones said.
"We attack well but we're still too loose around the rucks. When we're defending, we need to keep that pitch small."
Japan emphatically claimed a final slot after beating Samoa in explicit attacking, running rugby, scoring six tries to Samoa's three in an enthralling semi-final at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo last Sunday.
Jones acknowledged the step up in competition against Samoa but stressed the need for further growth to overcome Fiji's formidable challenge.
He emphasised the importance of physicality and discipline against Fiji, noting that "our ruck defence has got to be really good."
Jones is demanding more from his young squad with a long-term goal of reaching the top four in the world by the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
Taichi Takahashi (C) of Japan celebrates with teammates after scoring the team's seventh try during the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup semi-final between Samoa and Japan at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium on 15 September. Photo: Koki Nagahama/Getty Images
His Flying Fijian counterpart Mick Byrne said Jones is a "master tactician" and he would have mapped out a strategy to foil the Fijians' fast, counter-attacking game and physicality around the rucks.
Byrne said his players will have to dominate the physical battles and defend well against a fast Japanese team.
He says winning the collisions and slowing the ball down will be a key to stopping the ever-improving Brave Blossoms.
He acknowledged the physicality and pressure put on by the USA team in the semi-final but said the players showed a lot of determination to stay in the game.
"I thought we were poor at the start but all credit to USA they came out to play and they were physical, they put us under a lot of pressure and did not allow us to play," Byrne said.
"I know for a fact that we stayed in the game, stayed patient and we continue to grow our game, we did give a little bit of easy ball away which is not easy."
He said the Japanese will be fast and tactical with their kicking.
But he is confident Tevita Ikanivere and the team will be able to handle all that.
Byrne said their focus from the start has been to defend the PNC title.
"That was our goal when we set out and still is the goal," he added.
'Fijians are a second-half wonder' - critic
Fijian rugby critic Anendra Singh said Jones will throw some of his "master tactician" magic on his team.
Singh said former All Black, Sir Brian Lochore, had predicted Jones' rise in 2017, calling the outspoken coach a "cunning man".
He said it will be interesting to see what Byrne and his stable of assistants conjure up to counter the hosts.
"Japan has shown it can absorb the punishment when the physicality stakes go up, after outplaying Manu Samoa 49-27," Singh said.
"Worse off in most statistics in that test, the Brave Blossoms had exhibited fitness, grasp of the basics and playing to their strengths as keys to countering the battering-ram approach. That's Jones in a nutshell, never mind what disgruntled Wallabies fans think of him.
"Factor in chief engineer Seungsin Lee at fullback, gutsy halfback Shinobu Fujiwara, and pivot Harumichi Tatekawa. You can bet your last dollar Jones will want his trio to move the bigger Fijians around the park in that 30 degrees Celsius evening.
"Forecasts of 39km/h wind gusts and 81 percent humidity will add to the ball-handling fun and games."
He said Fijians' first five-eighth Caleb Muntz will have to have his sensible shoes polished for conversions and three pointers because Lee, who has scored 53 points to Muntz's 34, will be ready to kick points from anywhere.
"More importantly, Muntz will have to switch on his tactical radar to back himself more in finding touch to give captain Tevita Ikanivere and his engine room some oxygen," he said.
"Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula is enjoying his switch to fullback from pivot, but he'll have to take over the tactical kicking if Muntz comes up shy.
"Reliable halfback Frank Lomani will be hustling as usual but he'll be mindful that Australian referee Nic Berry, a former Super 12/European pro halfback, will be watching him like a hawk if he's thinking of bullying Fujiwara."
The Flying Fijians were made to work hard in Nuku'alofa on Friday, before three second-half tries made sure of a 50-19 defeat of Tonga and top spot in Pool A. Photo: World Rugby
He said all the previous Flying Fijians records of 15 wins from 19 PNC outings, five wins from the last six the two nations have played against each other, five PNC titles; and world ranking shuffles will mean nothing.
"They're up against a little plotter who, during his first stint with Japan, had led the Brave Blossoms to an RWC victory over [South Africa] in 2015. That demands respect," Singh said.
"The Fijians are a second-half wonder, not conceding any points in that spell in four outings this PNC campaign. Is that enough against Japan's unchanged 23, bar one rookie on the bench? Their first half needs to be better, especially in set pieces, after the so-so 22-3 win over USA."
He pointed to some staggering Japan stats - 35 out of 35 lineouts from their own throws; and 12 out of as many feeds into their own scrum against Samoa.
That, he said, would demand that Fiji's Ikanivere, his front rowers and lineout jumpers must be humming from the same song sheet, or it'll be a mournful tune for a team considered to be favourites.
Kick-off: 10.05pm, Saturday (NZ and Fiji time).
Referee: Nic Berry, former Queensland Reds, Racing 92 and Wasps scrum-half. Berry will referee his second PNC match of the year having taken charge of the fifth-place play-off in Tokyo last weekend.
He has previously refereed Japan three times (two wins, one loss), while Fiji are looking for their first test victory with Berry in the middle. They previously lost to Wales and Scotland with the Australian as match official.
The teams:
Flying Fijians: 1 Eroni Mawi, 2 Tevita Ikanivere, 3 Samu Tawake, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 5 Temo Mayanavanua, 6 Meli Derenalagi, 7 Kitione Salawa, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 9 Frank Lomani, 10 Caleb Muntz, 11 Ilaisa Droasese, 12 Inia Tabuavou, 13 Iosefo Masi, 14 Vuate Karawalevu, 15 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula; Reserves: 16 Mesulame Dolokoto, 17 Haereiti Hetet, 18 Peni Ravai, 19 Ratu Rotuisolia, 20 Albert Tuisue, 21 Peni Matawalu, 22 Apisalome Vota, 23 Ponipate Loganismasi
Japan: 1 Shogo Miura, 2 Mamoru Harada, 3 Shuhei Takeuchi, 4 Ratu Epeneri Uluiviti, 5 Warner Dearns, 6 Amato Fakatava, 7 Kanji Shimokawa, 8 Faulua Makisi, 9 Shinobu Fujiwara, 10 Harumichi Tatekawa, 11 Malo Tuitama, 12 Nicholas McCurran, 13 Dylan Riley, 14 Tomoki Osada, 15 Seungsin Lee; Reserves: 16 Kenta Matsuoka, 17 Takato Okabe, 18 Keijiro Tamefusa, 19 Isaiah Collins-Mapusua, 20 Tiennan Costley, 21 Taiki Koyama, 22 Yusuke Kajimura, 23 Junta Hamano
Manu Samoa got their Pacific Nations Cup campaign back on track. Photo: World Rugby
Samoa chase third spot
Meanwhile, Manu Samoa will battle the USA before the main final in the third-place play-off.
World Rugby said the Samoans will need to play 80 minutes rugby to win.
Samoa conceded three tries in the opening 16 minutes in Tokyo last weekend to see their hopes of claiming a semi-final victory against Japan fade quickly.
The Brave Blossoms went on to cross the whitewash another four times to win 49-27.
That result came on the back of a pool-stage encounter with Fiji in which they let a 16-15 half-time lead evaporate into a 42-16 defeat.
Eagles coach Scott Lawrence will know his team will have to be more clinical this weekend if they are to secure third place.
In the semi-finals, USA had only Chris Mattina's fourth-minute penalty to show for nine entries into the Fiji 22 and they have not scored in the final quarter of any of their three matches.
There is cause for optimism in the shape of their scrum, however, and the carrying ability of number eight Thomas Tu'avao and tackling and jackaling prowess of former wrestler Cory Daniel.
World Rugby said victory would lift USA as many as three places in the rankings. Starting the weekend 19th, they can climb to 16th if they beat Samoa by more than 15 points.
Should the Men's Eagles win by a narrower margin then a two-place gain, above Spain and Uruguay to 17th, is theirs.
Defeat by more than 15 points would drop Samoa one place, below Portugal, into 15th. The Pacific Islanders can climb one place to 13th if they win, Japan lose the final and the margin of at least one of those results is more than 15 points.
The teams:
USA: 1 Jake Turnbull, 2 Kapeli Pifeleti, 3 Alex Maughan, 4 Jason Damm, 5 Greg Peterson (captain), 6 Paddy Ryan, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Jamason Fa'anana-Schultz, 9 JP Smith, 10 Luke Carty, 11 Mitch Wilson, 12 Tommaso Boni, 13 Dominic Besag, 14 Conner Mooneyham, 15 Toby Fricker; Reserves - 16 Sean McNulty, 17 Payton Telea, 18 Pono Davis, 19 Viliami Helu, 20 Tesimoni Tonga'uiha, 21 Thomas Tu'avao, 22 Ethan McVeigh, 23 Rand Santos
Manu Samoa: 1 Aki Seiuli, 2 Sama Malolo, 3 Marco Fepulea'i, 4 Ben Nee-Nee, 5 Michael Curry, 6 Theo McFarland (captain), 7 Izaiha Moore-Aiono, 8 Iakopo Petelo-Mapu, 9 Melani Matavao, 10 Rodney Iona, 11 Elisapeta Alofipo, 12 Alapati Leiua, 13 Lalomilo Lalomilo, 14 Tuna Tuitama, 15 Tomasi Alosio; Reserves: 16 Luteru Tolai, 17 Andrew Tuala, 18 Brook Toomalatai, 19 Sam Slade, 20 Jonah Mau'u, 21 Danny Tusitala, 22 Afa Moleli, 23 Melani Nanai
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe will referee his 46th test match, and first in this year's PNC, when he takes charge of the third-place play-off at Hanazono Rugby Stadium.
Kick off: 7pm.