Daily double: Two-try hero Akapusi Qera
TOULOUSE, 12 September - Fiji have opened their IRB Rugby World Cup campaign with an entertaining 35-31 win over Japan in their Pool B match at Stade Municipal in Toulouse.
Fiji scored four tries to three to secure a crucial bonus point, the match going down to the wire as Japan threw everything at Fiji in the final minutes.
After an entertaining first half the lead changed hands several times in the second half providing the vocal Toulouse crowd with a real nail-biter.
Trailing 10-9 at half time Japan centre Shotaro Onishi gave his side an early two-point lead in the 43rd minute with his fourth penalty conversion of the match.
Fjii's Akapusi Qera then picked up his second try in the 49th minute to make the score 17-12.
Japan hit back with a converted try to second row Luke Thompson before a Nicky Little conversion in 55th minute regained the lead for Fiji 20-19. One minute later centre Seru Rabeni scored to extend the lead to 25-19.
A converted try in the 71st minute by second row Kele Leawere gave Fiji some much needed breathing space.
A late consolation to Japan's Thompson reduced the margin to four.
In a free-flowing first half, fly half Nicky Little opened the account for Fiji in the fourth minute with a long range penalty, in the process becoming the 13th player in international rugby history to pass 600 points.
Japan responded with two penalties from the boot of centre Shotaro Onishi taking a surprise 6-3 lead.
Both sides looked to play an expansive game at any opportunity but were troubled by handling errors.
Flanker Qera finally broke the shackles for Fiji in the 35th minute with an intercept try - converted by Little - which gave Fiji a four-point lead before a late penalty by Onishi brought Japan back within a point.
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In the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Tonga started their campaign with a 15-25 win over the United States. Fiji won their opening match by four points in a close contest against Japan. 

Romania, playing their first match of the tournament, led Italy just after half time but eventually fell to a 24-18 defeat.
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In Pool A, Tonga raced to an early lead after Finau Maka scored a try in the second minute and Pierre Hola added the conversion. However the United States pinned them back for most of the first half with Pierre Hola scoring just two penalties for Tonga, giving them a 13-0 lead. Shortly before half time Mike Hercus scored a penalty for the United States to take the score to 13-3 at the interval. 

The Americans controlled the game for much of the second half. Mike MacDonald scored a try for the Americans to pull the score back to 13-8, but Tonga hit back with a try from Joseph Vaka. Louis Stanfill scored a try to close the gap to three points, but Viliami Vaki scored with ten minutes remaining to claim the victory for Tonga.

The win takes Tonga to third place in Pool A with four points, behind South Africa with five and England on points difference. The United Stated have no points from two defeats.
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Fiji overcame Japan in a dramatic encounter in Pool B. Nicky Little kicked Fiji to an early lead, but Shotaro Onishi scored two penalties to give Japan a 6-3 lead in the 30th minute. Fiji went ahead with a try from Akapusi Qera, and Japan's Onishi scored a penalty just before half time reducing Fiji's lead to one point.

Onishi scored another penalty after the restart and Japan led once more. Qera scored his second try for Fiji in the 49th minute, but Luke Thompson scored a try for Japan two minutes later. A try from Seru Rabeni once again gave Fiji the advantage, but Japan were kept in the match by a Tomokazu Soma try. Fiji stretched their lead to 11 points after Kele Leawere scored a try, and a last minute Luke Thompson try was not enough to snatch the win for Japan.

Fiji are third in the pool with five points, behind Australia and Wales on points difference. Japan are fourth, taking one point from this defeat.
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In Pool C, Italy led Romania 8-0 at half time through an early try from Santiago Dellapè and a David Bortolussi penalty.

Romania took the lead early in the second half after Alexandru Manta and Marius Tincu scored tries. Italy regained the lead after they were awarded a penalty try due to several fouls from Romania. Ionut Dimofte scored two penalties for Romania to keep them in the game, but Ramiro Pez scored three to keep Italy ahead.

Italy are third in Pool C with four points, behind New Zealand and Scotland with five each. Romania are fourth, earning one point in this match.