Preview - Japan v Fiji
Fiji bosses excuse Caucaunibuca in absentia
Fiji coach Wayne Pivac has made three changes to his XV ahead of Saturday's Pacific Five Nations encounter with Japan in Osaka.
The Fijians recorded a tense 23-30 win over Samoa last week, but Pivac conceded that his forwards were out-played in Suva.
Tighthead prop Ravuama Samo is duly tasked to inject some grunt into the pack and is introduced at the expense of Apisai Nagi.
"We saw that our scrum was under pressure last week and that was why we made the decision to start Samo," Pivac told the Fiji Times.
"The Japanese showed they are a force and proved their forwards were good as we saw in their matches against the Junior All Blacks and Samoa.
"Samo has been training well and working hard and deserves a starting place and we also had Nagi start all the matches so far."
Elsewhere, Maleli Kunvore comes in for Rupeni Caucaunibuca, who opted out of the team due to "family commitments", while Sekove Leawere will take the place of Mosese Luveitasau who has been suspended after being red-carded for a dangerous tackle against Samoa.
Caucaunibuca, as elusive off the field as he is on it, failed to appear at the airport ahead of the flight to Japan.
The Agen wing has a history of no-shows, but Fiji Rugby Union boss Ratu Timoci Tavanavanua revealed that an unforeseen family commitment had kept the Fijian flyer from joining his team-mates in Japan.
"I can confirm that Caucau will not join the team in Osaka, as he has indicated to me that he has an important family affair to deal with," Tavanavanua said.
The absence of Caucaunibuca and Luveitasau forced Pivac to take in a number of factors before deciding on who to place on the wing in place of Caucau.
"There was an option of playing Norman Ligairi at wing with Jo Tora at fullback or having Kameli Ratuvou at wing and Kunavore at centre," he said.
"After studying all the options we decided not to make too many changes as this would disrupt the combination which has been improving in each match.
"Japan like us have also been improving and we couldn't afford to make too many changes and suffer like we did in the Tonga match."
Japan: tba
Fiji: 15 Norman Ligairi, 14 Sekove Leawere, 13 Maleli Kunavore, 12 Kameli Ratuvou, 11 Seru Rabeni, 10 Seremaia Bai, 9 Jacob Rauluni, 8 Netani Talei, 7 Semisi Naevo, 6 Aca Ratuva, 5 Simon Raiwalui (captain), 4 Isoa Domolailai, 3 Ravuama Samo, 2 Suni Koto, 1 Jo Bale.
Replacements: tbc
Date: Saturday, July 1
Kick-off: 19:00 (11:00 GMT)
Venue: Nagai Stadium, Osaka
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
