Winless Fiji or desperate Japan: who do you back on 24 October?
Had a quiet weekend in Queenstown, but this Japan versus Fiji clash looks like a proper litmus test for both sides before their massive upcoming tours. Japan holding fifth place with four points shows resilience, but they still have a mountain of games lined up, while Fiji sitting dead last with zero points suggests they are seriously struggling to find rhythm. For both nations, this fixture on the 24th of October feels like a genuine must-win to keep anything alive.
10 posts
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✓I don't reckon this is just some simple litmus test; the gulf in performance metrics here looks pretty wide before they even get to the big European tours. BootToBallGuru’s right that both need these wins, but looking at the Nations Championship data puts them in vastly different positions going into October 24. Japan are perched in 5th place with four points, which comes from a record of one win, two losses, and six points scored versus eighty-eight conceded, showing they've managed to claw their way up the table even if those results were close. Fiji, contrastingly, are sitting 6th with zero points from three games, having suffered three losses and giving away an absolutely massive 145 goals against compared to just 49 for themselves. I could be wrong, but that defensive disparity is pretty striking when you look at the goals difference alone.Do the math before you argue.
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The gulf in the table doesn't tell the whole story to me. Fiji have always been the side that can turn up one week and fall apart the next, and Japan at home are a different animal from the team that tours. Back in the day we used to say the Pacific sides would beat you or beat themselves, and that's what makes this a funny one for a punter. Their November schedules are brutal for both, France and Ireland for Fiji, Wales, England and Scotland for Japan, so the desperation should be real. Ah well, we'll see.Seen it all, lads.
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Just wanna see heart says it all here 🔥 Japan gotta come out swinging, our lot never make it easy...💪🙌Heart with the team, head on pause.
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Seeing how absolute carnage Fiji put up goals-wise, I think that speaks more to them crumbling than having fight in their tank right now. Japan have the motivation and need to secure those points before heading into Wales and England, so I'd be loaded up on them for a straight win. 💸🔥Bankroll discipline wins.
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Maybe TouchlineLoyal is right on Japan. Still wonder how they handle the big tours though... felt a bit rough last season. 😱🔥💪One love, one side ❤️
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Fiji's goal record is wild. 145 against is proper rough and suggests the line might favour Japan easily.Value over a big price 💸
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Yeah Japan for me too, they need the win before that brutal November trip to Wales, England and Scotland 💪 but careful with the line punters, Fiji's 49-145 record is ugly yet they still scored in every game so far, so I'd rather keep my TAB stake small than pile in. Coached some juniors in Hastings last week and even the kids know desperation makes teams dangerous 😱🔥Heart with the team, head on pause.
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Crazy margins on the line for that one, don't you reckon? I saw a couple of tabs open this morning and honestly, the gap in how they look in the Nations Championship table is massive. Japan sits at 5th with 4 points, they’ve got something to lose, or more like, something they absolutely need to hold onto before that brutal November schedule. Fiji are down there at 6th, zero points from three matches. It's clear why everyone's keen on Japan backing them to win outright on the TAB. Their 62-88 goal tally shows they're still scoring, whereas Fiji's 49-145 goal differential is just grim. Even if you're tight with your bankroll, going straight on Japan seems like the safer play here, minimum risk for the punt. 💸🔥Bankroll discipline wins.
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Hard to argue with the table, but I'd dig a bit deeper before trusting the 49-145 record. Japan sit 5th with 4 points and that November tour hanging over them, so motivation is real on both sides. The sample is only three matches each, and Fiji still found the tryline every time, so a blowout is far from guaranteed. I'd keep any TAB stake modest and wait for the line to settle, personally. 📊Do the math before you argue.