White says Fiji can have ‘massive’ World Cup after beating Japan

Jake White declared that Fiji possesses the capability to emerge as a major contender at the upcoming rugby World Cup following a decisive win over Japan. The new head coach made these remarks after guiding his national team to a 34-28 victory in Tokyo on Saturday. This result marked the opening match of White’s tenure as manager of the Fijian squad. He described the performance as entertaining and indicated confidence in the team's trajectory toward the global tournament scheduled for next year. The contest was played against Japan, which is currently led by coach Eddie Jones. White exchanged handshakes with Jones during the post-match proceedings. The scoreline reflected a close competition, with Fiji securing the lead by six points. White emphasized that the outcome demonstrates the potential for the team to compete effectively on the international stage. His comments suggest that the recent success serves as a foundation for future campaigns. The match took place in Tokyo, serving as a significant early test for White’s new leadership approach. By defeating a well-coached opponent, the Fijian side achieved its primary objective in this fixture. White’s assessment focuses on the broader implications of this result for the 2027 Rugby World Cup cycle. He views the current momentum as evidence that the team can challenge top-tier nations. The victory provides a positive start to his managerial career with the Pacific Island nation. No further tactical details or player statistics were detailed in the immediate reports beyond the final score and the coaches' interactions. The focus remained on White’s strategic outlook and the significance of the win against Jones’s side. The team will likely continue preparations with the aim of maintaining this level of performance ahead of the World Cup. The result stands as a clear indicator of the direction White intends to take the program.