The FMF Flying Fijians 15's rugby team escaped with a close 35-31 win against Japan in their opening pool game in the Rugby World Cup this morning.

Fiji scored a bonus point win with four tries, two of them going to Akapusi Qera and one each to Vice Captain Kele Leawere and Seru Rabeni.

Fiji opened their scoring with a penalty to Nicky Little in the 2nd minute of play to also give him his 600 points in the international Test match level.

At half-time Fiji had a slim lead of 10 points to 9 with a penalty to Little and a run away try from open-side Akapusi Qera from inside Fiji's own 22 meter line.

The side was also reduced to 14 men after wing, Filimoni Delasau was sent off because of a high tackle.

Fiji scored 3 more tries in the second half but was pressured all the way by the Japanese to the 80th minute of play.

Luckily for Fiji the Japanese could not score a try with 3 more minutes of play added to the game.

Fiji's second pool game is on Monday morning against Canada at 12am.