The Vodafone Flying Fijians will face a fired up Japan side in the Pacific Nations Cup rugby tournament in Canada on Thursday.

The Eddie Jones-coached Cherry Blossoms will bring a new style of game against Fiji in their bid to beat the Fijians.

Jones says this is all part of the long term planning that the nation has adopted.

“So what we have tried to do over the past four years is try and change the way Japan plays rugby. Create a unique style of Japanese rugby which is more about keeping the ball and using the ball and trying to use the speed and skill because we don’t have the size so it’s no use us trying to play an orthodox sort of game.”

Meanwhile, Japan has made nine changes to the starting team, which lost to the USA over the weekend.

Michael Leitch, who plays for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and has ties to Fiji, will captain the side.

Leitch, Hendrik Tui, Shoji Ito and Highlanedsr halfback, Fumiaki Tanaka all make their first appearances in the tournament, while Shota Horie, Ayumu Goromaru, Yu Tamura and Kenki Fukuoka return after being rested against the Eagles.

The game starts at 10am on Thursday.