- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
FULL TIME | ||
|---|---|---|
Australia A tour of Japan | ||
| Venue: Best Denki Stadium, Fukuoka | ||
| Japan XV | vs | Australia A |
| 21 | Score | 22 |
Show Preview
The Australia A and Japan XV series moves to Fukuoka for game two on Saturday afternoon. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 4pm AEST.
Australia A coach Jason Gilmore had flagged there would be changes across the series, and has duly made five to the starting side for this game.
Tane Edmed headlines the inclusions and takes over from Ben Donaldson at fly half; Waratahs teammate Dylan Pietsch is the other change in the backline, in for Filipo Daugunu on the left wing.
There are three changes in the forwards, with two in the front row; Billy Pollard and Pone Fa’amausili join Matt Gibbon. After a season-ending injury to Angus Bell, Gibbon will be looking to cement his spot on the Spring Tour.
Brad Wilkin’s strong performance off the bench last week, when he bagged a try, has seen him elevated to the starting side.
Gilmore has retained some combinations from last weeks 34-22 victory, with Nick Frost and Cadeyrn Neville partnered in the second row. Suliasi Vunivalu and Jock Campbell are again part of the back three and the centre pairing of Bayley Kuenzle and Hudson Creighton keep their places after a quiet outing last week.
There are several players in line for their first minutes of the series off the bench . Among the new faces are Richie Asiata at hooker and Rory Scott as the backrow replacement. Rounding out the debutants is Teddy Wilson, son of former Wallaby David, at scrum-half.
Hamish Stewart and Tom Banks complete the reserves bench, as Banks returns for his first game since his broken arm during the England Test series in July.
The Japan XV proved to be a very physical assignment for Australia A last week and Jamie Joseph has also made several changes to his side, again led by their linchpin Michael Leitch.
The physical approach doesn’t look to have changed with an impressive-looking team named, including the dangerous Kotaro Matsushima on the wing in the starting side. Tevita Tatafu’s impact off the bench will ensure a busy afternoon for the Australia A defence.
Venue: Best Denki Stadium, Fukuoka
Kick-off: 4pm AEST
Live stream: Stan Sport
Australia A
1. Matt Gibbon 2. Billy Pollard 3. Pone Fa’amausili 4. Nick Frost 5. Cadeyrn Neville 6. Ned Hanigan 7. Brad Wilkin 8. Langi Gleeson 9. Ryan Lonergan (c) 10. Tane Edmed 11. Dylan Pietsch 12. Bayley Kuenzle 13. Hudson Creighton 14. Suliasi Vunivalu 15. Jock Campbell
Reserves: 16. Richie Asiata 17. Harry Hoopert 18. Tom Robertson 19. Seru Uru 20. Rory Scott 21. Teddy Wilson 22. Hamish Stewart 23. Tom Banks
Japan XV
1. Craig Millar 2. Atsushi Sakate 3. Shinnosuke Kakinaga 4. Wrner Dearns 5. Jack Cornelsen 6. Kanji Shimokawa 7. Kazuki Himeno 8. Michael Leitch 9. Naoto Saito 10. Seungsin Lee 11. Siosaia Fifita 12. Ryoto Nakamura 13. Dylan Riley 14. Kotaro Matsushima 15. Ryohei Yamanaka
Reserves: 16. Kosuke Horikoshi 17. Shogo Miura 18. Yusuke Kizu 19. Naohiro Kotaki 20. Tevita Tatafu 21. Yutaka Nagare 22. Shogo Nakano 23. Gerhard van den Heever
Hide Preview
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.