Live Test rugby: Can Eddie Jones’ Japan upset the Wallabies?

Good afternoon and welcome to the live coverage of the Wallabies’ Test match against Japan.

My name is Iain Payten and I will be manning the blog this evening.

The Wallabies are in Tokyo for the first Test of a five-week tour of Japan, Britain and Europe, and it’s a humdinger clash against Eddie Jones’ Japanese side to start off.

Jones, of course, needs no introduction: the polarising Wallabies coach who ended up back in Japan after a disastrous return to Australia in 2023, which ended with the Wallabies missing the finals of the Rugby World Cup in France, for the first time ever.

You’ll recall, too, that the Herald’s own Tom Decent broke the story of Jones doing a job interview with Japan while in France with the Wallabies, just before the World Cup. Jones denied it, but ended up back with the Brave Blossoms 45 days after resigning from the Wallabies.

The Wallabies are heavy favourites to beat Japan today - you can get $23 on the home team with a few bookies - but Jones has made an artform of conjuring major upsets, and none biggger than Japan beating the Springboks in 2015.

Can it happen today? Australia should be too strong for the world no.13s, but Joe Schmidt has rolled the dice by naming a reduced strength team, with multiple stars rested and a new captain appointed in the form of Nick Champion de Crespigny. He’s a 29-year-old journeyman who has only played 72 minutes of Test rugby, in two appearances. It’s a big job.

There is a hugely untested vibe to the line-up, and combinations will be rusty. But there should still be enough in the Wallabies to get the job done, with experienced troops like Angus Bell, Rob Valetini, Jake Gordon and Andrew Kellaway in the line-up.

What are your thoughts? Can Japan pull off a boilover?

Here are a couple of stories to get you warmed up for the action in Japan.

First up, there’s a cracking little item in Peter Fitzsimons’ column about the long-standing friendship between Harry Wilson and Ben Gunther, who is one of four Aussies in the Japan squad today.

The pair grew up together in Gunnedah and today will mark an extension of a long rivalry.

The Wallabies’ complicated re-union with former coach Eddie Jones was explored in this piece, and here is a story containing Joe Schmidt’s thinking around the need to field a reduced strength team against Japan. It boils down to conserving petrol for the rest of a gruelling tour, but it’s risky.

And finally, here’s a feature interview with a man who is not in Japan - Noah Lolesio. He suffered a very scary neck injury against Fiji back in July, and he opened up for the first time about it this week.

Okay, here is everything you need to know on the teams front. And in a piece of good news, Kiwi referee Ben O’Keeffe is the man in the middle. Unlike some of the pedantic European referees we’ve seen this year, O’Keeffe is as good as they come, and he’ll allow a good flowing contest.

Weather? It’s a slightly drizzly, and cool, afternoon in Tokyo. Fun fact: the Wallabies have never lost to Japan in six clashes.

Australia (15-1): Andrew Kellaway; Corey Toole, Josh Flook, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch; Tane Edmed, Jake Gordon; Rob Valetini, Carlo Tizzano, Nick Champion de Crespigny (capt); Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Jeremy Williams; Zane Nonggorr, Josh Nasser, Angus Bell

Replacements: Billy Pollard, Aidan Ross, Tom Robertson, Josh Canham, Harry Wilson, Ryan Lonergan, Hamish Stewart, Filipo Daugunu

Japan (15-1): Yoshitaka Yazaki, Kippei Ishida, Dylan Riley, Shogo Nakano, Tomoki Osada, Seungsin Lee, Shinobu Fujiwara, Michael Leitch, Kanji Shimokawa, Ben Gunter, Warner Dearns, Jack Cornelsen, Shuhei Takeuchi, Hayate Era, Kenta Kobayashi

Replacements: Kenji Sato, Ryosuke Iwaihara, Keijiro Tamefusa, Tyler Paul, Tiennan Costley, Kenta Fukuda, Charlie Lawrence, Sam Greene.

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)

Assistant Referees: Angus Mabey (NZR) & Morgan White (HKCR)

TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR)

FRPO: Matt Rodden (HKCR)