Japan vs Australia Preview & Prediction | 2026 International
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A historic two-test series between Japan and Australia begins at Hanazono Rugby Stadium on Saturday as Eddie Jones' Brave Blossoms host the Wallabies, managed for the first time by Les Kiss.
Start date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – Not televised / USA – RugbyPass TV
How to watch online: UK – Cannot be streamed / USA – RugbyPass TV
Japan team news
Squad: 15 Takuro Matsunaga, 14 Kazuma Ueda, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Samisoni Tua, 11 Taira Main, 19 Ryunosuke Ito, 9 Naoto Saito, 8 Faulua Makisi, 7 Kanji Shimokawa, 6 Ben Gunter, 5 Warner Dearns, 4 Jack Cornelsen, 3 Shuhei Takeuchi, 2 Hayate Era, 1 Takato Okabe
Replacements: 16 Mamoru Harada, 17 Sojiro Otsuka, 18 Keijiro Tamefusa, 19 Harry Hockings, 20 Michael Leitch, 21 Tiennan Costley, 22 Shunsuke Uenobo, 23 Yoshitaka Yazaki
Australia team news
Squad: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Harry Potter, 10 Declan Meredith, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Josh Nasser, 1 Aidan Ross
Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Charlie Cale, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Isaac Henry
Japan vs Australia prediction
In what is expected to be extremely hot and humid conditions in Higashiosaka, Japan will looks to spring a surprise against Australia on home turf, before the two nations reunite in Queensland the following weekend.
Japan gave a decent account of themselves in the Southern Hemisphere swing of the inaugural Nations Championship last month, beating Italy in their opener before competing well in defeats to Ireland and France.
Australia had the same fixture list and came away with identical results, although they pushed the two Northern Hemisphere powerhouses closer before thumping Italy 57-10 in Joe Schmidt's final game in charge of the Wallabies.
In comes Les Kiss for his debut match as Australia head coach, and his contingent will certainly want to make an impression on the new man calling the shots.
Eddie Jones will have his Japan side fired up for this as he faces the team he once coached, but you have to fancy the visitors to make their superiority count.
Japan vs Australia tip: Australia -14.5
