Arizona Tribune - Japan go back to school for second Australia Test

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Japan go back to school for second Australia Test / Photo: Philip FONG - AFP

Japan go back to school for second Australia Test

SPORTS 13.08.2026

Japan coach Eddie Jones on Thursday named two university students in his starting line-up to face Australia as they look to avenge a narrow defeat in last week's first Test.

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Japan lost 35-32 to the Wallabies in Osaka and Jones has shuffled his pack for Saturday's game in Townsville.

Waseda University's Yoshitaka Yazaki comes in on the right wing, with fellow student Ryunosuke Ito keeping his place at fly-half after an impressive performance against the Wallabies.

Shunsuke Uenobo starts at inside centre to win his third cap while Haruto Kida makes his fourth appearance on the left wing.

Jones made five changes to the starting line-up, with Tiennan Costley also coming in to play in the back row, and Harry Hockings returning at lock.

Japan (15-1):

Takuro Matsunaga; Yoshitaka Yazaki, Dylan Riley, Shunsuke Uenobo, Haruto Kida; Ryunosuke Ito, Naoto Saito; Faulua Makisi, Tiennan Costley, Ben Gunter; Warner Dearns (capt), Harry Hockings; Shuhei Takeuchi, Hayate Era, Takato Okabe

Replacements: Mamoru Harada, Sojiro Otsuka, Izi Sword, Jack Cornelsen, Michael Leitch, Itsuki Kamimura, Samisoni Tua, Kazuma Ueda

A.Anderson--AT

Arizona Tribune - Japan go back to school for second Australia Test

Japan go back to school for second Australia Test

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