Eddie Jones names strong Japan side to take on Wallabies in Tokyo

Michael Leitch hasn’t worn the Brave Blossoms jersey since July 12 in a 22-31 loss to Wales, but the experienced backrower has been brought back into Japan’s starting side for their clash with Australia in Tokyo this weekend.

Coach Eddie Jones has made six changes to the run-on side after the Pacific Nations Cup Final defeat to Fiji last month, with Australian-raised Ben Gunter joining Kanji Shimokawa and Leitch in the loose forwards trio.

Gunter went to high school at Brisbane Boys’ College, playing for the First XV alongside Wallabies Player of the Year Len Ikitau. Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight and Japan’s Sam Greene also played in Queensland’s GPS competition during their rise through rugby’s ranks.

Kenta Kobayashi will pack down in the front row alongside Hayate Era and Shuhei Takeuchi, while Australian-born lock Jack Cornelsen links up with New Zealand-born Warner Dearns as the second-row pairing. Dearns will captain the Brave Blossoms against the Wallabies.

In the backs, Shinobu Fujiwara will combine with vice-captain Lee Seung-sin in the halves. Shogo Nakano joins vice-captain Dylan Riley in the midfield, while the outside backs consist of wingers Tomoki Osada and Kippei Ishida, with Yoshitaka Yazaki at fullback.

This is coach Jones’ first Test against the Wallabies since leaving Australian rugby after the 2023 Men’s Rugby World Cup.

“I enjoy beating Australia,” Jones said. “I coached against them 10 times for England and beat them nine times.

“Playing against your own country, there’s always a certain amount of different feeling involved in it, but it just brings out the extreme competitive spirit within yourself.”

This match at Japan’s National Stadium in Tokyo will kick off at 2:50 pm JST / 4:50 pm AEDT on Saturday.

Japan team to take on Australia

1. Kenta Kobayashi
2. Hayate Era
3. Shuhei Takeuchi
4. Jack Cornelsen
5. Warner Dearns (c)
6. Ben Gunter
7. Kanji Shimokawa
8. Michael Leitch
9. Shinobu Fujiwara
10. Lee Seung-sin (vc)
11. Tomoki Osada
12. Shogo Nakano
13. Dylan Riley (vc)
14. Kippei Ishida
15. Yoshitaka Yazaki

Replacements

16. Kenji Sato
17. Ryosuke Iwaihara
18. Keijiro Tamefusa
19. Tyler Paul
20. Tiennan Costley
21. Kenta Fukuda
22. Charlie Lawrence
23. Sam Greene