Japan vs Australia International test preview: Confirmed lineups

Home team	Japan
Away team	Australia
Venue	Hanazono Rugby Stadium
Competition	International Test
Kick-off time	11:05 (UK)
Watch Live in the UK	Sky Sports

Japan vs Australia preview as the teams meet in Hanazono Rugby Stadium in an international test. Australia have dropped to eighth in the world rankings, while Japan are sitting 10th in the world rankings.

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Japan vs Australia confirmed lineups

Japan			Australia
Forwards
Okabe		1		Ross
Era		2		Nasser
Takeuchi		3		Alaalatoa
Cornelsen		4		Canham
Dearns		5		Amatosero
Gunter		6		Valetini
Shimokawa		7		McReight
Makisi		8		Wilson
Backs
Saito		9		R Lonergan
Ito		10		Meredith
Main		11		Potter
Tua		12		Paisami
Riley		13		Suaalii
Ueda		14		Jorgensen
Matsunaga		15		Wright
Replacements
Harada		16		Pollard
Otsuka		17		Bell
Tamefusa		18		Tupou
Hockings		19		Williams
Leitch		20		Cale
Costley		21		McDermott
Uenobo		22		Donaldson
Yazaki		23		Henry

Recent Form:

Japan (Home team): 

Result	Date	Competition	Opponent	Score
Loss	18th July 2026	Rugby Nations Championship	France	15-42
Loss	11th July 2026	Rugby Nations Championship	Ireland	20-36
Won	4th July 2026	Rugby Nations Championship	Italy	27-10
Won	22nd November 2025	International	Georgia	23-25
Loss	15th November 2025	International	Wales	24-23

Japan picked up one win in the Rugby Nations Championship in their openinggame against Italy, winning 27-10. They then lost out to Ireland and France, but will face England, Wales and Scotland in November

Australia (Away team): 

Result	Date	Competition	Opponent	Score
Won	18th July 2026	Rugby Nations Championship	Italy	57-19
Loss	11th July 2026	Rugby Nations Championship	France	26-42
Loss	4th July 2026	Rugby Nations Championship	Ireland	31-33
Loss	22nd November 2025	International	France	48-33
Loss	15th November 2025	International	Ireland	46-19

Australia have only won one of their last seven test matches, and that came in their most recent match against Italy. They scored nine tries, including three for the lock, Josh Canham. Australia will look to build up confidence as they prepare for the remainder of the Rugby Nations Championship and the other Rugby Nations Championship teams in the coming months.

Japan vs Australia head-to-head record (last four matches):

Date	Competition	Winner	Score
25th October 2025	International	Australia	15-19
23rd October 2021	International	Australia	23-32
4th October 2017	International	Australia	30-63
8th September 2007	World Cup	Australia	91-3

Japan and Australia have met four times in international tests, first starting with the 2007 World  Cup. Australia have won all four tests, although the meeting last October ended with only a four-point margin of victory.