Rugby-Jones shakes up Japan for second test v Australia


FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Autumn Internationals - Wales v Japan - Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, Britain - November 15, 2025 Japan head coach Eddie Jones before the match Action Images via Reuters/Matthew Childs/File Photo

MELBOURNE, Aug 13 (Reuters) - ⁠Japan coach Eddie Jones made five ⁠changes to his starting 15 for the ‌second test against Australia in Townsville on Saturday, as the Brave Blossoms look to rebound from defeat in ​Osaka.

• Jones swapped out both ⁠wings, bringing in Haruto ⁠Kida and Yoshitaka Yazaki to replace Kazuma Ueda ⁠and ‌Taira Main.

• Samisoni Tua comes into midfield, with Shunsuke Uenobo making way.

• ⁠Australia-born lock Harry Hockings joins captain Warner ​Dearns in ‌the second row, with Jack Cornelsen demoted ⁠to ​the bench.

• Loose forward Tiennan Costley replaces Kanji Shimokawa at openside flanker in the only other ⁠change to the forward pack.

• ​Japan lost 35-32 to Australia in Osaka, which was coach Les Kiss's first game in charge ⁠of the Wallabies.

Japan team: 15-Takuro Matsunaga, 14-Haruto Kida, 13-Shunsuke Uenobo, 12-Dylan Riley, 11-Yoshitaka Yazaki, 10-Ryunosuke Ito, 9-Naoto Saito, 8-Faulua Makisi, 7-Tiennan Costley, ​6-Ben Gunter, 5-Warner Dearns (capt), 4-Harry ⁠Hockings, 3-Shuhei Takeuchi, 2-Hayate Era, 1-Takato Okabe

Reserves: 16-Mamoru ​Harada, 17-Sojiro Otsuka, 18-Izi ‌Sword, 19-Jack Cornelsen, 20-Michael Leitch, ​21-Itsuki Kamimura, 22-Samisoni Tua, 23-Kazuma Ueda.

(Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

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