Wallabies Ring the Changes for Second Test Against Japan in Townsville
Australia made eight changes to their starting XV for the second and final Test against Japan, with flyhalf Carter Gordon returning from a calf strain as the Wallabies looked to seal a series win at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on 15 August 2026 (Rugby Australia).
Kick-off was set for 3.15pm local time, with New Zealand's Paul Williams taking charge as referee (The Guardian).
The Wallabies won a pulsating opener 35-32 in Osaka the previous Saturday — Les Kiss's first match in charge since being appointed head coach (Reuters). That match was played in hot and humid conditions at Hanazono Rugby Stadium, and Australia had to survive a late Japan surge to hold on (The Guardian).
Gordon's return is the most eye-catching of the eight changes. The five-eighth — the position that runs the backline and directs Australia's attacking play — replaces Declan Meredith, who wore the No 10 shirt in Osaka. Gordon had been sidelined with a calf strain but was passed fit to start (Reuters).
His inclusion speaks to a wider problem. Australia have auditioned seven different flyhalves over the past two years, searching for a consistent playmaker to anchor the team. With the 2027 Rugby World Cup looming and preparation time tight, every Test is a trial — and Kiss is still exploring his options (The Guardian).
Experience also returns to the pack. Props Angus Bell and Taniela Tupou, both cornerstones of the Australian scrum, were restored to the starting side for Townsville (Reuters). Their presence bolsters a forward unit that will look to impose itself more convincingly than it managed in the nervy first Test.
Japan, meanwhile, arrived in Townsville with their own story. The Brave Blossoms are coached by Eddie Jones — the Australian-born tactician who previously coached the Wallabies and England — and they pushed Australia close in Osaka thanks in part to the creative play of 21-year-old flyhalf Ryunosuke Ito (The Guardian; Japan Rugby). Japan had also suffered a 42-15 defeat to France earlier in their 2026 Nations Championship campaign (Japan Rugby).
The historical record favours Australia heavily. The Wallabies have never lost to Japan in seven previous meetings, and their most recent win — 19-15 — was achieved with a second-string side (Reuters).
Both matches in this bilateral series double as Nations Championship fixtures, the 12-team cross-continental competition in which Japan are participating through 2026 and 2028 (Japan Rugby). Australia's home schedule continues on 29 August, when they host Argentina at a venue still to be confirmed (Rugby Australia).
For Kiss, the Townsville Test is another chance to assess his squad under competitive pressure. For Jones and Japan, it is an opportunity to show that the narrow defeat in Osaka was no fluke.
