Australia v Japan: Nations Championship rugby union international – live

Key events

31 mins: Japan get a free-kick off their scrum feed in their own half and snipe down the left. The ball is recycled superbly to the right where Kida makes good ground and manages to set up a solid foundation. Play slows inside the 22 so Ito puts some sidesteps to good use before Hockings and Gunter drive inside 10m. The phases mount to 14, then 15 as the try line nears, Japan are surely going to score! Yazaki accepts the responsibility, spins, reaches over the line, but he’s held up incredibly by Wright and Gordon, with Paisami joining in for good measure. Huge missed opportunity.

29 mins: Another Australian score off the back of a set piece! This time a lineout just outside the 22 sent quickly from left to right through hands. Henry smashes through the line after being fed by Paisani, with Lonergan up in support to accept the assist off the shoulder. Scintillating rugby. And it won’t count… Paisami’s short pass to feed Henry through was forward. The timing was split-second. So so close.

CONVERTED TRY! Australia 14-12 Japan (Saito, 26)

Shaw steals the lineout! Australia are monstering Japan at the set-piece so far. But the Wallabies soon lose possession and Japan reply with interest! The forward momentum catches Australia by surprise, Bell is cleaned out with force (and possibly high) at the breakdown putting the Brave Blossoms on the front foot. Unable to regroup the Wallabies are penalised at the next phase, and still discombobulated Saito takes the quick tap and dashes 5m unopposed to dive under the crossbar. That was all a bit confused and sloppy from Australia, and impudent from Japan.

The conversion is unmissable.

24 mins: Australia kick to halfway then get ambitious off the lineout with Gordon showing his imagination. Wright kicks to the right corner, looking for a 50/22 but Saito is alert to it, sidesteps the chaser and kicks cannily down the line. The Wallabies regroup, accept a couple of phases, but Lonergan goes to the boot early again – as does Ito in return – and it pays dividends with Wright penalised at the ruck after running headlong into traffic. Japan kick to the right corner and load up.

22 mins: Australia almost spoil another lineout but Japan survive and get into work in midfield – until Era runs straight into Tizzano who executes the tackle, remains on his feet and secures a textbook breakdown penalty.

21 mins: From the set piece on the left the ball is quickly on the right wing as Japan showcase their handling skills. Ito jabs through a grubber to turn Australia around force them to regroup on their own try line. The Wallaby defensive foundation is solid and Lonergan kicks to the 22.

19 mins: From the restart Lonergan box kicks from just outside his 22. Jorgensen competes in the air, the Wallabies pick up the pieces and Tupou – yes Tupou – dabs through a delightful grubber with the outside of his right boot that bobbles into touch on the left wing inside Japan’s 22. But play is recalled for a knock-on against Jorgensen and Japan have a scrum on halfway.

CONVERTED TRY! Australia 14-5 Japan (Tupou, 17)

The Wallabies execute a short lineout and are quickly in motion. Henry breaks the gainline, Salakaia-Loto drives to the shadow of the crossbar, and Tupou bulldozes his way over from a metre! The second try from an Australian big man behind a beautifully timed set piece.

Lonergan can’t miss the conversion from point blank range.

15 mins: Australia steal a Japan lineout on halfway, expanding quickly to the right, kicking early, and forcing Japan to concede a line dropout. The kick is long, dealt with by Cale, and the Wallabies get into their work before Gordon kicks early again, this time into the right corner, forcing a hurried clearing kick that barely clears the 22.

TRY! Australia 7-5 Japan (Hockings, 11)

Japan get some time on the ball that ends with Kida chipping and chasing down the right wing, forcing Wright to concede a line drop-out that Gordon smashes miles downfield before Gunter returns it with his mighty bulk. Japan go for the early kick again, turning the gold defence on its heels, but Lonergan does well to recover. The ruck is slow, both teams set for the clearing box kick, but Hockings is up in a flash, Lonergan takes a couple of unnecessary steps, and the ball is smothered off the boot, bouncing kindly for the Japanese Queenslander and he has the simple task of putting downward pressure on the ball to complete the immediate reply!

Saito will be disappointed with a poor conversion attempt.

Harry Hockings celebrates a try for Japan against the Wallabies. Photograph: Matt Taylor/AAP

9 mins: The Wallabies’ best is very very good. Attacking behind set-pieces has become a trademark, especially the interplay between forwards and backs, creating space in wide areas. If they can match that with some savvy game management they’ll be a decent side.

CONVERTED TRY! Australia 7-0 Japan (Nasser, 7)

Finally Lonergan gets to feed the ball into the scrum and milk a penalty advantage. Jorgensen accepts the first pass, crossing the gainline at speed before inviting Henry to do the same. Play stalls on halfway but Wright and Tizzano find some more momentum on the left. That opens space on the right where the ball is flung crisply through hands to Jorgensen. The flyer scorches down the touchline until he’s hauled down just before the stripe. From there it’s classic pick-and-go from Nasser to burrow his way the few final required inches. Terrific start for the Wallabies!

Lonergan strikes a beautiful touchline conversion to honour the superb early try.

6 mins: … twice.

5 mins: Of course, the scrum is reset.

4 mins: Japan are patient but unable to secure the quick ball they are renowned for. Eventually Jorgensen flies out of the line, rushing up on Uenobo, forcing an error. The Wallabies with the first scrum feed of the afternoon.

3 mins: The Wallabies secure lineout ball and Lonergan box kicks to halfway. Japan win the aerial contest and get into the neat phase play they demonstrated to good effect last week. Ito kicks inside the 22 but Gordon marks it and dashes into the line with intent. Wright shanks his attempted bomb allowing Japan to regather and mount another multiphase attack.

2 mins: Carter Gordon kicks the match into life, lofting the kick-off into Japan’s 22. The visitors deal with the danger and kick clear, benefiting from a fortunate bounce near the touchline, send the clearance deep into Australian territory.

Harry Potter competes with Yoshitaka Yazaki in Townsville. Photograph: Dave Hunt/AAP

Kick-off!

The second Test of the Les Kiss era is under way…

The low key atmosphere isn’t helped by two of the less upbeat national anthems and the sky becoming blanketed in cloud. Hopefully the players can spark the occasion into life.

And here come the two sides out into the Townsville afternoon. It’s all a bit muted in a stadium far from full.

Both teams are wearing the same uniforms they performed in last week. That means Australia in gold and green, Japan in red and white hoops with white trim.

Today’s referee is New Zealander Paul Williams.

It is a beautiful dry mostly sunny day in north Queensland with temperatures in the low 20s. An easterly breeze may make life awkward for goal kickers.

Eddie Jones keeping up with his Radio Taiso prematch. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Japan XV

Just the five changes from Eddie Jones after his team’s promising display last weekend. Among the quintet coming into the starting lineup is Harry Hockings, born a couple of hours along the Bruce Highway in Prosperpine.

Japan gather before the rugby union international against Australia in Townsville. Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images

Australia XV

The Wallabies have made eight changes to their starting XV, including an almost brand new pack. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii misses out with injury, joining centre partner Len Ikitau on the sidelines. Isaac Henry comes in for his first start after debuting off the bench in Higashiōsaka. Another debutant, Massimo de Lutiis, is in line to become Wallaby cap number 1,000.

1. Angus Bell, 2. Josh Nasser, 3. Taniela Tupou, 4. Lachlan Shaw, 5. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6. Charlie Cale, 7. Carlo Tizzano, 8. Harry Wilson (c), 9. Ryan Lonergan, 10. Carter Gordon, 11. Harry Potter, 12. Hunter Paisami, 13. Isaac Henry, 14. Max Jorgensen, 15. Tom Wright.

Replacements: 16. Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17. Aidan Ross, 18. Massimo De Lutiis, 19. Jeremy Williams, 20. Fraser McReight, 21. Tate McDermott, 22. Ben Donaldson, 23. Filipo Daugunu.

Wallabies head coach Les Kiss continues to experiment with his lineup during the Test against Japan in Townsville. Photograph: Dave Hunt/AAP/AP

Of the No 10s tried by the Wallabies in the past two years, injuries, form, age or commitments overseas have prevented any from securing the jersey. That dynamic was highlighted when Rugby Australia paid the Gold Coast Titans – Carter’s club during his flirtation with rugby league – what was described by a “comprehensive financial settlement” to trigger a release from the final year of his NRL contract.

But just as his NRL career was impeded by injury, so too has the resumption of his one in union. Injuries, or “small niggles” as Carter described them, sidelined the 25-year-old from Nambour immediately after the two Tests he has played for the Wallabies since his return.

Angus Fontaine

In his first Test as new Wallabies coach and World Cup saviour, Les Kiss stepped up. Despite only two weeks with the team, he showed enough coaching nous to outlast his rivals on their home range. The Wallabies started slow, lost a man to a red card and played like a hot mess at times. But they kept climbing and found a way to win.

Preamble

Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Australia v Japan in the second and final Test of this bilateral series. Kick-off at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville is scheduled for 3.15pm.

The Wallabies snuck home in the series opener last Saturday to kick off the Les Kiss era with a morale boosting win. But in a highly entertaining contest it was 21-year-old flyhalf Ryunosuke Ito who stole the show, leading the Brave Blossoms around the field with boundless creativity.

Ito’s brilliance contrasted with yet another underwhelming performance from an Australian five-eighth, this time Declan Meredith. In the past two years the Wallabies have auditioned seven No 10s in a so-far forlorn search for a consistent playmaker. Kiss continues that quest, replacing Meredith with Carter Gordon, who is fit to start following a calf strain.

Gordon is one of eight changes to the XV that started the hot and humid first Test as Kiss explores his options with precious little preparation time ahead of next year’s World Cup.

I’ll be back with final team lists and more shortly. Please send me your emails and keep me company throughout the evening. The address is [email protected].