Live: New era for Wallabies begins as Australia face Japan in hot conditions

live Wallabies vs Japan live: Les Kiss leads Australia in first rugby Test as coach Les Kiss takes the reins as Wallabies coach for the first time, with Australia facing Japan in Osaka. The Wallabies have never lost to Japan in the seven test matches between the two nations, but the Brave Blossoms came perilously close to a famous victory last time. Follow all the action of the rugby union Test match between the Wallabies and Japan with the live blog below. Submit a comment or question Live updates Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 6:30pm Rugby Test: Wallabies vs Japan WALLABIES (15-1): 15-Tom Wright, 14-Max Jorgensen, 13-Joseph Suaalii, 12-Hunter Paisami, 11-Harry Potter, 10-Declan Meredith, 9-Ryan Lonergan, 8-Harry Wilson (captain), 7-Fraser McReight, 6-Rob Valetini, 5-Miles Amatosero, 4-Josh Canham, 3-Allan Alaalatoa, 2-Josh Nasser, 1-Aidan Ross. Replacements: 16-Billy Pollard, 17-Angus Bell, 18-Taniela Tupou, 19-Jeremy Williams, 20-Charlie Cale, 21-Tate McDermott, 22-Ben Donaldson, 23-Isaac Henry JAPAN (15-1): 15-Takuro Matsunaga, 14-Kazuma Ueda, 13-Dylan Riley, 12-Samisoni Tua, 11-Taira Main, 10-Ryunosuke Ito, 9-Naoto Saito, 8-Faulua Makisi, 7-Kanji Shimokawa, 6-Ben Gunter, 5-Warner Dearns (captain), 4-Jack Cornelsen, 3-Shuhei Takeuchi, 2-Hayate Era, 1-Takato Okabe Replacements: 16-Mamoru Harada, 17-Sojiro Otsuka, 18-Keijiro Tamefusa, 19-Harry Hockings, 20-Michael Leitch, 21-Tiennan Costley, 22-Shunsuke Uenobo, 23-Yoshitaka Yazaki Kick-off times - 8:05pm AEST: NSW, Queensland, ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, PNG - 7:35pm ACST: South Australia, Northern Territory - 6:05pm AWST: Western Australia, Japan - 10:05pm NZST: New Zealand, Fiji - 11:05pm: Tonga, Samoa New: Filters Choose what information you see below by using filters Key Event Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 6:40pm Wallabies team list Here is how the Wallabies will line up this evening against Japan: - Aidan Ross (loosehead prop) - Josh Nasser (hooker) - Allan Alaalatoa (tighthead prop) - Miles Amatosero (lock) - Josh Canham (lock) - Rob Valetini (blindside flanker) - Fraser McReight (openside flanker) - Harry Wilson (number eight) (captain) - Ryan Lonergan (scrum half) - Declan Meredith (fly half) - Harry Potter (winger) - Hunter Paisami (inside centre) - Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii (outside centre) - Max Jorgensen (winger) - Tom Wright (fullback) - Billy Pollard (replacement) - Angus Bell (replacement) - Taniela Tupou (replacement) - Jeremy Williams (replacement) - Charlie Cale (replacement) - Tate McDermott (replacement) - Ben Donaldson (replacement) - Isaac Henry (replacement) Key Event Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 6:35pm What time is Wallabies vs Japan kick-off Here is when kick-off is scheduled for the first Test between the Wallabies and Japan. - 8:05pm AEST: NSW, Queensland, ACT, Victoria, Tasmania, PNG - 7:35pm ACST: South Australia, Northern Territory - 6:05pm AWST: Western Australia, Japan - 10:05pm NZST: New Zealand, Fiji - 11:05pm: Tonga, Samoa Key Event Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 6:30pm Welcome to the ABC Sport Test rugby blog Good evening, Australia. Welcome to ABC Sport's live digital coverage of the first Test match between the Wallabies and Japan. A new era of Australian rugby begins tonight, as Les Kiss takes charge of his first Test match as Wallabies coach. Australia has never lost to Japan, but the Brave Blossoms gave the Wallabies a massive scare last year. Be part of the conversation and join the blog throughout the evening by letting us know your thoughts in the comment section. [Image text:] 5 Wallabie: Cadbur