The Japan XV side suffered a 7-71 loss against the visiting Australia A side on Saturday, October 18, at the Yodoko Sakura Stadium in Osaka.
The non-capped fixture, the Asahi Super Dry CHALLENGE MATCH 2025, saw the Japanese side outmatched in all departments as the touring team, which featured nine Wallabies and ran in eleven tries, even with two players being carded during the match. The halftime lead was 33-7.
For the hosts, only fullback Yoshitaka Yazaki from Waseda University scored a great try in the first half, but Australia dominated the Japanese faltering lineout, scrum, outmuscled their opposition and were clinical in the red zone. Darcy Swain (scoring twice), flanker Rory Scott and hooker and skipper Matt Faessler were among the standouts. Ben Donaldson is looking to force his way back into the senior Wallabies squad and slotted 8/11 kicks.
Photo Credit JRFU
Ollie Sapsford had an upgraded red card for a high tackle after 49 minutes, and Hamish Stewart was yellow-carded for hands in the ruck late in the second half. Yazaki was also yellow-carded for Japan in the second half.
Brave Blossom’s Assistant Coach, and Acting Head Coach for the Australia A fixture, Neal Hatley said, “It was a tough day, with a lot of young men playing their first time for Japan. We’ve got to look at what we did in transition, particularly in the first half, where we conceded too many tries off transition.
We need to look at how we can look after the ball better, and when we do lose the ball, how we fill the field and move into better defensive positions. We spoke at half time about fixing our transition defence and putting more speed off the line in defence, working harder off the ball and defensively about what we do in transition.” said the Japan XV coach.
Australia ‘A’ Head Coach Simon Cron added, “Our boys took it really seriously when they put on that gold jersey representing their country, and I felt like they did a really great job over the last week in their preparation, and you can see how professional they are on the field.”
Photo Credit JRFU
- Australia A 71 (Tries: Swain 2, Grealy, Ryan 2, Wilson, Reimer, Faessler, Scott, Robertson, Ieli; Cons: Donaldson 8/11)
- Japan XV 7 (Tries: Yazaki; Cons: Nakakusu 1/1)
Japan XV face Hong Kong China
With the team heading to play Hong Kong China this week at Kai Tak Stadium on Friday, October 24, he added, “We will sit down with Eddie and have a look at the squad and decide what we do moving forward, with the bulk of the team coming from tonight’s side.
The good thing about rugby is that you get another chance, so next week there is a great opportunity for these young men to travel to Hong Kong and put in a good performance.”
The two sides had a training match in Beppu City in May, which Japan XV won 64-12. HKCR won one and lost one in their tour of Japan this past week.
Rugby Asia 247 will be in Hong Kong for the match – stay tuned for more!
Japan and Hong Kong China Rugby News
- Japan XV vs Australia A Preview – Asahi Super Dry Challenge.
- Japan Brave Blossoms & Japan XV Training Squads for Remainder of 2025 Announced.
- Hong China Men’s XVs Representative Team Set For Debut at Kai Tak Stadium Against Japan XV in October 2025.
- HKCR Men’s XV Face LeRIRO Fukuoka on Japan Tour Ahead of XVs Match at Kai Tak Stadium.
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