RECAP: Australia A have proven their class with a 71-7 thumping of Japan XV in Osaka.
It was one-way traffic as a host of Wallabies hopefuls took their chance to shine,
Watch Australia A take on Japan XV this Saturday live and on-demand via Stan Sport.
Captain Matt Faessler was one of nine Wallabies in the Australia A squad, with Faessler one of several to cross for crucial tries.
Winger Tim Ryan and second-rower Darcy Swain crossed for doubles to help build a massive lead heading into the break.
As for Japan, they had little answer despite a red card to Ollie Sapsford.
RECAP ALL THE ACTION IN THE LIVE BLOG BELOW OR THE MATCH CENTRE
80′: Aussies holding tough
Australia A 71-7: The Aussies are desperate to stop Japan scoring late as Harry McLaughlin-Philips produces a blinder to dislodge the ball.
Japan have a penalty advantage and are held up twice over the line to end the game.
76′: Ryan over for a double
Australia A 71-7: Tim Ryan makes it a double as he just stays in to score in the corner.
Ben Donaldson creates the chance with some deft hands behind his back for his winger to strike.
74′: Japan unable to breach Aussies
Australia A 66-7: Even with the numbers advantage, the Japan XV side are outmatched by the Australians.
They try to spread to ball, but Seru Uru is there for the turnover for Ben Donaldson to put the penalty inside the 22.
69′: Stewart off for ten
Australia A 66-7: Hamish Stewart is off to the bin as the visitors go down to 13.
Twice, the centre has been pinged for slowing down the play after a penalty and the referee sends him for ten.
Josh Canham saves Australia’s blushes, stealing the lineout for Henry Robertson to clear their line and the visitors to return to 14.
66′: Japan’s efforts halted
Australia A 66-7: Japan XV are desperately looking for their second try with little luck.
They finally win a lineout ball close to Australia’s line, only to see their maul sacked and shut down for the turnover.
A cross-field kick to the vacant wing is the right option, but it trickles over the dead-ball line.
61′: Aussies chasing the clock
Australia A 66-7: The Aussies are refusing to let off, even down a man.
They are pressing the Japanese line, with Ben Donaldson breaking the line before setting up Lington Ieli for the try.
56′: Dobbins magic adds to lead
Australia A 59-7: The visitors are flowing right now as hooker Ethan Dobbins creates some magic.
The hooker peels away from the rolling maul and throws a ridiculous flick pass down the short side for Henry Robertson to score untouched.
54′: Sapsford upgraded to red
Australia A 54-7: Ollie Sapsford will spend further time on the sidelines for a high shot.
His yellow card is upgraded to a red for no mitigation.
53′: Breathless period leads to Walton no try
Australia A 54-7: Chaos from both sides as they trade breaks and chances
Mac Grealy sets up Joey Walton, whose kick into space is counter with a promising Japanese break.
The Aussies recover a Joe Brial chip and chase out of all things, with Hamish Stewart finding Walton in the corner. But there’s a knock-on in the build up! Darcy Swain is the man pinged, which was originally called back live but the TMO pulls it up as Ben Donaldson converts the try.
49′: Sapsford off for ten
Australia A 54-7: Winger Ollie Sapsford is the latest to head to the bin for a high shot.
The TMO spots the high tackle in the build-up to a Japanese attack, leaving the teams back to even numbers on the field.
47′: van Nek brings up 50
Australia A 54-7: Rhys van Nek crosses for the visitors’ eighth try of the game as the prop runs a stellar line.
The Aussies catch Japan out with a quick lineout and the Brumby charges through a hole from a Rory Scott short ball.
44′: Further trouble for Japan
Australia A 47-7: The hosts are down to 14 after a clear professional foul from Yoshitaka Yazaki.
Teddy Wilson breaks free from inside his half and the fullback takes down Tim Ryan well before he has the ball.
Matt Faessler takes advantage with a rolling maul as the visitors are proving unstoppable.
42′: Australia A pick up where they left off
Australia A 40-7: Australia A have added to their lead with Luke Reimer getting a deserved try.
It again starts with a Matt Faessler burst, with the flanker eventually working his way over the line.
HALF TIME: AUSTRALIA A 33 – 7 JAPAN XV
38′: Japan charging
Australia A 33-7: Japan will finish the half on the attack after they force a five metre lineout.
A clutch Josh Canham strip holds them out for now, before the final pass goes to ground. Japan XV retain the ball after Canham’s strip drops forward.
The Aussies rally from the five metre scrum and hold Japan up over the line for the goal-line dropout.
36′: Oz A look to extend lead
Australia A 33-7: A mistake gives Australia the chance to add to their lead after a smart kick from Joey Walton.
It comes to nothing, with the Japanese winning the scrum penalty.
32′: Japan build pressure
Australia A 33-7: Japan find themselves back inside the 22 as they look to stay in this match.
Pete Samu is lucky not to get a yellow for a deliberate knockdown as the hosts kick for touch five metres out, but Darcy Swain steals another lineout.
Halatoa Vailea causes chaos after winning his bomb from his own 22m back, with the play coming unstuck due to a knock-on
27′: Wilson hits back
Australia A 33-7: Teddy Wilson has quickly hit back for Australia A after a string of penalties puts them on the front foot.
Two set-piece penalties against Japan allow Australia to work inside the five, with the scrum-half planting the ball over the line to restore the lead.
22′: Japan on the board
Australia A 26-7: Fullback Yoshitaka Yazaki delights the home crowd with a stellar run.
The University student sprints through the line and beats the fullback for a great solo try as the rain comes down.
20′: JYD, Walton adds to the lead
Australia A 26-0: This is now one-sided as Tim Ryan and Joey Walton combine for a stellar try.
Walton finds Ryan, who gasses through the defence before offloading back to his centre, breaking clear to offload back to Ryan for the try
16′: Early contender for Try of the Year
Australia A 19-0: Australia A have delivered their contender for try of the year after a sensational full field effort.
It starts with Mac Grealy, who gets a fair supporting line from Ben Donaldson to get around the defence.
Smart offload across the park puts Josh Canham into space, with finds Darcy Swain with a pass that’s flat at best for his second try of the afternoon.
13′: Big Mac time
Australia 12-0: Mac Grealy is thriving at the back and scores a lovely try for the Aussies’ second.
Grealy put Australia in prime position with a smart kick and capitalised on some slow drifting defence a minute later to break clear, keeping his body in to score in the corner.
9′: Japan back on the attack
Australia A 7-0: The hosts are gifted a chance to answer straight back with Teddy Wilson pinged for not using the ball quick enough at the ruck.
Wilson does wonderfully to make up for it, diving on the ball to save a try after a smart grubber in-behind.
The Japanese had an advantage, and they reloaded with another penalty advantage, held up over the line by Luke Reimer.
5′: Swain over for opener
Australia A 7-0: Great start for Darcy Swain as the Force lock crosses for the opener.
Matt Faessler sets up the try with a powerful burst that is pulled down a metre out, with the lock finishing the job.
4′: Wilson, Donaldson flip field
Great work from Teddy Wilson gets the Aussies on the attack after he collects a bomb contest between Ben Donaldson and the chasing Japanese attackers.
Whilst the ball seemed to go forward, Wilson takes it over the halfway, with a smart grubber from Donaldson forcing a five metre scrum.
2′: Aussies repel early Japan chance
The Australians are under pressure early after Japan win a penalty for taking out the scrumhalf.
But Darcy Swain makes amends for his penalty and pinches the lineout to alleviate the pressure for now
0′: KICKOFF
Japan get this game underway with the kickoff and Hamish Stewart boots the ball into touch.
The hosts go on the attack as they look to add energy to the game.
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
PRE GAME
KO T-MIN 5: Anthem time
Both teams are just about to come out for the respective anthems ahead of this contest.
A sea of white and red in the crowd for the hosts with the odd gold jersey in the stands.
Side note – the Australia A kit sees a return of the collar, which is a nice touch.
KO T-MIN 30: Donaldson headlines players to watch
There are plenty of stars on either side, but it feels like a prime chance for Ben Donaldson to make a statement for the Wallaby gold jersey.
Donaldson was left out of the Spring Tour squad, but is likely to stay in Japan next week to assist the Wallabies. A big match today could put him right back in selection frame, here’s what Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt had to say:
“Ben’s got a really clear idea of what we’re looking for, so hopefully you and we see that on Saturday and he’ll run the game well, he’s got a long kicking game, he’s got a good passing game, he’s very good taking the ball to the line and playing in front of the opposition,” he said.
“It’s more around his ability to control the defensive line particularly from the deep where he tends to play and then being able to be involved in that defensive side of the game just as much as the attacking side.”
KO T-MIN 60: Welcome
Welcome to Rugby.com.au’s coverage of Australia A’s one-off match with Japan XV in Osaka.
Conditions appear to be overcast at Yodokou Sakura Stadium as both teams look to impress their respective Test coaches.
There are internationals across the park, setting up a cracking match-up.
AUSTRALIA A v JAPAN XV TEAMS
AUSTRALIA A (1-15): Isaac Kailea, Matt Faessler (c), Rhys van Nek, Darcy Swain, Josh Canham, Rory Scott, Luke Reimer, Pete Samu, Teddy Wilson, Ben Donaldson, Ollie Sapsford, Hamish Stewart, Joey Walton, Tim Ryan, Mac Grealy
Replacements: Ethan Dobbins, Lington Ieli, Dan Botha, Seru Uru, Joe Brial, Henry Robertson, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Lachlan Anderson
JAPAN XV (1-15): Sho Furuhata, Shodai Hirao, Sanshiro Kihara, David Van Zeeland, Shu Yamamoto, Tyler Paul, Akito Okui (c), Amanaki Saumaki, Shuntato Kitamura, Ichigo Nakakusu, Halatoa Vailea, Siosaia Fifita, Yuya Hirose, Kazuma Ueda, Yoshitaka Yazaki
Replacements: Shoma Sagawa, Yuichiro Taniguchi, Yuta Kokaji, Shohei Ito, Rikuro Nakaya, Asahi Doei, Shinya Koumra, Kotaro Ito
Referee: Morgan White (HKCR)
HOW TO WATCH AUSTRALIA A v JAPAN XV
Australia A’s clash with Japan XV will be shown LIVE on Stan Sport
Coverage will be live and ad-free on Stan Sport, slated to start at 2:50 pm (AEDT) with kickoff expected at 3:00 pm.
AloJapan.com