1
Australia A make five changes for second Japan clash
By AAP
Australia A coach Jason Gilmore has made five changes to the starting team for Saturday's second clash against Japan XV in Fukuoka.
NSW playmaker Tane Edmed slots in at flyhalf, replacing club teammate Ben Donaldson in a move that was forecast by Gilmore last week as all players look to get valuable game time on tour.
He partners Ryan Lonergan in the halves, who will again skipper the side in the number nine jersey.
Wallabies prop Pone Fa'amausili will play his first match for Australia A as the starting tighthead prop. Packing down alongside fellow Test-capped front rowers Matt Gibbon and Billy Pollard.
Former Australia Sevens speedster, turned NSW Waratah, Dylan Pietsch will also see his first action of the tour, named on the left wing with Reds pair of Jock Campbell and Suliasi Vunivalu at fullback and right wing respectively.
Melbourne backrower Brad Wilkin is the only other change to the run-on side, impressing from the pine in last weekend's 34-22 win to earn a start in the number seven jersey.
He will work alongside the 25-Test capped Ned Hanigan and 21-year-old Langi Gleeson in the backrow, the latter continuing his outstanding debut professional season.
ACT Brumbies teammates Cadeyrn Neville and Nick Frost will combine in the second row in consecutive matches.
Western Force inside centre Bayley Kuenzle will again wear the number 12 jersey, earning a chance to build on his combination with Hudson Creighton in the midfield.
Gilmore has also made a number of changes on the bench, with Reds hooker Richie Asiata named as the replacement hooker in what is his first Australia A appearance, with Harry Hoopert and Tom Robertson the finishing props.
Fellow Queensand representative Seru Uru and up-and-coming Brumbies backrower Rory Scott will see their first minutes in Japan, named as the remaining bench forwards. The latter another making his Australia A debut.
NSW young gun Teddy Wilson is the final player from the matchday squad in line to make his Australia A debut as the reserve scrumhalf, while new Force recruit Hamish Stewart has been named as the finishing playmaker.
Wallabies fullback Tom Banks has been selected to make his return from a broken arm via the pine and rounds out the matchday 23.
The match between Australia A and the Japan XV is set to kick off at 4pm AEDT.
Australia A:
1. Matt Gibbon (Melbourne Rebels)
2. Billy Pollard (ACT Brumbies)
3. Pone Fa'amausili (Melbourne Rebels)
4. Nick Frost (ACT Brumbies)
5. Cadeyrn Neville (ACT Brumbies)
6. Ned Hanigan (NSW Waratahs)
7. Brad Wilkin (Melbourne Rebels)
8. Langi Gleeson (NSW Waratahs)
9. Ryan Lonergan (c) (ACT Brumbies)
10. Tane Edmed (NSW Waratahs)
11. Dylan Pietsch (NSW Waratahs)
12. Bayley Kuenzle (Western Force)
13. Hudson Creighton (ACT Brumbies)
14. Suliasi Vunivalu (Queensland Reds)
15. Jock Campbell (Queensland Reds)
Replacements:
16. Richie Asiata (Queensland Reds)
17. Harry Hoopert (Queensland Reds)
18. Tom Robertson (Western Force)
19. Seru Uru (Queensland Reds)
20. Rory Scott (ACT Brumbies)
21. Teddy Wilson (NSW Waratahs)
22. Hamish Stewart (Western Force)
23. Tom Banks (ACT Brumbies)
- Rugby Australia
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Latest Comments
I was at this match. Jordie Barrett earned his money with a massive hit to slow a connaught attack to win the math when Leinster had 14 in the last few mins. Mack Hansen had a real go at the refereeing after citing a serious head hits on Iaone and Aki.
connaught were up for this. Snyman tried a trademark dirty after, and the onnaught 4 and the onnaught pack absolutely laid into him.
Leinster hose to kick to the corner when only winning by 5 with 10 left and qith only 2 tries scored. onnaught should have punisihed them for that utter stupidity after they broke out and Leinster yellowed to stop the attack.
13 changes from last week. It seems teams are scoring about 10 points less against Leinster this year. With Neinaber in his second year, the new attack coah established, surely they will be a bigger threat in champions up? Or will the attack recgress further.
They must adopt the SA philosophy of take your 3 pointers and the bonus points will come.
connaught back line inluding Iaone, Murphy, Aki, Forde, cordero is the seond best in Ireland surely. Leinster were lucky here
Go to commentsShould have played more for England but he jumped ship just as he was breaking through.
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