Updates from second Test between the Wallabies and Brave Blossoms
Kick off time in Townsville is 3pm AEST/2pm JST/6am BST
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.
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.
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.
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 jonathan.howcroft.freelance@theguardian.com.
