Australia begins its precocious play circuit with a lucifer against Japan astatine the Shona Denko Dome contiguous (3.45pm AEDT) — a stadium with caller atrocious memories for the Wallabies.
It was the venue wherever their 2019 Rugby World Cup run ended, beaten 40-16 successful the quarterfinals by eventual runners-up England.
Australia volition spell into the lucifer arsenic favorites this time, though.
In successful six matches since 1975, Japan has ne'er beaten the Wallabies.
But Australia manager Dave Rennie is not taking the location broadside lightly.
"We've got a immense magnitude of respect for the Brave Blossoms who are present competitory with the champion sides successful the world," Rennie said.
"We'll request to beryllium astatine our best."
Following the lucifer with Japan, the Wallabies caput to Britain for Tests against Scotland, England and Wales connected consecutive weekends.
Samu Kerevi has been ruled retired of Australia's broadside for the Japan lucifer and volition beryllium replaced by Hunter Paisami successful 1 of 4 changes to the Wallabies' starting XV.
Kerevi was instrumental successful Australia's 4 crippled winning streak successful the Rugby Championship that featured back-to-back victories implicit satellite champions South Africa and 2 against Argentina.
He injured his ankle successful Australia's astir caller triumph implicit the Pumas and was successful uncertainty for the Test against Japan, the archetypal of 4 connected the squad's bluish hemisphere tour.
The beardown midfield beingness of the Japan-based Kerevi and his operation with flyhalf Quade Cooper was influential successful turning astir the Wallabies' fortunes pursuing 3 consecutive losses to the All Blacks.
"While it's disappointing for Samu not to beryllium capable to play successful Japan, Hunter started the archetypal 5 Tests this twelvemonth and is chomping astatine the spot for different opportunity," Rennie said.
Among the different changes to the starting lineup are Matt Philip returning astatine fastener to spouse Izack Rodda, Rob Leota connected the blindside flank to articulation a backrow with skipper Michael Hooper and No.8 Rob Valetini, and Tom Wright returning connected the wing.
Japan-based Cooper volition commencement again astatine No.10, forming an experienced halves operation with Nic White, portion Paisami volition articulation Len Ikitau successful a young centre combination.
For the location side, Jack Cornelsen carries 1 of the astir celebrated surnames successful Australian rugby but volition marque his Test debut for Japan.
Cornelsen, lad of Wallabies hallway of famer Greg Cornelsen, has been named to commencement astatine fastener successful the Japan lineup by manager Jamie Joseph.
After being overlooked for a Super Rugby declaration successful Queensland, Cornelsen's vocation was revived erstwhile helium joined the Panasonic Wild Knights successful Japan nether erstwhile Wallabies manager Robbie Deans.
He volition marque his Test debut alongside chap Australian and Wild Knights teammate Ben Gunter who has been named astatine blindside flanker.
Cornelsen qualified to play for Japan aft completing 3 continuous years of residency there.
He said helium hadn't imagined arsenic a young subordinate that erstwhile helium made his archetypal Test quality it would beryllium against Australia.
"Growing up it wasn't the way I imagined that I'd person taken but however rapidly things tin change," Cornelsen said.
"I'm evidently truly grateful for the presumption I'm successful now."
South Africa-born Lappies Labuschagne volition skipper Japan from flanker portion Michael Leitch, skipper astatine the 2019 World Cup, volition commencement connected the bench.
Joseph said Leitch needs clip "to absorption purely connected his rugby" and relieving him of the captaincy volition "give him a interruption from the work of starring the team."
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