Reims : Blessé au genou, Mory Gbané absent plusieurs mois !

Eddie Jones senses Japan are on the cusp of finally winning a Test against the Wallabies.

InfosHope FC: Live Scores, Results, Fixtures & Motsepe Foundation Championship GuideHope FC are competing in the 2026/27 Motsepe Foundation Championship after earning promotion from the SAFA ABC Motsepe League. Supporters can follow Hope FC results, upcoming fi...Ouvrir →

The two teams meet in Townsville on Saturday.

Despite eight straight defeats since they first played each other in 1975, Japan are a team growing in confidence, losing their last two games against the Wallabies by just four points and three points respectively.

That included last week’s narrow 35-32 loss in steamy Osaka.

With Australia resting some of their big guns and making a raft of changes, Jones believes the time could be right to finally snap the drought.

“We haven’t achieved what we want to achieve yet, which is victory over Australia,” the Australian said of a team he used to coach.

“Just looking at the history in front of me, we’ve played eight games against Australia as a country. The first five games was an average loss of 33 points, and the last two games our average loss was three-and-a-half points.

“So we’re moving in the right direction … this is an opportunity for us to create new history for Japan and this group of players.”

MORE: Eddie’s Brave Blossoms channel inner goose

Jones has made five changes to his starting line-up, with Tiennan Costley coming in at openside flank and Harry Hockings returning at lock.

He will have two university students among the backs – Yoshitaka Yazaki on the right wing and Ryunosuke Ito at flyhalf – while Shunsuke Uenobo starts at inside centre and Haruto Kida on the left wing.

“We’ve had an excellent preparation. Couldn’t have asked for more from the players, so we’re ready to go,” said Jones, adding that they have been working on their shortcomings.

“We let ourselves down with our execution in the last game. We created good opportunities. Really focused on that in training this week.”

TEAM: Gordon returns as Wallabies ring changes

Wallabies coach Les Kiss, whose team won in Osaka in his first match in charge despite a 20-minute red card, is attempting to steer the Wallabies to three consecutive victories for the first time in two years.

While his side got the job done, the fluency shown in their previous Test, a 57-10 romp over Italy, was missing with playmaker Declan Meredith underwhelming and dropped.

Carter Gordon returns from a calf injury to replace him among eight changes.

Only Josh Nasser and Harry Wilson have been retained in the forward pack, with heavyweights including Rob Valetini and Allan Alaalatoa rested.

“This is an important Test match for us, we’ve won two in a row now, but it’ll take more this week to get over Japan,” said Kiss.

“They were very good last week, and we know that Eddie’s a very savvy coach. So we’re going to have to be very good and improve in certain areas.”

ALSO: All Blacks wary of Willie, ‘big bodies’

While Kiss is looking to put together a string of good results in the lead-up to a home World Cup next year, he is seeking more than just victories.

The former Australian rugby league player wants his side to play with passion, telling them to “fight for anything” but also “have a bit of fun along the way”.

It is the first match between the two nations on Australian soil in 39 years.

The post Eddie: Japan can create new history appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.

Former Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns captain Ramahlwe Mphahlele has officially retired from professional football.

Speaking to Andile Ncube on Metro FM, Mphahele announced that he is done with playing football at the highest level.

Also read: Miguel’s warning to Sundowns: We are Kaizer Chiefs, we fear no one!

EX-KAIZER CHIEFS AND SUNDOWNS CAPTAIN RAMA MPHAHLELE RETIRES

Mphahlele had a topflight career spanning almost 20 years having first burst into the professional scenes as a teenager in 2007.

At the time, the now 36-year-old played for the now defunct Moroka Swallows until he was signed by Sundowns in 2011.

After struggling for game time in his first season at Chloorkop, Mphahlele was loaned out to AmaTuks for the 2012-13 season.

He then returned to the Brazilians with Pitso Mosimane still in charge of the team, and he later became the club’s captain.

Nonetheless, after failing to agree terms on a new contract in 2016, Mphahlele dumped Sundowns and signed for Chiefs.

He spent six seasons with the Soweto giants between 2016 and 2022 before moving to AmaZulu where he spent four seasons.

Mphahlele was also a full Bafana Bafana international with 21 caps and a single goal to his name from 2016.

Overall, he retires having made 413 topflight appearances, scored 10 goals and provided 19 assists in the process.

Also read: Bafana Bafana starlet swaps English football for MLS

WHAT ARE YOUR HIGHLIGHTS OF RAMA’S CAREER?

Let us know in the comment section below…

Highlighting his versatility for the All Blacks, coach Dave Rennie backs Rieko Ioane on Saturday to rip into the Vodacom Bulls and stake a claim for a Test spot next week.

Ioane, who has 88 caps for New Zealand, started on the wing against the Stormers last week but will run out at outside centre for the Loftus Versfeld clash.

The 29-year-old starred with a try in Cape Town, proving his worth after being omitted from Rennie’s first squad of 2026 following a sabbatical at Leinster.

Rennie admits Ioane’s expertise and adaptability makes him a contender for the opening Test of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against the Springboks next Saturday.

ALSO: All Blacks shed light on crocked stars

“I didn’t have much to do with Rieko prior to him going, but he’s been excellent since he’s come in. He’s been dynamic with the ball in hand,” the Kiwi boss said.

“He had a few issues under the high ball, which won’t be an issue as a midfielder, and he’s contributing on defence. Having a player who’s played as many Tests as he has brings a lot of experience.

“No doubt he’ll be trying to stake a claim for a Test spot next week.

“Primarily, we brought him over with the thinking that he’s a winger who could cover centre, and now he’s probably going to be a centre,” he added.

“He’s just realistic that wherever the opportunity lies, he gets to play.”

MORE: Rennie reveals Richie return plan

On the broader selection picture, Rennie said Saturday’s match against the Bulls could sway his thinking for the Bok showdown.

“You always go into the week with a group of guys in mind, but there are a number of spots where performances this weekend could tilt our thinking,” the coach noted.

“The side we’re playing against the Bulls will be quite different to the first Test team, but there’ll be a number of guys against the Bulls who will back up again.

“Even looking at our wingers, there are some tough decisions there as well. That’s what you want. The job of the players playing this weekend is to apply pressure.”

MALLETT: Bulls will play for coach, fans

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

The post Rieko has ‘realistic’ chance of tackling Boks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.