By The Rugy Fan Central Team
Japan will have more than immediate revenge on the line when they face Australia again in Townsville on Saturday.
A place back inside the world’s top 10 will also be within reach.
World Rugby released its latest men’s ranking permutations on Tuesday ahead of the August 15 rematch, just one week after Australia edged Japan 35–32 in Osaka.
A draw would be enough to return the Brave Blossoms to the world’s top 10, while a victory by more than 15 points would lift Japan above Fiji into ninth.
Australia, meanwhile, cannot improve on its current position of eighth even with another victory.
Kickoff: 3:00 PM AEST
Australia v Japan World Ranking Permutations
World Rugby’s latest permutations put most of the potential movement on Japan’s side of the equation.
Three Points Separated Them in Osaka
The ranking possibilities carry extra significance after what happened between the teams only seven days earlier.
Australia escaped Osaka with a 35–32 victory, with Japan pushing the Wallabies to the finish.
Now the Brave Blossoms get an immediate second opportunity.
For Australia, Townsville offers the chance to complete back-to-back victories. For Japan, reversing last weekend’s result could also deliver a significant rankings reward.
The fact that Japan does not necessarily need to win makes the equation even more interesting: a draw is enough to put the Brave Blossoms back inside the top 10.
Familiar Referee in Townsville
New Zealand referee Paul Williams will take charge of the match.
Williams has refereed Australia against Japan once before, overseeing the Wallabies’ 32–23 victory in Oita in October 2021.
Another Chapter in Townsville
Only three points separated Australia and Japan in Osaka.
Seven days later, the Wallabies will try to complete back-to-back wins while the Brave Blossoms chase both a response and a return to the world’s top 10.
The first meeting showed how little separated them.
On Saturday, those margins could affect the world rankings as well as the result.
Follow Australia v Japan
Follow Rugby Fan Central for team news, match information, rankings implications and coverage as the Wallabies and Brave Blossoms meet again in Townsville.
