Tatafu makes the first line-break of the game before dumping to Nagare, but Mo’unga smashes him and the All Blacks regain possession.
Takuya Yamasawa starts the game in Tokyo after Aaron Smith’s spine-tingling haka.
Both teams chant their anthems before the All Blacks’ haka.
10 minutes to KO: The teams enter a crowded National Stadium in Tokyo to sing the national anthems.
15-minute KO:
The teams will soon be out, motivated, and ready to play. Can Japan pull off another upset, or will Ian Foster’s All Blacks win easily?
It’s a much-changed New Zealand side, but it still has plenty of flair and experience to put on a show in this game. Japan has a powerful team with plenty of offensive firepower.
45 minutes to go: Japan pushed France close in both July tests, losing 42-23 and 20-15. The Brave Blossoms face England and France on their European tour and will hope to do well against the All Blacks.
The All Blacks will face Wales, Scotland, and England on their month-long tour of Europe. Coach Ian Foster will use this opening encounter in Tokyo to try out fresh combinations and tactics.
Rugby’s Southern Hemisphere powerhouses go north for end-of-year internationals, and what better way to start this action-packed month than a showdown between two entertaining teams with plenty of attacking flair?
90 minutes:
Japan plays New Zealand in the Lipovitan D Challenge Cup in Tokyo’s National Stadium.
Japanese vs. Kiwi lineups
Live stream Japan-New Zealand
| UK | Australia | New Zealand | |
| TV channel | — | — | Sky Sport |
| Stream | — | Stan Sport | Sky Sport website/app |
On October 29, 2022, Japan hosts New Zealand for the end-of-year rugby union internationals. The two sides have only met four times, and the last encounter, in November 2018, was won by the All Blacks, 69-31.
The tourists won the 2022 Rugby Championship by one point over South Africa despite winning and losing the same number of games.
Ian Foster’s team lost to Argentina on home soil for the first time in the tournament, giving Japan hope of an upset. The Brave Blossoms memorably beat the Springboks at the 2015 World Cup. With Rugby World Cup 2023 less than a year away, who’s to say they can’t beat the All Blacks?
Fifth Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2022 match. Japan previously overcame Uruguay twice before losing twice to France.
Japan-New Zealand when?
Saturday, October 29 in Tokyo, Japan, Japan hosts New Zealand. 6.50 a.m. BST is game time.
| UK | Australia | New Zealand | |
| Date | Sat, Oct. 29 | Sat, Oct. 29 | Sat, Oct. 29 |
| Time | 06:50 BST | 16:50 AEDT | 18:50 NZDT |
Japan vs. New Zealand livestream
| UK | Australia | New Zealand | |
| TV channel | — | — | Sky Sport |
| Stream | — | Stan Sport | Sky Sport website/app |
The UK won’t live-stream or broadcast the Test match. Stan Sport in Australia will stream all Autumn Nations Series matches, including this Test. The All Blacks’ end-of-year tour is on Sky Sport.
Japanese vs. Kiwi lineups
The Brave Blossoms are coming off a three-game series against Japan XV and Australia ‘A’ Kotaro Matsushima scored in two of Japan’s three losses to Australia. The popular outside back begins on the wing for his first 2022 Test after missing matches against Uruguay and France. Jiwon Gu gets his first cap since November.
Ryohei Yamanaka, Kotaro Matsushima, Dylan Riley, Ryoto Nakamura, Siosaia Fifita, Takuya Yamasawa, Yutaka Nagare; Keita Inagaki, Atsushi Sakate, Jiwon Gu, Warner Dearns, Jack Cornelsen, Michael Leitch, Kazuki Himeno, Tevita Tatafu.
Takeshi Hino, Craig Millar, Syuhei Takeuchi, Kanji Shimokawa, Faulua Makisi, Naoto Saito, Seung-sin Lee, Gerhard van den Heever replace Japan.
New Zealand made many changes to the team that won the Rugby Championship in September. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Stephen Perofeta, and Anton Lienert-Brown will make their first full outings before 65,000 fans.
Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece, Braydon Ennor, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Caleb Clarke, Richie Mo’unga; George Bower, Dane Coles, Nepo Laulala, Brodie Retallick, Tupou Vaa’i, Shannon Frizell, Sam Cane, Hoskins Sotutu.
Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Tyrel Lomax, Patrick Tuipulotu, Dalton Papali’i, Aaron Smith, David Havili, Anton Lienert-Brown.
Japan-New Zealand odds
It’s hard to see past an impressive New Zealand victory, and betting on the All Blacks is risky.
Look at the overall points market. Both Sky Bet and Ladbrokes put identical chances (about 5/6) on 62 points or more being scored in the game. If the tourists find their form, they might achieve that number on their own, as they did the previous time these teams met.
| UK (Sky Bet) | Australia (Ladbrokes) | |
| Japan win | 20/1 | 12.00 |
| New Zealand win | 1/250 | 1.02 |