Overview
- The Wallabies have arrived in Osaka into a prolonged, high-humidity heatwave and have shortened and rescheduled sessions to protect players from heat stress.
- Coaches have added more water breaks, hotel saunas, ice baths and other cooling methods to speed recovery and limit on-field time.
- World Rugby's heat-stress index, which factors temperature, humidity, wind and thermal radiation, will trigger measures such as extra breaks, a longer half-time or, in extreme cases, a delay or suspension.
- Forecasters and team staff say Typhoon Dolphin is centred far south of Osaka and long-range forecasts show cooler, wetter conditions for the scheduled Saturday night Test so the match currently appears likely to go ahead.
- Les Kiss will make his Wallabies coaching debut against Eddie Jones's Japan, with several Australia-born players available for the Brave Blossoms, and players say they will focus on process rather than using the weather as an excuse.