Wallabies make 13 starters and hand captaincy to two-Test rookie for Japan clash

No place for Carter Gordon after return to union from league.

Nick Champion de Crespigny of Australia is held up by British & Irish Lions players Tadhg Beirne and Dan Sheehan. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has rested a host of stalwart campaigners and changed all but two of his starting side for Saturday’s Test against Eddie Jones’s Japan, which opens Australia’s end-of-season tour.

Schmidt has kept only halfbacks Tane Edmed and Jake Gordon from the starting team that lost to New Zealand at the end of the Rugby Championship with flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny captaining the new-look side in his third Test.

Regular skipper Harry Wilson was named on the bench with Rob Valetini coming into the back row at No 8 alongside Carlo Tizzano, who stands in for Fraser McReight at openside flanker.

Andrew Kellaway and Dylan Pietsch return from injury in the back three along with speedster Corey Toole, who reclaims the right wing starting spot from Filipo Daugunu.

Hunter Paisami and Josh Flook form a new-look centre partnership in the absence of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who is rested, and Len Ikitau, who has moved to England to join his new club Exeter.

There was no place among the replacements for flyhalf Carter Gordon, who was rushed straight back into the tour squad a few hours after returning to rugby union from the NRL.

Hamish Stewart will cover flyhalf Edmed and the centre positions from the bench, which also features loosehead prop Aidan Ross.

Ross, who was born in Australia but represented New Zealand in one Test in 2022, will become the fifth man to play for both the All Blacks and Wallabies when he comes on to replace Angus Bell, Rugby Australia said.

“The players have acclimatised well here in Tokyo and the whole squad is conscious of the threat the Brave Blossoms pose,” Schmidt said. “They play hard and fast and are very tough to beat, especially at home.” 

Wallabies: Andrew Kellaway; Corey Toole, Josh Flook, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch; Tane Edmed, Jake Gordon; Angus Bell, Josh Nasser, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Williams, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Nick Champion de Crespigny (c), Carlo Tizzano, Rob Valetini.

Replacements: Billy Pollard, Aidan Ross, Tom Robertson, Josh Canham, Harry Wilson, Ryan Lonergan, Hamish Stewart, Filipo Daugunu.

Reuters