Australia changes 13 starters, new captain for Japan rugby test

The Wallabies, led by coach Joe Schmidt, have made significant changes to their lineup for the upcoming test against Japan, resting many key players and retaining only halfbacks Tane Edmed and Jake Gordon from the previous match against New Zealand. Nick Champion de Crespigny will captain the revamped Australian side in his third test, with Harry Wilson named on the bench and several players returning from injury or joining from overseas clubs. Meanwhile, Japan's coach Eddie Jones has made six changes to his starting team, including the return of veteran Michael Leitch at number eight and Ben Gunter at blindside flanker, with four Australian-raised players included in the squad. Japan, who have yet to beat Australia in six attempts, will rely on a mix of experienced and new players, with Lee Seung-sin maintaining his flyhalf role. Both teams acknowledge the physicality and competitive nature of the match, with Schmidt emphasizing the challenge posed by Japan’s fast and tough style, especially on home ground in Tokyo. This test marks the beginning of Australia's end-of-season tour, with further challenging matches scheduled against top-tier European teams.