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Joe Schmidt has pulled the ripcord, opting to rest a number of top-line Wallabies as they embark on their tour north. With James O’Connor, Len Ikitau, Will Skelton and Tom Hooper all reporting for club duty, and the retirements of Nic White and James Slipper, the Wallabies are now reckoning with a massive turnover in star power. Normally very conservative in his selection, Schmidt has elected to name a near-unrecognisable side from the one that ran out for the final Bledisloe in Perth.
Headlining these radical changes is the elevation of backrower Nick Champion de Crespigny to the starting side — and to captain — against Japan. He becomes the sixth captain deputised under Joe Schmidt in a revolving door of leadership. The Wallabies’ most bankable stars in Fraser McReight, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Max Jorgensen and Taniela Tupou have all been given the week off, with incumbent captain Harry Wilson named on the bench.
Replacing McReight is Australian Super Rugby Player of the Year Carlo Tizzano, who gets a start in the No.7 jersey alongside Champion de Crespigny and Rob Valetini, who has been overlooked as skipper.
It’s a massive overhaul in the backline as well, with Hunter Paisami and Josh Flook partnering in the centres, as Dylan Pietsch and Andrew Kellaway return from injury to form a back three with Wallabies rookie Corey Toole.
These selections are as experimental as they are brash, given that the Wallabies are still fighting to claim sixth spot in the world rankings in order to make their path to Rugby World Cup quarter-finals that much easier at a home tournament. The Japan game presents a banana-skin hazard for the Wallabies, who still sit with a below 50 percent win rate despite all their improvement in 2025.
Schmidt explained during the week that his selection was part of an approach to rest players who have logged big minutes this year, as they prepare for a gruelling Northern Tour.
Still, the Wallabies should be weary. They underestimate Japan and Eddie Jones at their own risk.
