Wales captain Jac Morgan declared his love for the Ospreys on Tuesday after his regional side was left with an uncertain future by a Welsh Rugby Union plan to cut one of their four professional teams.

An initial WRU proposal in August had suggested reducing the four existing professional clubs -- Cardiff, Dragons, Ospreys and Scarlets -- to two teams.

But last week the WRU confirmed its plans to grant three licences for men's clubs -- one for Cardiff, one in the east of Wales and one in the west.

That would appear to mean Swansea-based Ospreys and Llanelli's Scarlets are in a battle for funding, with the WRU's announcement also reviving talk of a merger between the two clubs.

Morgan, a 25-year-old British and Irish Lions flanker, has made no secret of his loyalty to the Ospreys despite being linked with a move to London-based English Prem side Saracens.

Ospreys supporters were told at a fans' forum last month that if the region ceased to exist then Morgan would leave Wales and play his club rugby outside the country.

🗣️ “My main focus is this campaign”

Wales captain Jac Morgan on the #QuilterNationsSeries following Friday’s news regarding the future of his beloved Ospreys side🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🦅#WelshRugby #OurBloodIsBlack #QuilterNS #QCNS pic.twitter.com/CI6el1Q1lm

— DragonSports (@DragonSportsWal) October 28, 2025

"I love the Ospreys," Morgan said Tuesday while speaking sitting alongside new Wales coach Steve Tandy at a press conference ahead of the Autumn Nations Series.

"I love playing there, I love the boys, the coaches and everyone.

"The news only came out on Friday so the main focus for myself is this campaign and we'll see how everything else goes," he said ahead of November Tests at home to Argentina, Japan, New Zealand and world champions South Africa.

Morgan, speaking about the general uncertainty, added: "It's a different situation, but the players have been good in the way they've reacted.

"We address it but also we've got the opportunity now with the learnings and the new coaches coming in to focus on the upcoming games."

Wales ended a record 18-match losing run with a 31-22 victory over Japan in Kobe on July 12.

When it was put to Tandy that the timing of the WRU announcement, on the eve of his first game in charge of Wales, against Argentina on November 9, was terrible, he replied: "I don't think there's ever a good time for decisions to be made.

"Monday was making sure our environment, when the boys came in, was being empathetic and speaking to people around the situation.

"You see the buzz in and around the boys and, in fairness to them, how they've put aside some of that to get into camp has been outstanding."

George Ford will start at flyhalf for England against Australia in the first of their four autumn internationals on Saturday, with Fin Smith on the bench and no place for Marcus Smith.

In a Northampton-heavy backline, Alex Mitchell is scrumhalf with Fraser Dingwall and Tommy Freeman - who played all three British and Irish Lions tests against Australia on the wing - in the centres. The two started in midfield for England's win over Wales in this year's Six Nations.

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Tom Roebuck are on the wing, with Freddie Steward at fullback in the team named by coach Steve Borthwick on Tuesday - two days ahead of schedule.

There is no place in the squad for 19-year-old Saracens winger Noah Caluori, while in-form centres Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence also miss out.

In the pack, Bath flankers Guy Pepper and Sam Underhill start with Ben Earl of Saracens at No 8.

TOM CURRY ON BENCH

Sale hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie can win his 50th cap off the bench, while teammate Tom Curry is also among the replacements despite not playing any rugby this season following surgery. Flanker Henry Pollock is also on the bench.

Team news is in 📋

Steve Borthwick has named his 23-player squad for Saturday’s @QuilterNations opener against the @wallabies.@O2 | #WearTheRose

— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) October 28, 2025

England, who have won seven games in a row, also play Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina in November, when they will seek the victories needed to consolidate their place in the top six of the world rankings, which will secure a high seeding for the 2027 World Cup when the draw is made in December

"We’re excited to test ourselves against a strong, in-form side," said Borthwick, whose team lost to the Wallabies after a last-minute try in the same fixture a year ago.

"Australia have had four months together, so it’ll be a great challenge for us first up. We’ve worked hard with the time we’ve had, and the players can’t wait to play in front of a passionate home crowd."

England team to play Australia on Saturday:

15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 38 caps) 14. Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks, 6 caps) 13. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 20 caps). Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, 4 caps)11. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs, 9 caps) 10. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 102 caps) – vice-captain 9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 23 caps)1. Fin Baxter (Harlequins, 14 caps)2. Jamie George (Saracens, 102 caps) – vice-captain 3. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 14 caps) 4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 93 caps) – captain 5. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 28 caps) 6. Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby, 3 caps) 7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 42 caps) 8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 42 caps)

Replacements:16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 49 caps) 17. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 71 caps) – vice-captain 18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 50 caps)19. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 10 caps) 20. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 61 caps)21. Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, 1 cap) 22. Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby, 10 caps) 23. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 11 caps)

Stepping into the shoes of record-breaking Australian prop James Slipper will be no easy task but replacement Tom Robertson feels there is plenty of depth in the front row for the Wallabies.

The 36-year-old Slipper quit test rugby earlier this month after his 151st appearance for Australia, making him the third most capped international after Alun Wyn Jones of Wales and New Zealand’s Sam Whitelock.

He had been a stalwart of the side right up to his retirement, starting at loosehead prop for eight of the Wallabies’ first 10 tests of the year.

“The guys that have been underneath Slips for a few years, we've learned a lot, but I think no one's going to be able to replace a guy like Slips,” Robertson told a press conference on Tuesday as Australia prepared to take on England on Saturday in the first of four November internationals in Europe.

“He’s got 151 tests for his country and almost 200 Super Rugby games. So I think, if you're trying to be something that you're not, I don't think that's the way to go about it.

“We’re all good at different attributes, so we're not trying to emulate Slips because we're just not like him. We've got different strengths and weaknesses in our own games.

“I feel that over the last 12 to 18 months we've really built depth in the front row, and we've got some guys that aren't in the squad that are really good props that could easily step into the Wallaby jerseys,” added Robertson.

“It's been really exciting to see, but also quite competitive to get that jersey each week.”

Robertson, 31, highlighted former All Black Aidan Ross, who made his Australia debut against Japan last Saturday after switching international allegiance, but warned of a difficult time ahead at Twickenham on Saturday.

“I'd say England's front row, and their forwards in general, are one of the best packs, if not the best pack in the world. We're going to have our work cut out for us.

“Historically England have always had that traditional sort of style of rugby, based around forward play, so we're going to be ready for that and we're looking forward to it,” he added.

After making his New Zealand debut in 2022, prop Aidan Ross had to wait more than three years and swap nations to earn a second test cap but finally broke the drought when he ran out for Australia against Japan last Saturday.

There was much to celebrate for the former Chiefs stalwart as the Wallabies held off Japan for a 19-15 win in Tokyo on the day of his 30th birthday.

"It was awesome," Ross told reporters in London.

"Life's a journey and your rugby career's a journey and it goes different ways.

"That was an awesome part of my journey in New Zealand, and now that chapter's closed and I'm moving the family over to Australia, and they're loving it."

Born in Australia's eastern state of New South Wales to New Zealander parents, the loosehead prop played over 100 Super Rugby games in eight seasons with the Chiefs and earned an All Blacks call-up under former coach Ian Foster.

New Zealand were stunned 23-12 by Ireland in Ross's debut, their first ever defeat to the Irish on home soil.

Overlooked by Foster thereafter and current All Blacks boss Scott Robertson, Ross signed with the Reds last December and completed his three-year international stand-down period mid-year to be eligible to play for Australia.

He was rushed into Joe Schmidt's Wallabies squad as injury cover during the British & Irish Lions series but had to wait another few months for his debut.

With Tom Robertson injured and long-time loosehead James Slipper having retired at the end of the Rugby Championship, Ross could be in line for more action against England at Twickenham this week.

The Wallabies are hoping for enough wins in their November tests in Europe to cement a place in the top six of world rankings and earn a more favourable draw for the 2027 World Cup which they will host.

Ross said players were not really focused on the bigger picture, though.

"At the moment it's a five-match tour and you're week by week," he said.

"Now it's England over here this week ... the next job in front of us.

"They're a classy team. They play a pretty strong domestic competition here in England and there's nothing but world-class players in that squad."

Alex Mitchell believes Northampton teammate Tommy Freeman will have no trouble playing at outside centre should the wing be moved into a different position in England's backline for their Autumn Nations Series opener against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday.

Freeman has won the majority of his 21 caps as a wing, where he also made three test appearances for the British and Irish Lions during the combined side's recent 2-1 series win in Australia.

But England coach Steve Borthwick has been tipped to move him into midfield for this weekend's match with the Wallabies.

The 24-year-old Freeman featured at outside centre for England against Wales in March following an injury to Ollie Lawrence.

Mitchell scored four tries for Northampton against Saracens in the Prem last week, with scrumhalf Mitchell telling reporters on Monday: "Tommy's confidence is through the roof and his form is amazing.

"He will be as good at 13 (outside centre) as he is on the wing and it's going to be exciting to see him go there and see how he pushes on.

'THE SPEED, THE POWER, THE HEIGHT'

"It's a different position and he appreciates that, but not too much changes with him - he will just want to get the ball in his hands and try to get over people and get past people.

"He's got the speed, the power, the height. He understands the game. We know that if he puts that all together, he's one hell of a player. He's showing that at the moment."

Meanwhile, Luke Cowan-Dickie is set to join England's 50-cap club after injury and a recent encounter with disciplinary authorities left him fearing he would never reach the milestone.

The hooker, who made his test debut in 2015, suffered nerve damage in his right arm two years ago after an error during neck surgery, and it was some 16 months before he could play again.

A case of the heart condition atrial fibrillation when playing for Sale also raised concerns, while last week he faced a disciplinary hearing after receiving a 20-minute red card for a dangerous tackle on Saracens' Tom Willis.

The charges against the 32-year-old British and Irish Lions international were dropped, however.

"I've stuck around - they don't call me the cockroach for no reason!" said Cowan-Dickie, who added: "My pain threshold is decent, so I can crack on through most things.

"I'm just thankful. Playing for England once is a dream, so potentially playing my 50th it's like 'wow', who would have thought it?"

Uncapped Leicester back row Olly Cracknell has been called up by Wales for next month's Autumn Nations Series after veteran No 8 Taulupe Faletau withdrew from the squad.

Faletau suffered a knee injury during Cardiff's United Rugby Championship victory over Edinburgh on Saturday.

"It's obviously hugely disappointing to lose Toby (Taulupe) to injury as he's a world-class player, but Olly's been playing really well for Leicester and we're excited to add him to the squad," said new Wales head coach Steve Tandy as Faletau's withdrawal was announced Monday.

🚨 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙛𝙖𝙣 𝘾𝙮𝙢𝙧𝙪 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Here is your 3️⃣9️⃣-man squad for our 2025 @QuilterNations campaign 💪⤵️#CymruAmByth | #QuilterNationsSeries

— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@WelshRugbyUnion) October 21, 2025

Wales face Argentina in Cardiff on November 9 and then play Japan at home before facing New Zealand and world champions South Africa back-to-back at their Principality Stadium headquarters.

Wales were on a record 18-match losing run before finally ending that dismal streak with a 31-22 victory over Japan in Kobe on July 12.

Some 15 months after captaining the Wallabies in Joe Schmidt's first test in charge, injury-plagued loose forward Liam Wright was without a club on Monday after parting company with the Reds.

The 27-year-old made his Australia debut under Michael Cheika in 2019 but a catalogue of injuries limited him to four further tests until last July, when Schmidt handed him the captaincy for the first of three tests against Wales.

Injury again prevented him from playing any further part in that international season, however, and he managed just two Super Rugby games for the Reds this year, his eighth season at Ballymore.

"Following constructive discussions over recent months, Wright and the Reds were unable to finalise terms for a new agreement and will part ways amicably," the Reds said in a statement on Monday.

Wright played 86 games for the Reds, more than half as captain.

"I've had good days and bad days here but I've loved every second of it," Wright said.

"I'm ready to chase the next phase of my career ... I guess it's important for me to find new ways to challenge myself."

 

Once a Red, always a Red 🐨

After 86 caps as a Red, including 55 as captain, today we farewell Liam Wright.

More: https://t.co/w3XKq6ef2V pic.twitter.com/8NyhaiSiw1

— Reds (@Reds_Rugby) October 26, 2025

 

Flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert and second-row Romain Taofifenua will miss France's opening match of the Autumn Nations Series after suffering injuries, the French rugby federation said on Sunday.

Jalibert injured a thigh during Bordeaux-Begles' Top 14 win over Bayonne on Saturday, before quickly suggesting he expected to have to miss France's match against world champions South Africa on 8 November.

Les Bleus will also take on Fiji and Australia on 15 and 22 November respectively.

Jalibert has not played for France since a Six Nations loss to England in February.

Coach Fabien Galthie has called up 24-year-old Ugo Seunes, who joined Racing 92 this year from second-tier club Aurillac, as his replacement.

The 35-year-old Taofifenua also suffered an injury in his Racing team's match against La Rochelle on Saturday.

He has been replaced by Stade Francais' Baptiste Pesenti.

Saracens' 19-year-old winger Noah Caluori was included in Steve Borthwick's England squad for the November internationals on Sunday after being invited to train with the group a week ago following his five-try first Premiership start.

Caluori showed incredible athleticism and variety in attack to claim his remarkable haul in his club's win over Sale a week ago.

Borthwick invited him to join his training squad and obviously liked what he saw.

Caluori made less of an impact on Friday, when England winger Tommy Freeman scored four tries as Northampton beat Saracens, but still had a good game.

Sale scrumhalf Raffi Quirke, who won his two caps under Eddie Jones four years ago, was also included in the 36-player group, but as expected there was no place for former captain Owen Farrell.

Uncapped Leicester back row Emeka Ilione, who Borthwick praised highly after calling him into his training squad, has been left out after picking up a shoulder injury.

On Saturday England play Australia, who beat them at Twickenham a year ago, before facing Fiji, New Zealand, and Argentina.

"Facing Australia in the opening match will be a great test against a team that has been training and playing together for some time and is one of the in-form teams in the world," Borthwick said.

Your England squad for the @QuilterNations Series 📋

Head coach Steve Borthwick has selected 36 players for our four upcoming Test matches at @allianz_stad.@O2 | #WearTheRose

— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) October 26, 2025

ENGLAND SQUAD

Forwards

Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Theo Dan (Saracens), Ben Earl (Saracens), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Jamie George (Saracens), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Jack Kenningham (Harlequins), Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks), Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby), Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)

Backs

Henry Arundell (Bath Rugby), Noah Caluori (Saracens), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs), George Ford (Sale Sharks), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby), Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks), Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Fin Smith (Northampton Saints), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)

Rehabilitation: Elliot Daly (Saracens), George Martin (Leicester Tigers), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers).

Not considered for selection: Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby), Arthur Clark (Gloucester Rugby), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), George Furbank (Northampton Saints), Ted Hill (Bath Rugby), Emeka Ilione (Leicester Tigers), Curtis Langdon (Northampton Saints), Will Muir (Bath Rugby), Harry Randall (Bristol Bears), Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints).

Australia coach Joe Schmidt will consider calling up reinforcements ahead of next week's clash with England after forwards Josh Canham and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto sustained injuries in the Wallabies' 19-15 win over Japan in Tokyo on Saturday.

Tries from captain Nick Champion de Crespigny, Josh Flook and Carlo Tizzano gave a much-changed Australia a winning start to their autumn internationals series at a rain-soaked National Stadium, but victory came at a price.

Salakaia-Loto lasted just six minutes until he was replaced by Canham, who only played for 15 minutes before being substituted too due to injury, forcing Champion de Crespigny to fill in for the remainder of the match at lock.

"England have a strong pack," said Schmidt, whose team face their hosts at Twickenham on Saturday. "It just means we are light in the second row and we may need to get some reserves dug out from Australia, that's probably our first thought.

"Josh Canham won't be available next week and as yet I don't have the full feedback on Salakaia-Loto, but, with them being the same position, I don't think Nick is keen to play another 60 minutes at lock, so we do have to find someone else to do it."

The win maintained Australia's record of never having been defeated by the Japanese as Schmidt's team handed out a loss to former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones, who took over in Japan following the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The home side, however, were always in the contest with Ben Gunter and Shuhei Takeuchi scoring tries for the Brave Blossoms after keeping the Wallabies at bay with a dogged defensive display.

"There's nothing surprising about how competitive they were, how combative they were," Schmidt said.

"We made them defend in the first quarter of the game a lot and they measured up. We got very close to scoring, maybe even got some but couldn't quite get that separation on the scoreboard.

"They got off the line and forced us back a few times. They were really impressive through that period of defence.

"With 13 changes and losing two locks early on, it did become difficult for us. That's more about us than Japan."

France fly-half Matthieu Jalibert said he "doesn't feel very positive" about his chances of playing for Les Bleus against South Africa on November 8 after injuring a thigh as Bordeaux crushed Bayonne on Saturday.

In the final minutes of a 41-12 home win the flyhalf suddenly grimaced and clutched his leg.

"I felt something strange in my thigh, where I've had problems for several years," he said. "Based on how it feels, I don't think it's very positive."

"It's spoiling the party a bit for me tonight," he said, two days before the French team gathers at their training centre at Marcoussis before autumn internationals against the Springboks, Fiji and Australia.

"He'll have to undergo tests," said Bordeaux-Begles manager Yannick Bru told a press conference.

"I really hope it's nothing serious with his thigh because he really deserves to be involved in this international break after all the effort he's put in and his physical transformation," added Bru.

The victory kept Bordeaux-Begles third in the Top 14.

Pau, who started the weekend top of the table, scored the only two tries at Racing 92, both in the first 20 minutes, but lost 15-10. Ugo Seunes kicked five penalties for the home team while the visitors did not land a single scoring kick.

Across Paris, Stade Francais scored five tries as they beat Montpellier 35-12 to take top spot.

Montauban won the 'game of fear' between the division's two winless teams.

They beat visiting Perpignan 29-22.

Japan’s narrow defeat by Australia showed they can compete with the best teams in the world, coach Eddie Jones said after his side fell to a 19-15 loss on Saturday.

The contest was the visitors' first against their former coach Jones, who quit the Australia job to return to Japan soon after their calamitous 2023 World Cup campaign.

"What I'm super pleased about is that now we (Japan) are a team that stays in the fight," Jones told reporters. "We kept going, we could have won the game in the end, but we weren’t quite good enough."

Australia coach Joe Schmidt said of Japan’s performance: "There was nothing surprising about how competitive they were, how combative they were."

Australia, who lost two locks to injury early on - Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and his replacement Josh Canham – will look to bring in replacements before facing England at Twickenham next weekend.

"With England’s strong pack it means we may be light in the second row," Schmidt said. "We might need to get some reserves from Australia."

Japan also travel to London to take on South Africa at Wembley Stadium next week.

"We're going there thinking we're going to win," Australian Jones said.

The Brave Blossoms pulled off a legendary upset at the 2015 World Cup in England, beating the Springboks with a last-gasp try.

"South Africa are like everyone, if you put pressure on and get in their face they make mistakes," Jones said. "Imagine beating South Africa at Wembley, that would be iconic."

Australia coach Joe Schmidt said he may be forced to call on reinforcements for their European tour after losing two players to injury in Saturday's nervy 19-15 win over Japan.

The Wallabies survived a second-half comeback to beat Eddie Jones's team in a wet Tokyo and get their five-test tour off to a winning start.

A 𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 in Tokyo.

Thanks for the battle, @JRFURugby 🤝#Wallabies pic.twitter.com/wqudy3BNyr

— Wallabies (@wallabies) October 25, 2025

The victory came at a cost, with locks Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Josh Canham both going off injured within the opening 20 minutes.

Australia now travel to Europe to face England, Italy, Ireland and France on successive weekends.

Schmidt said the injuries "made it very difficult to get some combinations going" and admitted he would need to find solutions before playing England at Twickenham next week.

"It just means that we are light in the second row and we may need to get some reserves dug out from Australia," said the coach.

"Josh Canham obviously won't be available next week and as yet I don't have any feedback on Lukhan."

Australia fielded an unfamiliar line-up with 13 changes and a new captain in Nick Champion de Crespigny, who was winning only his third cap.

The new skipper scored the opening try before Josh Flook added another with the Wallabies looking comfortable despite the wet and chilly conditions.

This one counts 😤#Wallabies pic.twitter.com/ppfwQWaQJw

— Wallabies (@wallabies) October 25, 2025

Japan fought back after halftime.

Tries from Shuhei Takeuchi and Australia-born Ben Gunter, either side of a Carlo Tizzano score, brought the hosts within sight of a first win over the Wallabies.

Schmidt said the finale did not need to "be that tense" but praised his team for how they dealt with the conditions.

"Both teams were very keen to play fast but it was very hard to play fast because it was very damp," he said.

"Both teams started to threaten but lost the ball. It meant that we had to be more direct."

JAPAN LIKE 'SPECTATORS'

Japan were cheered on by over 40 000 fans at Tokyo's National Stadium but could not get the win over the line after a slow start.

Former Wallabies coach Jones said his players were "like spectators" in the first half and challenged them to reproduce their second-half performance for the full 80 minutes.

"Disappointed that we weren't able to find the best version of ourselves, in the first 30 minutes particularly," said the Australian, who left the Wallabies two years ago under a cloud to take up the Japan post.

"But what I am super pleased about is that now we are a team that stays in the fight."

Salakaia-Loto lasted just seven minutes before he left the field following a heavy hit.

His replacement Canham went back off again just over 10 minutes later to undergo a head injury assessment.

The injuries did little to disrupt the Wallabies' rhythm and Champion de Crespigny pounced for their opening try in the 13th minute.

Flook scored another on the half-hour mark, cantering over the line after Andrew Kellaway cut through the Japan defence.

Japan looked livelier in the second half and Takeuchi scored their first try in the 52nd minute after a period of pressure.

Australia hit back five minutes later when Tizzano rumbled over but Gunter set up a nerve-jangling finish when he cut the deficit to four points with 20 minutes remaining.

Champion de Crespigny said there were "some moments that we let slip" but vowed that the Wallabies would be ready to face England.

"A really tight contest in some tough conditions," he said.

"Full respect to Japan, we knew they were going to be a quality side and they definitely proved that today."

Japan also head to Europe and will face world champions South Africa at Wembley before playing Ireland, Wales and Georgia.

Japan coach Eddie Jones is not the only man with Australian roots plotting an upset of the Wallabies on Saturday with Dylan Riley and his teammates Ben Gunter, Jack Cornelsen and Sam Greene all having been raised Down Under.

Centre Riley made his Brave Blossoms debut along with flanker Gunter in the 32-23 loss to Australia in Oita four years ago and is looking forward to pulling on the red and white jersey for the 34th time at Tokyo's National Stadium.

"It's the place where I grew up, and the country that gave me the opportunity," said the 28-year-old, who was born in South Africa but raised on Queensland's Gold Coast.

"To play against the Wallabies then and now, I'm always just grateful. I'm super honoured to give back so that's what I'm looking to do from tomorrow.

"Obviously, the emotion comes into it when you're out on the field, but I know my role and what I need to do for the game, so I just try and focus on that."

Australia have opted to rest many of their top players for Saturday's match as they start a sequence of five tests in five weeks up until the end of November.

The Wallabies have enjoyed a resurgence under Joe Schmidt, Jones' successor as coach, this year and Riley said Japan would not underestimate them.

"They're a strong team," he added. "It's obviously a different combination from what they've put out previously, but nonetheless, very strong. So we'll look to shut down their key ball runners and put pressure on them."

Riley said Japan had also made great strides this year and thought their fast-paced style would test Australia as they eye a first-ever win over the twice world champions.

"Throughout the year we've gone quite far, which is good to see. And we're only going to go up from here," the skilful centre said.

"We obviously like to play fast, so we have to be fast in the way we think and the way we move."

Even though he has been in Japan since his early 20s, Riley said there would be a few of the Wallabies players on the field on Saturday who he played against in his youth.

"It'll be good to catch up after the game," he said. "But for now, I'm focused on what I need to do to stop them within the game."

Nick Champion de Crespigny admitted he was surprised to be named Australia captain for Saturday's test against Japan in only his third international appearance.

The 29-year-old will lead the side in Tokyo as Australia kick off a five-test tour that also pits them against England, Italy, Ireland, and France.

Flanker Champion de Crespigny made his Wallabies debut in the first test against the British and Irish Lions in July.

Ready to give it our all under our new captain 😤

🆚 Japan
🗓️ Saturday 25 October | 4:50pm AEDT
🏟️ Japan National Stadium, Tokyo
📺 @StanSportAU#Wallabies pic.twitter.com/q7pu5XK8LX

— Wallabies (@wallabies) October 24, 2025

He said he was expecting his teammates to lend a hand leading the team and vowed to repay coach Joe Schmidt's faith in him.

"It was a little bit of a surprise but I was very honoured and privileged to be asked by Joe just before the team announcement," Champion de Crespigny said on Friday.

"The support from the group and the other players has been phenomenal.

"It's a huge honour but I'd also say it's a squad mentality and a group focus."

Champion de Crespigny said he had spoken to double World Cup-winning Wallabies legend John Eales, who told him to "be myself and trust my instincts".

Champion de Crespigny will lead an unfamiliar Australia side featuring 13 changes from the team that lost to New Zealand earlier this month.

There is also experience, with four players in the starting line-up having more than 40 caps to their names.

"There's some leaders within the group like Andrew Kellaway, Jake Gordon, Jeremy Williams, who captains at Western Force," said Champion de Crespigny.

"We'll all be leaders in sections of the game on Saturday."

Champion de Crespigny was picked for Australia's opener against the Lions but was left out of the matchday squad for the following two tests.

Your Wallabies to face Japan in Tokyo 😤

🆚 Japan
🗓️ Saturday 25 October | 4:50pm AEDT
📍 Japan National Stadium, Tokyo
📺 @StanSportAU #Wallabies pic.twitter.com/JlrzcC9kMW

— Wallabies (@wallabies) October 23, 2025

His only other appearance in a Wallabies shirt came as a substitute against South Africa in the Rugby Championship.

Champion de Crespigny said his attitude was "always team first".

"I want to prepare myself to be the best version of myself every week, to prepare the group, and if I'm the best version of myself, hopefully I can get in the 23," he said.

"But it's a real squad mentality here and we all support each other and want the best for the group."

Former Scotland wing Byron McGuigan will join England's coaching team for the November internationals and Six Nations while retaining his fulltime job of defence coach with Prem club Sale, the Rugby Football Union said on Thursday.

McGuigan, 36, who started with Sale last November, initially joined England coach Steve Borthwick's lengthy list of assistants during the successful summer tour of Argentina and the United States.

He will have dual duties, working closely with assistant coach Andrew Strawbridge on the collision area, helping to develop players’ contact skills, while also focusing on the back three to "help enhance their skills and tactical understanding."

“Byron is a knowledgeable and driven coach with a real passion for improving players,” said Borthwick.

“He has an excellent understanding of the game, both as an international player and now as a coach. I’m looking forward to the impact he’ll make during the autumn.”

McGuigan was brought up in Cape Town and played for the Border Bulldogs before moving to Glasgow Warriors.

He then made over 100 appearances for Sale and earned 10 Scotland caps from 2017-20 after qualifying through his Glasgow-born mother.

“It was a huge privilege to be involved during the summer, and I’m excited to be back to contribute to the team,” McGuigan said.

“I’m very grateful to Sale for supporting me in taking on this opportunity alongside my club role. It’s a fantastic chance to continue developing as a coach while contributing to both teams.”

England play Australia on 1 November, with further tests against Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina - all at Twickenham.

Eddie Jones said facing his native Australia brings out his "extreme competitive spirit" as the Japan coach plots a surprise win over his old team on Saturday in Tokyo.

Jones comes up against Australia for the first time since stepping down as Wallabies coach following their disastrous 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign to begin a second stint in charge of Japan.

The move sparked anger in Australia, after Jones had repeatedly denied reports that he was set to take the Japan job.

The 65-year-old has led teams against Australia in the past and enjoyed a successful head-to-head record during his time as England coach from 2015 to 2022.

Jones named his team on Thursday for the game at Tokyo's National Stadium and said he was looking forward to upsetting his countrymen again.

"I enjoy beating Australia – I coached against them 10 times for England and beat them nine times," he said.

"Playing against you own country, there's always a certain amount of different feeling involved in it, but it just brings out the extreme competitive spirit within yourself."

Australia play Japan before heading to Europe to take on England, Italy, Ireland and France on successive weekends.

Coach Joe Schmidt named his team to face Japan earlier in the day, with 13 changes from the side that lost to New Zealand in the Rugby Championship.

Jones said there was "a winning opportunity" for Japan if they can unsettle an unfamiliar Wallabies line-up.

"When you're playing a team that has got a lot of players that are playing for a spot and they want to be the starting guys, if things don't go their way at the start of the game, they can get frustrated," he said.

"Our job is to bring out that frustration. Our job is to be at them the whole time."

Jones handed veteran flanker Michael Leitch his 90th cap in a line-up that mixes experience with youth.

The coach said his team were planning to hit the Wallabies with "a Japanese style of rugby".

"We realise that it's a big task for us but we feel like we're up to it," he said.

"We're ready to take them on."

Japan (15-1):

Yoshitaka Yazaki; Kippei Ishida, Dylan Riley, Shogo Nakano, Tomoki Osada; Seungsin Lee, Shinobu Fujiwara; Michael Leitch, Kanji Shimokawa, Ben Gunter; Warner Dearns (capt), Jack Cornelsen; Shuhei Takeuchi, Hayate Era, Kenta Kobayashi

Replacements: Kenji Sato, Ryosuke Iwaihara, Keijiro Tamefusa, Tyler Paul, Tiennan Costley, Kenta Fukuda, Charlie Lawrence, Sam Greene

Nick Champion de Crespigny was named Australia captain to face Japan in Tokyo on Saturday in just his third test as coach Joe Schmidt admitted making 13 changes to his team was "definitely a risk".

The Wallabies face Eddie Jones's side before heading to Europe to take on England, Italy, Ireland and France on successive weekends.

Flanker Champion de Crespigny made his debut in the first test against the British and Irish Lions in July.

The 29-year-old will line up in the back row alongside Carlo Tizzano and Rob Valetini, and Schmidt said his new captain would take it in his stride.

"Nick has been with us consistently week to week throughout and is part of the leadership group anyway, so it was a natural enough progression for him," Schmidt said as he named his team on Thursday.

"Nick is very much a leader by actions and he'll want to be in the thick of the action as much as he can be."

Schmidt made wholesale changes to the team that lost 28-14 to New Zealand earlier this month to draw the curtain on a frustrating Rugby Championship campaign won by South Africa.

The coach said his selections were about "energy management" after a gruelling few months that have included a home test against Fiji, the Lions series and the Rugby Championship.

"There is definitely a risk – part of the job of the coaching staff is to manage risk as best we can," said Schmidt.

"If we don't give opportunity to the squad, we start to lose energy towards the end of a five-test window, particularly when you're travelling such long distances."

Tane Edmed keeps his place at fly half despite the return of Carter Gordon to the squad after a stint in rugby league.

Gordon was not named in the matchday squad and Schmidt said it was too early for the playmaker after being rushed back into the fold following his move to Super Rugby's Reds.

"In such a pivotal position as 10 it's very hard to go straight in and start leading the team," said Schmidt.

"There was a temptation to put him into the matchday squad, and at the same time looking after him so that he feels as ready as he can be to start at some stage or come off the bench at some stage in the coming weeks."

Zane Nonggorr gets his first start in his 17th appearance for Australia, combining with Angus Bell and Josh Nasser in the front row.

Dylan Pietsch returns from a jaw fracture to start on the left wing, with Corey Toole on the right and Hunter Paisami and Josh Flook in the centres.

Aidan Ross was named on the bench and could become the fifth man to represent both Australia and New Zealand in test matches.

"The players have acclimatised well here in Tokyo and the whole squad is conscious of the threat the Brave Blossoms pose," said Schmidt.

"They play hard and fast and are very tough to beat, especially at home."

Australia (15-1)

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

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

 All Blacks assistant coach Jason Holland has announced he will be departing when his contract is up at the end of the season, leaving head coach Scott Robertson without two of his original four staff.

Holland, who previously worked as head coach at the Hurricanes Super Rugby team, will continue to look after the backs and set piece on New Zealand's end-of-season Grand Slam tour before finishing up.

"I was happy to take a two-year contract and the time feels right for me to step away from this role and look ahead," Holland said in a New Zealand Rugby statement on Thursday.

"We're a close group so this wasn't an easy decision...we think the team are making shifts in the right direction. There are four tests left, and I'm absolutely focused on helping this team to win in the Northern Hemisphere."

Robertson, whose original attack coach Leon MacDonald departed by mutual agreement last year, said Holland would be missed.

"There's a massive amount of respect for Jase in our group," Robertson said.

"While we're disappointed, he has our support and we respect the decision he's come to."

The All Blacks open their end-of-season tour against Ireland in Chicago on 1 November before heading to Britain to take on Scotland, England, and Wales.

Former England centre Manu Tuilagi has signed a contract extension to stay at Bayonne until 2027, the French Top 14 club announced on Wednesday.

Tuilagi joined the Basque outfit a year ago and had been linked with a move to Leicester and the rebel R360 league.

The 34-year-old made the last of his 60 England appearances in 2024 but is ineligible to represent his country as he plays his club rugby abroad.

"Ageing like a fine wine," Bayonne said on social media.

"Our English centre will continue to torment defences and attacks next season," they added.

Tuilagi is part of an illustruous rugby-playing family which includes brothers Henry and Alesana who featured for Samoa and nephew Posolo Tuilagi, who represents France.

Manu Tuilagi's Bayonne face Bordeaux-Begles in the Top 14 on Saturday and sit two points off leaders Pau after seven rounds of the season.