Wallabies captain Nick Champion de Crespigny led a new-look Australian side to a hard-fought 19-15 victory over Japan at Tokyo’s National Stadium on Saturday, as the visitors were forced to show tremendous resilience in the opening match of their northern hemisphere tour.

Key moments

14′ – Nick Champion de Crespigny try after tap penalty, Tane Edmed converts (0-7)
29′ – Seungsin Lee penalty goal (3-7)
30′ – Josh Flook try from backline move, Tane Edmed converts (3-14)
Half-time: Japan 3-14 Wallabies
55′ – Shuhei Takeuchi try, conversion missed (8-14)
58′ – Carlo Tizzano try from rolling maul, conversion missed (8-19)
62′ – Ben Gunter try, Seungsin Lee converts (15-19)
Full-time: Japan 15-19 Wallabies

Joe Schmidt’s experimental side featuring 13 changes from their last outing against New Zealand began their five-Test tour with a gruelling battle against Eddie Jones’ determined Brave Blossoms in treacherous conditions at the National Stadium in Tokyo.

A 𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩 in Tokyo.

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

— Wallabies (@wallabies) October 25, 2025

The match began in challenging weather, with humid, rainy conditions making ball handling difficult for both sides. Japan started stronger, with hooker Hayate Era landing several monster hits to rattle the visitors early. Within minutes, the Wallabies were forced into an early reshuffle when lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto departed with a rib injury after just five minutes, bringing Josh Canham into the fray earlier than expected.

The Wallabies steadied and began to build pressure. Champion de Crespigny broke the deadlock in the 14th minute, burrowing over from close range after a botched Japanese lineout. The try came from intelligent decision-making by the new skipper, who opted for a quick tap penalty near the line. Tane Edmed added the conversion for a 7-0 lead.

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Disaster struck for the Wallabies in the 22nd minute when replacement lock Canham was “knocked out cold” and forced from the field, leaving them desperately short in the second row. Champion de Crespigny found himself packing down in the second row as Jeremy Williams became “the last lock standing” in Schmidt’s words.

Japan looked threatening after a few passages in Australian territory, and a penalty to Seungsin Lee in the 29th minute got them on the board at 7-3. The Wallabies responded immediately through a well-worked backline move. Hunter Paisami broke the line with an angled charge and found Edmed inside. Fullback Andrew Kellaway then loomed on the angle and offloaded to Queensland centre Josh Flook who raced away to score under the posts in the 30th minute. Edmed’s conversion extended the lead to 14-3.

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Despite dominating possession and territory for the remainder of the half, the Wallabies couldn’t extend their lead as Western Force flanker Carlo Tizzano was denied three separate try-scoring opportunities. The visitors took their 11-point advantage into the break.

Japan emerged from halftime with renewed purpose as rain continued to fall in Tokyo. Eddie Jones had clearly delivered one of his infamous half-time addresses, as the Brave Blossoms played with new vigour. The hosts dominated the third quarter and were rewarded when prop Shuhei Takeuchi crashed over in the 55th minute following a neat interchange at the back of a lineout, reducing the deficit to 14-8.

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Carlo Tizzano finally got his reward for a persistent display three minutes later, the Western Force openside crossing from a powerful rolling maul to restore Australia’s 11-point cushion at 19-8. The conversion attempt from Edmed drifted wide in the difficult conditions.

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Just as the Wallabies appeared to have secured control, Japan struck back through Queensland-born flanker Ben Gunter in the 62nd minute, with Lee’s conversion bringing the hosts within four points at 19-15. The try came moments after Aiden Ross entered the fray, becoming just the fifth player in history to represent both Australia and New Zealand at Test level after playing for the All Blacks in 2021.

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The final quarter became a test of character for the depleted Wallabies as Japan threw everything at them in the pouring rain. Tom Robertson became the third Australian to leave the field through injury, further compounding Schmidt’s selection headaches with England looming next weekend.

With ten minutes remaining, Kippei Ishida broke clear, forcing desperate defence from the visitors. Japan could smell a boilover as they chased their first ever victory over Australia in seven Tests across 50 years. However, a crucial turnover by Hamish Stewart and Hunter Paisami with two minutes left allowed the Wallabies to wind down the clock and escape with a hard-earned four-point victory.

“I don’t think it needed to be that tense,” Schmidt reflected afterwards. “But sometimes that’s the way it goes and you’ve got to just work your way back and go again. I really admired the grit. We actually had to really roll our sleeves up and keep fighting for that one. In those conditions, it was just about what we managed to do.”

For Japan, captain Warner Dearns found some positives despite the defeat. “It was a very disappointing game but the scoreline was close and we should take pride in that,” he said. “I thought it was a good fight.”

Even Jones, facing the Wallabies for the first time since his controversial departure after the 2023 World Cup, offered praise for his former team’s resilience.

“I think it’s really good that Australia’s rising to become a world power again,” Jones said. “The big thing they’ve really developed, the young players, is their ability to stay in the game and keep fighting, not get disappointed with the game. And as a result, they’re in every game.”

The victory snaps a three-game losing streak for the Wallabies and maintains their perfect record against Japan. However, the win comes at a cost with Salakaia-Loto, Canham and Robertson all in doubt for next weekend’s clash with England at Twickenham.

Schmidt’s gamble to rest key personnel such as Fraser McReight, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Max Jorgensen ultimately paid off, though the performance revealed both promising depth and concerning vulnerabilities in the Australian squad as they prepare for tougher assignments on their five-Test northern tour.

Carter Gordon’s brief foray into rugby league has come to an end, with Rugby Australia and the Queensland Reds announcing the return of the 2023 Wallabies flyhalf on a three-year contract that runs through to the end of 2028.

Carter returns through to the end of ‘28⚡️#Wallabies pic.twitter.com/NL4CO4iRi2

— Wallabies (@wallabies) October 13, 2025

The signing, which was finalised in a matter of days according to Reds coach Les Kiss, sees Gordon immediately added to Joe Schmidt’s 34-man Wallabies squad for the upcoming Spring Tour of Japan and Europe. It marks a remarkable turnaround for a player who made just one NRL appearance after his high-profile code switch in 2024.

Gordon, who earned eight Test caps and played at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, left rugby union following the financial collapse of the Melbourne Rebels, for whom he had made 46 Super Rugby appearances. His departure was seen as a significant blow to Australian rugby at the time, with the talented playmaker choosing to sign a two-year deal with the Gold Coast Titans.

However, Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh moved quickly to secure Gordon’s return, negotiating a release from the second year of his NRL contract. It’s understood RA was forced to pay a transfer fee to the Titans, with reports suggesting the deal is worth more than $500,000.

“We are pleased Carter is returning to rugby after excelling as a junior with Sunshine Coast Grammar, Brisbane Boys’ College and Wests in Brisbane before taking the step up to Super Rugby and Test arena at a young age,” Waugh said. “Carter’s signing will ensure additional healthy competition at the Reds and the Wallabies and provides him with a two-year runway to make his case for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.”

For Gordon, the move represents a return to his roots. The Nambour-born playmaker first signed with the Reds as a 17-year-old schoolboy in 2018 but never managed to break into the senior side during three injury-affected seasons. His move to the Rebels in 2021 provided the platform he needed, and he quickly established himself as one of Super Rugby Pacific’s most promising talents.

“I’m stoked to return to the game I grew up playing and loving as a kid, especially with the opportunity to represent the team I grew up supporting, the Queensland Reds,” Gordon said. “I’ve watched both Queensland and the Wallabies from afar over the past year or so, and the journey they’re on motivates me to want to work hard and contribute positively on and off the field.”

Gordon’s rugby league stint was hampered by a serious spinal injury that delayed his debut until the Titans’ final-round clash with the Wests Tigers in September, where he played in the centres. With limited opportunities ahead and a home Rugby World Cup just two years away, the timing proved right for a return. “I’d also like to thank the Gold Coast Titans for the opportunity to grow as a player and person at their club and for all their support for me and my family over the past 16 months,” Gordon added. “I wish the players and the staff all the best for what’s ahead.”

Speaking to reporters in Brisbane, Kiss revealed the speed at which the deal came together, describing the process as “absolutely rapid” and taking just four or five days to complete. “I think there was always something in Carter’s mind that he’d like to come back one day, but from my perspective, this just accelerated in the last four or five days,” Kiss explained. “It was a combined thing in terms of RA and Queensland, just getting it to a point to make things work. I wasn’t involved in that whole process, but as you can imagine, we’re very happy to have Carter coming back to the Reds.”

The Reds coach, who will succeed Schmidt as Wallabies coach following next year’s British & Irish Lions series, was quick to highlight Gordon’s physical attributes whilst also managing expectations around his immediate role. “The one thing about Carter is he’s got a good size about him – he’s got a good height, he’s robust, he’s physical, and he meets all those things to be able to play what is now a very, very challenging position in the game,” Kiss said. “Tens are targeted a lot, and he gives us another quality option to be able to play in that position and balance out how we want to play our game.”

Gordon’s arrival adds depth to the playmaking stocks at both the Reds and Wallabies level. At Ballymore, he joins Tom Lynagh, rising star Harry McLaughlin-Phillips and Fijian international Ben Volavola in the flyhalf pecking order. Lynagh, 22, has been omitted from the Wallabies’ Spring Tour squad due to a lingering hamstring issue that has prevented him from training and playing consistently since the British & Irish Lions series.

“He hasn’t had a lot of volume in running, a lot of volume getting over a ball, hasn’t had a lot of volume in his kicking, so we’ve got an opportunity in the next two weeks to just work on that,” Kiss said of Lynagh’s rehabilitation. “We’ve got a plan that we’re putting together with RA to make sure that we get that right. He’ll have a leave period, and then he’ll have a full pre-season with us, and I think that’ll be good for him as well.”

Kiss was careful to emphasise that Gordon faces genuine competition for the No. 10 jersey, particularly praising McLaughlin-Phillips’s attitude and development. “One thing you know about Harry, he’s a competitor and he’s young and learning at a rate of knots as well, so he’ll take this on in a positive way, and we’ve already spoken, and he knows that the challenge is there,” Kiss said. “He didn’t feel entitled to anything beforehand, Harry, so he just wants to fight hard and earn his position as well.”

Gordon has been named alongside Tane Edmed as Schmidt’s playmaking options for the Spring Tour, which begins with a Test against Japan in Tokyo on 25 October. The tour also includes matches against England, Italy, Ireland and France. It presents Gordon with the opportunity to reunite with some familiar faces, including working under Schmidt for the first time since the Wallabies coach took over from Eddie Jones. It was Jones who controversially selected Gordon to start at flyhalf during the 2023 World Cup campaign.

Gordon became Wallaby No. 967 when he debuted off the bench against the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld in 2023, making an immediate impression by grubber-kicking ahead, receiving a pass and running more than 60 metres to score a remarkable try. He went on to make three appearances at the World Cup, starting against Georgia and Fiji before coming off the bench against Wales.

However, the tournament proved difficult for both Gordon and the Wallabies. After Australia’s shock defeat to Fiji in Saint-Étienne, where Gordon spilt a box kick that led to Fiji’s only try, he was dropped to the bench and later joined the injury list before the team’s elimination in the pool stages.

Kiss was adamant that Gordon’s versatility will prove valuable for the Reds, noting that the playmaker can operate at flyhalf, inside centre and fullback – positions where all of Queensland’s options can also play. “If you look at all our tens, they give something different, and that’s a real plus for us as well, and they can all play 12, and they can all play 15, which is fantastic,” Kiss said. “In every Super Rugby Pacific season, there are challenges with how byes are placed and travel periods. Increasing depth across our squad is definitely helpful.”

For Waugh and Rugby Australia, Gordon’s return represents a significant coup in their strategic approach to the 2027 World Cup cycle. With the tournament to be hosted on home soil, having Gordon back in the system provides crucial depth and competition in the crucial flyhalf position. “Rugby Australia has taken a strategic approach to player contracting this World Cup cycle and we are delighted to bring Carter back into the system,” Waugh said.

In a poignant full circle moment, Australia’s most decorated Test player James Slipper will draw the curtain on one of international rugby’s most distinguished careers this Saturday, bowing out in the same Perth venue where his remarkable journey began 15 years ago. The announcement, made on Wednesday, brings to a close a chapter that has seen the Gold Coast prop rewrite the record books and establish himself as one of the most durable front-rowers the game has ever produced.

• James Slipper announces retirement from Test rugby after Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup clash in Perth
• The 36-year-old became just the third player to reach 150 Test caps last weekend in Auckland
• Slipper holds Australian record for most Test appearances and is the most capped international prop of all-time
• Full circle moment as career ends in Perth, where he debuted against England in 2010
• Fifth Wallaby in 126 years to feature in two separate British & Irish Lions series

Slipper’s farewell will come against the old enemy, New Zealand, at Optus Stadium in what promises to be an emotionally charged Bledisloe Cup encounter. It is fitting symmetry for a career that commenced against England at Perth’s Subiaco Oval in 2010, when a fresh-faced 21-year-old entered the fray from the bench as Wallaby number 843, having played just three Super Rugby matches for the Queensland Reds at the time.

One more time in Green and Gold 🦘

James Slipper will retire from international rugby after Saturday’s Bledisloe Cup clash against New Zealand.#Wallabies pic.twitter.com/9WsDWIZqBr

— Wallabies (@wallabies) October 1, 2025

Last Saturday at Eden Park, Slipper joined Welsh legend Alun Wyn Jones (171 caps) and New Zealand’s Sam Whitelock (153) in becoming just the third player to reach the 150-Test milestone, cementing his status amongst rugby’s immortals. The achievement marked the culmination of an international career spanning nearly 16 years, one characterised by extraordinary longevity and unwavering professionalism in one of rugby’s most physically demanding positions.

The statistics speak to a career of remarkable consistency and durability. Slipper not only holds the Australian record for most Test caps but stands alone as the most capped international Test prop of all-time, 14 clear of Ireland’s Cian Healy. His versatility in being able to pack down on both sides of the scrum enhanced his value immeasurably, a rare attribute that saw him feature in 14 Tests during his debut season despite his limited provincial experience.

Beyond the sheer weight of appearances, Slipper’s career has been punctuated by milestone achievements that speak to both his excellence and longevity. Earlier this year, he became just the fifth Wallaby in 126 years to play in two separate British & Irish Lions series, following John Thornett, Peter Johnson, Tony Miller and George Smith into that exclusive club. Joining Smith as just the second player to achieve the feat in the professional era underscored the remarkable nature of his sustained excellence.

His Rugby World Cup record stands apart in Australian rugby history. Having featured in four separate tournaments – 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 – Slipper joined George Gregan and Adam Ashley-Cooper as the only Australians to compete at four World Cups. He surpassed Gregan’s mark for most World Cup appearances by a Wallaby in 2023, running out at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard against Portugal to claim his 21st tournament match. That same year in France, he was part of the matchday 23 for the 2015 final in London, one of the many significant moments in a career defined by big-match temperament.

In September 2024, Slipper eclipsed another of Gregan’s cherished records, becoming the most-capped Wallaby of all-time in a Test against the All Blacks in Sydney. The milestone was particularly sweet, coming against Australia’s fiercest rivals and adding another layer to a career that has seen him feature prominently in some of the most significant encounters in recent Wallabies history. His 100th Test, reached in 2020, came in memorable fashion with a 24-22 victory over New Zealand at his home ground, Suncorp Stadium.

Leadership has been another defining characteristic of Slipper’s time in gold. Appointed as the Wallabies’ 83rd Test captain in 2015, he has led his country on 15 occasions, bringing the same quiet authority and work ethic to the captaincy that defined his playing career. Those who have worked alongside him speak universally of a player who epitomises professionalism and team-first mentality.

In announcing his decision, Slipper spoke with characteristic humility about what representing Australia has meant to him. “Representing the Wallabies has been the single proudest achievement of my rugby career and a privilege I have never taken for granted,” he said. “As a young kid on the Gold Coast playing backyard footy with my brothers, it was a dream to pull on the gold jersey, and to be able to say I’ve lived my dream for what’s coming on 16 years is more than I could ever have asked for.”

The timing of the decision reflects both pragmatism and selflessness. With the 2027 Rugby World Cup to be hosted on home soil, Slipper recognised the need to create opportunities for the next generation of Australian props. “It feels like the right time for me to step away from Test rugby,” he explained. “There’s a number of good young props coming through who will need time in the saddle leading into what’s going to be an unbelievable experience of a home Rugby World Cup in 2027.”

Personal considerations also factored into the decision. After 16 years of professional rugby’s demanding schedule, Slipper spoke movingly about spending more time with his wife Kara and daughters Lily and Ava. “It will also allow me to spend more quality time with my wife Kara and two young daughters Lily and Ava, which is something that I owe to them after 16 years of full-time professional rugby,” he said.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt paid warm tribute to a player who has been instrumental in maintaining squad cohesion and standards during a transitional period for Australian rugby. “First and foremost Slips is a great person,” Schmidt said. “He’s incredibly popular in the group and is the ultimate team man. I know how much representing the Wallabies means to him and his record speaks for itself with the number of milestones he has achieved at the highest level of the game.”

Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh was equally effusive, highlighting the rarity of Slipper’s achievements. “James has been a remarkable servant of Australian rugby and will go down in history as one of the most durable, dependable and respected players to ever pull on a Test jersey anywhere in the world,” Waugh said. “To reach the milestones he has across 16 professional seasons, particularly as a front-rower, is testament to his professionalism and the way he goes about his work.”

The 2025 season has provided a fitting final chapter, with Slipper featuring prominently under Schmidt’s tenure. He played in all three Tests of the British & Irish Lions series, claiming victory in the decisive third Test at Accor Stadium. During the Rugby Championship, he appeared in matches against South Africa and Argentina before reaching his 150-cap milestone at Eden Park last weekend, where Australia fell 33-24 to New Zealand.

Whilst Saturday’s match will mark the end of Slipper’s international career, Australian rugby supporters will have the opportunity to see him continue performing at the highest level. He will return to the Brumbies for the 2026 Super Rugby season, sitting just two appearances shy of 200 matches for the franchise – yet another testament to his extraordinary durability.