In a highly anticipated rugby showdown, Eddie Jones, the former coach of Australia, is set to face his old team for the first time since his resignation following their disappointing 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign. Now at the helm of Japan, Jones aims to continue his dominance over the Wallabies, a team he defeated nine times in ten encounters during his tenure as England’s coach from 2015 to 2022. Despite Japan’s winless record against Australia in their six previous meetings, Jones remains optimistic about his team’s chances. Speaking ahead of Saturday’s match at Tokyo’s National Stadium, Jones acknowledged the unique emotions of facing his home country but emphasized his competitive drive. The 65-year-old coach will face a revamped Australian squad led by Nick Champion de Crespigny, who will captain the team in his third test. Regular skipper Harry Wilson will start on the bench, providing backrow cover. Australia’s head coach, Joe Schmidt, has opted to assess the team’s depth in this one-off test, resisting pressure to reintegrate Carter Gordon immediately after his return from the National Rugby League. Schmidt highlighted the threat posed by Japan, describing them as a tough and fast-playing team, especially on home soil. The Wallabies enter the match after a narrow 28-24 loss to New Zealand in the Rugby Championship, while Japan suffered a defeat to Fiji in the Pacific Nations Cup final. Jones has made six changes to Japan’s starting lineup, including bringing in Michael Leitch and Ben Gunter to strengthen the back row. Leitch, a former captain, will earn his 90th cap, while Gunter, one of four Australia-raised players in the squad, starts at blindside flanker. The match marks the beginning of a challenging series for Australia, with upcoming tests against England, Italy, Ireland, and France in November.