He debuted in July and has only played 72 minutes of Test rugby, but Nick Champion de Crespigny is a shock choice to captain a reshuffled Wallabies side against Japan on Saturday in Tokyo.

In a reduced-strength team with multiple star players rested – including Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Max Jorgensen and Fraser McReight – and with usual skipper Harry Wilson named on the bench, De Crespigny was the leader of choice for coach Joe Schmidt.

After a long career that saw him play in France and only make his Super Rugby debut at the start of this year, the 29-year-old back-rower won his first cap for the Wallabies against the Lions in July.

De Crespigny played 66 minutes in the first Test in Brisbane and, since then, has made just one other six-minute cameo off the bench for the Wallabies in Sout

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