Reds hooker Matt Faessler will captain a strong Australia A side stacked with Test experience when they face a Japan XV in Osaka this weekend.
Faessler – one of nine capped Wallabies in the 23-man squad – will lead from the front row, packing down between loosehead prop Isaac Kailea and tighthead Rhys van Nek.
Behind them, Darcy Swain and Josh Canham form a powerful second-row pairing.
There’s also a return to representative colours for Pete Samu, who will wear gold again for the first time in two years. The vice-captain takes up the No 8 jersey, joining flankers Rory Scott and Luke Reimer in a mobile back row.
ALSO: Promising No 8 keeps World Cup hopes alive
In the backline, former Junior Wallabies captain Teddy Wilson partners Ben Donaldson as the halfback pairing, while Hamish Stewart and Joey Walton combine in midfield. Ollie Sapsford starts on the left wing, Tim Ryan takes the right, and Mac Grealy slots in at fullback.
On the bench, there’s further Reds representation in Seru Uru, Joe Brial, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips and Lachlan Anderson, who will look to inject energy later in the game.
Coach Simon Cron said his side has relished the week in Osaka as they prepare for a challenging contest.
“The squad has had a great week here in Osaka for what’s going to be a high-quality match against a well-prepared Japan XV side,” Cron said.
“There’s a number of guys in the team who are earning international experience for the first time, while there’s others who have competed at the highest level over a number of seasons. They’re all equally excited to perform well in Australian colours on Saturday.”
AUSTRALIA A – 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Tim Ryan, 13 Joey Walton, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Ollie Sapsford, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Teddy Wilson, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Luke Reimer, 6 Rory Scott, 5 Josh Canham, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Rhys van Nek, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Isaac Kailea.
Bench: 16 Ethan Dobbins, 17 Lington Ieli, 18 Dan Botha, 19 Seru Uru, 20 Joe Brial, 21 Henry Robertson, 22 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 23 Lachlan Anderson.
Your Australia A team to take on Japan XV
Saturday 18 October
3pm AEDT
Yodoko Sakura Stadium, Osaka
@StanSportAU pic.twitter.com/2b3Dm8EVPK
— Wallabies (@wallabies) October 16, 2025
Photo: Mark Brake/Getty Images
The post Samu headlines Wallabies-laden Aussie A side appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Reds hooker Matt Faessler will captain a strong Australia A side stacked with Test experience when they face a Japan XV in Osaka this weekend.
The post Samu headlines Wallabies-laden Aussie A side appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
