Eddie Jones' project to rebuild Japan rugby in his image will come under increased international scrutiny when the Brave Blossoms play the All Blacks on Saturday in a one off Test in Yokohama (4.50pm kickoff AEDT), live on Stan Sport.
In his second stint as Japan coach, Australian Jones has established new selection policies which have allowed him to build a younger national squad, more responsive to his methods.
Jones has powerful political support within the Japan Rugby Union which endures though his project hasn't yet yielded much success.
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Japan recently reached the final of the Pacific Nations Cup in which it was beaten 41-17 by Fiji.
In other matches this season Japan has beaten New Zealand Maori 26-14, Canada 55-28, the United States 41-24 and Samoa 49-27 and lost to England 52-17, New Zealand Maori 36-10, Georgia 25-23, Italy 42-14 and Fiji.
The Test against the All Blacks is the most high profile match Japan will play this year which means greater attention will fall on Jones and his team which will face a more exacting measure of its development.
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Jones has brought a number of players into the national team from Japan's university system, partially breaking the monopoly of the clubs as a player nursery.
That policy will be tested on Saturday.
"We want to keep introducing new blood into Japanese rugby," Jones said.
"Between 2020 and 2023, Japan had 33 new Test caps over four years. In 2024, we've had 17 already. We're bringing new blood in and creating a new generation of players to increase the depth and quality of our squad."
Jones said despite the loss to Fiji, he is happy with Japan's progress.
"We played some very good rugby in the lead-up to the final, particularly in terms of our continuity in attack," he said.
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"We need to bring this against New Zealand. We want to attack them with our speed and with relentless defence. We will have to be 100 per cent on the job for the whole time. When you play New Zealand, they're always the benchmark."
New Zealand faces Japan en route to the United Kingdom and Europe where it will play England, Ireland, France and Italy over consecutive weekends.
The tour will determine the success of coach Scott Robertson's first season in charge.
Under Robertson the All Blacks beat England twice and Fiji once in July.
But they were 3-3 in the Rugby Championship, losing twice to South Africa and once to Argentina.
They did manage to retain the Bledisloe Cup against Australia.
Robertson says the All Blacks will be wary of Jones' proven ability to lead teams to shock results over favoured opponents.
"You have always got to be careful around Eddie Jones firstly," Robertson said.
"There have been a few big names (Jones' teams have beaten) other than the All Blacks. He's got great innovation, he pushes his teams to the limit and gets the best out of people."
JAPAN (15-1): Yoshitaka Yazaki, Jone Naikabula, Dylan Riley, Nicholas McCurran, Malo Tuitama, Harumichi Tatekawa (c), Shinobu Fujiwara, Faulua Makisi, Kazuki Himeno, Amato Fakatava, Warner Dearns, Sanaila Waqa, Shuhei Takeuchi, Atsushi Sakate, Takato Okabe
Reserves: Mamoru Harada, Takayoshi Mohara, Opeti Helu, Epeneri Uluiviti, Kanji Shimokawa, Taiki Koyama, Tomoki Osada, Takuro Matsunaga
ALL BLACKS (15-1): Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece, Billy Proctor, Anton Lienert-Brown, Mark Telea, Damian McKenzie, Cam Roigard, Wallace Sititi, Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau, Patrick Tuipulotu (c), Sam Darry, Pasilio Tosi, Asafo Aumua, Tamaiti Williamson
Reserves: George Bell, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Josh Lord, Peter Lakai, TJ Perenara, David Havili, Ruben Love
ULTIMATE GUIDE, SQUADS AND SCHEDULE
THE FIXTURES (all times AEDT)
WEEK 1
Saturday, October 26
Japan vs New Zealand
Venue: Nissan Stadium, Yokohama
Kickoff: 4.50pm
Referee: Jordan Way (AUS)
WEEK 2
Sunday, November 3
England vs New Zealand
Venue: Twickenham, London
Kickoff: 2.10am
Referee: Angus Gardner (AUS)
Scotland vs Fiji
Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Kickoff: 4.40am
Referee: Craig Evans (WAL)
WEEK 3
Saturday, November 9
Ireland vs New Zealand
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kickoff: 7.10am
Referee: Nic Berry (AUS)
Sunday, November 10
England vs Australia
Venue: Twickenham, London
Kickoff: 2.10am
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (NZ)
Italy vs Argentina
Venue: Stadio Friuli, Udine
Kickoff: 4.40am
Referee: Matthew Carley (ENG)
France vs Japan
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kickoff: 7.10am
Referee: Damian Schneider (ARG)
Monday, November 11
Wales vs Fiji
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Kickoff: 12.40am
Referee: Luc Ramos (FRA)
Scotland vs South Africa
Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Kickoff: 3.10am
Referee: Christophe Ridley (ENG)
WEEK 4
Saturday, November 16
Ireland vs Argentina
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kickoff: 7.10am
Referee: Paul Williams (NZ)
Sunday, November 17
Scotland vs Portugal
Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Kickoff: 2.10am
Referee: Takehito Namekawa (JAP)
England vs South Africa
Venue: Twickenham, London
Kickoff: 4.40am
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRE)
France vs New Zealand
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kickoff: 7.10am
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GEO)
Monday, November 18
Italy vs Georgia
Venue: Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa
Kickoff: 12.40am
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (NZ)
Wales vs Australia
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Kickoff: 3.10am
Referee: James Doleman (NZ)
WEEK 5
Saturday, November 23
France vs Argentina
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kickoff: 7.10am
Referee: Luke Pearce (ENG)
Sunday, November 24
Ireland vs Fiji
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kickoff: 2.10am
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SCO)
Wales vs South Africa
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Kickoff: 4.40am
Referee: Karl Dickson (ENG)
Italy vs New Zealand
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Turin
Kickoff: 7.10am
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FRA)
Monday, November 25
Scotland vs Australia
Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Kickoff: 12.40am
Referee: Chris Busby (IRE)
England vs Japan
Venue: Twickenham, London
Kickoff: 3.10pm
Referee: Craig Evans (WAL)
WEEK 6
Sunday, December 1
Ireland vs Australia
Venue: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Kick-off: 2.10am
Referee: Andrea Piardi (ITA)
WALLABIES SQUAD
Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Bell, Matt Faessler, Nick Frost, Langi Gleeson, Isaac Kailea, Fraser McReight, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Seru Uru, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson, Ben Donaldson, Tane Edmed, Jake Gordon, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Samu Kerevi, Noah Lolesio, Tate McDermott, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Nic White, Tom Wright
WALLABIES SCHEDULE
November 10: vs England, 2.10am AEDT kickoff at Twickenham, London
November 18: vs Wales, 3.10am AEDT kickoff at Principality Stadium, Cardiff
November 25: vs Scotland, 12.40am AEDT kickoff at Murrayfield, Edinburgh
December 1: vs Ireland, 2.10am AEDT kickoff at Aviva Stadium, Dublin
ALL BLACKS SQUAD
Scott Barrett (c), Asafo Aumua, Codie Taylor, George Bell, Ethan de Groot, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Tamaiti Williams, Tupou Vaa'i, Patrick Tuipulotu, Sam Darry, Josh Lord, Sam Cane, Samipeni Finau, Ardie Savea, Wallace Sititi, Peter Lakai, TJ Perenara, Cortez Ratima, Cam Roigard, Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie, Jordie Barrett, David Havili, Rieko Ioane, Anton Lienert-Brown, Billy Proctor, Caleb Clarke, Will Jordan, Ruben Love, Stephen Perofeta, Sevu Reece, Mark Tele'a
ALL BLACKS SCHEDULE
October 26: vs Japan, 4.50pm AEDT kickoff at Nissan Stadium, Yokohama
November 3: vs England, 2.10am AEDT kickoff at Twickenham, London
November 9: vs Ireland, 7.10am AEDT kickoff at Aviva Stadium, Dublin
November 17: vs France, 7.10am AEDT kickoff at Stade de France, Paris
November 24: vs Italy, 7.10am AEDT kickoff, Allianz Stadium, Turin
ENGLAND SQUAD
Jamie George (c), Fin Baxter, Ollie Chessum, Dan Cole, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ben Curry, Tom Curry, Theo Dan, Trevor Davison, Alex Dombrandt, Ben Earl, Charlie Ewels, Ellis Genge, Nick Isiekwe, Maro Itoje, Joe Marler, George Martin, Will Stuart, Sam Underhill, Elliot Daly, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Ollie Lawrence, Alex Lozowski, Luke Northmore, Harry Randall, Tom Roebuck, Henry Slade, Ollie Sleightholme, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Ben Spencer, Freddie Steward, Jack van Poortvliet
IRELAND SQUAD
Caelan Doris (c), Ryan Baird, Finlay Bealham, Tadhg Beirne, Tadhg Furlong, Cian Healy, Dave Heffernan, Iain Henderson, Rob Herring, Cormac Izuchukwu, Ronan Kelleher, Joe McCarthy, Peter O'Mahony, Tom O'Toole, Andrew Porter, Cian Prendergast, James Ryan, Nick Timoney, Josh van der Flier, Bundee Aki, Craig Casey, Jack Crowley, Ciaran Frawley, Jamison Gibson-Park, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Hugo Keenan, James Lowe, Stuart McCloskey, Conor Murray, Calvin Nash, Jamie Osborne, Sam Prendergast, Garry Ringrose, Jacob Stockdale
WALES SQUAD
Dewi Lake (c), Keiron Assiratti, Adam Beard, James Botham, Ben Carter, Ryan Elias, Archie Griffin, Dewi Lake (captain), Evan Lloyd, Kemsley Mathias, Jac Morgan, Taine Plumtree, Tommy Reffell, Will Rowlands, Nicky Smith, Freddie Thoma, Gareth Thomas, Henry Thomas, Christ Tshiunz, Aaron Wainwright, Gareth Anscombe, Ellis Bevan, Sam Costelow, Rio Dyer, Mason Grady, Josh Hathaway, Eddie James, Max Llewellyn, Blair Murray, Tom Rogers, Ben Thomas, Nick Tompkins, Owen Watkin, Rhodri Williams, Tomos Williams, Cameron Winnett
SOUTH AFRICA SQUAD
Siya Kolisi (c), Thomas du Toit, Vincent Koch, Frans Malherbe, Ox Nche, Gerhard Steenekamp, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Ruan Nortje, RG Snyman, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Marco van Staden, Jasper Wiese, Jaden Hendrikse, Cobus Reinach, Grant Williams, Manie Libbok, Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Jesse Kriel, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Aphelele Fassi, Cheslin Kolbe, Willie le Roux, Makazole Mapimpi, Canan Moodie, Damian Willemse
SCOTLAND SQUAD
Sione Tuipulotu (c), Ewan Ashman, Josh Bayliss, Jamie Bhatti, Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings, Luke Crosbie, Alex Craig, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey, Freddy Douglas, Matt Fagerson, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Patrick Harrison, Will Hurd, Ewan Johnson, Nathan McBeth, Elliot Millar Mills, Ben Muncaster, D'Arcy Rae, Dylan Richardson, Jamie Ritchie, Alex Samuel, Pierre Schoeman, Rory Sutherland, Max Williamson, Matt Currie, Jamie Dobie, Darcy Graham, Adam Hastings, George Horne, Rory Hutchinson, Huw Jones, Tom Jordan, Blair Kinghorn, Stafford McDowall, Harry Paterson, Ali Price, Arron Reed, Kyle Rowe, Finn Russell, Mosese Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Ben White
FRANCE SQUAD
Gregory Aldritt, Uini Antonio, Gaetan Barlot, Pierre Bochaton, Paul Boudehent, Joshua Brennan, Georges-Henri Colombe, Francois Cros, Thibaud Flament, Marko Gazzotti, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Mickael Guillard, Anthony Jelonch, Maxime Lamothe, Peato Mauvaka, Emmanuel Meafou, Lenni Nouchi, Charles Ollivon, Alexandre Roumat, Romain Taofifenua, Sebastien Taofifenua, Tevita Tatafu, Reda Wardi, Theo Attissogbe, Leo Barre, Leo Berdeu, Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Romain Buros, Paul Costes, Jonathan Danty, Antoine Dupont, Gael Fickou, Antoine Frisch, Emilien Gailleton, Mathieu Jalibert, Nolann Le Garrec, Mathis Lebel, Maxime Lucu, Yoram Moefana, Damian Penaud, Thomas Ramos, Gabin Villiere
FIJI SQUAD
Waisale Nayacalevu (co-c), Tevita Ikanivere (co-c), Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Sireli Maqala, Ilaisa Droasese, Vuate Karawalevu, Ponipate Loganimasi, Jiuta Wainiqolo, Josua Tuisova, Semi Radradra, Apisalome Vota, Inia Tabuavou, Vilimone Botitu, Waqa Nalaga, Kemu Valetini, Caleb Muntz, Frank Lomani, Simiome Kuruvoli, Peni Matawalu, Eroni Mawi, Haereiti Hetet, Livai Natave, Luke Tagi, Samuela Tawake, Jone Koroiduadua, Meli Tuni, Sam Matavesi, Mesulame Dolokoto, Penaia Cakobau, Isoa Nasilasila, Mesake Vocevoce, Temo Mayanavanua, Leone Rotuisolia, Kitione Salawa, Vilive Miramira, Elia Canakaivata, Albert Tuisue, Meli Derenalagi, Saimoni Uluinakauvadra
