Veteran flank Lappies Labuschagne has been named Japan captain for their Test against the Wallabies in Oita on Saturday.
The South African-born Labuschagne takes over the captaincy in the absence of Michael Leitch, who will play off the bench.
Japan coach Jamie Joseph has selected two Australian-born locks and handed Brisbane-educated loose forward Ben Gunter his Test debut in the Brave Blossoms starting lineup.
The versatile Jack Cornelsen, the son of Wallaby Greg, will team up with James Moore in the second row in place of the injured Wimpie van der Walt.
Former Australian schoolboys wing Dylan Riley could also make his first appearance for Japan from the bench.
Rikiya Matsuda starts at flyhalf with Yu Tamura relegated to the bench, while Yutaka Nagare gets his first start since 2019 at scrumhalf.
Midfield duo Timothy Lafaele and Ryoto Nakamura resume their centre partnership and, in the back three, Semisi Masirewa moves to fullback with Lomano Lemeki coming into the side to replace him on the right wing.
Japan – 15 Semisi Masirewa, 14 Lomano Lemeki, 13 Timothy Lafaele, 12 Ryoto Nakamura, 11 Siosaia Fifita, 10 Rikiya Matsuda, 9 Yutaka Nagare, 8 Kazuki Himeno, 7 Lappies Labuschagne (c), 6 Ben Gunter, 5 James Moore, 4 Jack Cornelsen, 3 Koo Ji-won, 2 Atsushi Sakate, 1 Keita Inagaki.
Subs: 16 Yusuke Niwai, 17 Craig Millar, 18 Asaeli Ai Valu, 19 Michael Leitch, 20 Tevita Tatafu, 21 Naoto Saito, 22 Yu Tamura, 23 Dylan Riley.
Photo: Ashley Western/MB Media/Getty Images
