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Australia Pushed until the final few seconds, but held on for an upset 19-15 win Japan Side led by controversial ex-Wallabies coach eddie jones Rain-soaked National Stadium in Tokyo Start your autumn campaign.
Nick Champion de Crespigny scored a try in his first match as captain, Josh Fluck and openside Carlo Tizzano also crossed to give the Wallabies their seventh win in seven matches against the Brave Blossoms.
Japan got a taste of the two-time world champions’ upset when second-half tries from prop Shuhei Takeuchi and Australian-born flanker Ben Gunter brought them within four points of the lead heading into the final quarter.
However, the Wallabies have snapped a three-match losing streak and head to Europe for tests against England, Italy, Ireland and France over the next four weeks.
“It was great to get the win and there are definitely some areas to improve on, but we got the win and that’s the important thing,” said flanker champion De Crespigny.
Looking at the coach, the lack of flow in Australia was understandable. Joe Schmidt Made 13 changes to their starting team and lost Lukhan Salakia-Loto and his replacement Josh Canham to injury in the first half.
They also produced a moment of real quality in the match when full back Andrew Kellaway ran a beautiful line to carve through the Japan defense and find Fluck in support to score a try that gave the visitors a 14–3 half time lead.
Vocal Coach Jones – Now in Yours Second stint as Japan coach After a disastrous spell in charge of the Wallabies – he had talked up his side’s chances before the game, but despite coming so close, they were undone by tackling errors and the opponents being a little too disciplined.
The charged contest – Australia’s first chance to prove itself against the coach who walked out on them after the 2023 World Cup – was evident from the start as the sides exchanged thunderous hits.
Drizzly conditions thwarted the quick hands and fleet footwork for which Japanese rugby is known, while the Australians applied pressure with the boot and limped to victory.
“We had chances, but we didn’t start the game well,” Jones said. “In Test match rugby, I think if you score the first try, it gives you a 70 per cent chance of winning, and we were very slow from the blocks.
“I’m really happy with the fact that we’re a team now that’s staying in the fight. We kept going, we could have won the game at the end, but we just weren’t good enough.”
Aidan Ross came on as a replacement prop in the second half to make his Australia Test debut, becoming the fifth man to play for both the Wallabies and All Blacks.
Australia coach Joe Schmidt also confirmed that injuries to Salakia-Lotto and Canham will lead to changes ahead of facing England at Twickenham next weekend.
“With England’s strong group, it means we can be light in the second row,” Schmidt said. “We may need to get some reserves from Australia.”
reuters