In a nail-biting encounter, Australia managed to cling to a 35-32 victory over Japan, overcoming a first-half red card issued to Miles Amatosero. The Wallabies, under the guidance of newly appointed head coach Les Kiss, demonstrated remarkable resilience in the face of adversity, including the sweltering heat and being a man down. Japan staged a formidable comeback, but Australia's determination paid off, securing a win in Kiss' inaugural match. Kiss reflected on the challenging conditions and Japan's formidable performance, noting, 'That was tough, wasn't it?
Not just the conditions. They're a good team. They play fast and hard at home in their backyard.' Following a series of setbacks, including losses to Ireland and France, Kiss took the reins from Joe Schmidt last month.
For the two-Test series against Japan, Kiss opted for a relatively experienced squad, with the exception of uncapped centre Isaac Henry. The match took a dramatic turn when Amatosero received a red card in the 32nd minute for a dangerous clean-out on Warner Dearns, initially given a yellow card that was later upgraded to red. The teams entered the break level at 14-14.
Tries from Max Jorgensen and Fraser McReight in the early stages of the second half helped Australia establish a nine-point lead. However, Japan steadily narrowed the gap with a pair of penalties from Takuro Matsunaga. The quality of Australia's bench proved pivotal, enabling the visitors to maintain pressure on Japan. Taniela Tupou's try with 10 minutes remaining gave Australia a 10-point lead.
Japan captain Dearns orchestrated a thrilling finale, reducing the lead to three, but Australia managed to hold on. Japan's coach, Eddie Jones, expressed disappointment with his team's performance, citing fundamental errors in the final 20 minutes. Despite the loss, Jones praised his players' dedication and the team's overall development.