Wallabies vs Japan: Les Kiss wins first match as Australia coach against Brave Blossoms

The Les Kiss era begins with a win — just.

Australia has held on to defeat Japan 35-32 in Osaka.

It was a thrilling match from start to finish, and sets up next week’s second Test in Townsville brilliantly.

This is where we end tonight’s live blog coverage.

We will be back next Saturday afternoon for the second Test.

We hope you join us then.

Goodnight.

— reporting by AAP

Les Kiss was made to sweat in his Wallabies coaching debut as the visitors survived moments of calamity and a red card to beat Japan 35-32 in Osaka.

The visitors trailed early but, just as they appeared set to steady and surge away, were reduced to 14 men for 20 minutes thanks to a Miles Amatosero red card.

Japan, coached by Eddie Jones and seeking their first win in eight encounters, smelt blood.

But the Wallabies, while unconvincing, did enough in 30-degree heat to win a second-straight Test and first under new coach Kiss.

Japan led after a helter-skelter first 15 minutes, silky flyhalf Ryunosuke Ito slicing through staggered defence after Wallabies flanker Fraser McReight had won a penalty, tapped and run out of his defence only to turn the ball over with a speculative pass on halfway.

Harry Potter had an immediate reply though, the Wallabies going right then left before the winger ran back on the angle to score.

Flyhalf Declan Meredith continued to battle with his exit kicking, earning precious little ground to ensure Japan maintained the pressure.

But the visitors still slowly got traction, lock Josh Canham winning a penalty and Tom Wright the try-scorer after some rare fluency in attack.

They looked set to cross again from a driving maul in the right corner.

But the Japanese twisted it to a stop and Amatosero’s rush of blood not only cost them the points, but gave Japan a numerical advantage for 20 minutes.

The lock, who has a reputation as a hot head after a preseason run-in with a NSW Waratahs teammate, had his left arm tucked when he attempted to clean out Japan captain Warner Dearns.

Dearns was moved by a tackler and Amatosero’s shoulder appeared to hit the Hurricanes Super Rugby star in the head.

The yellow card was upgraded to a 20-minute red and it took Japan barely a minute to capitalise, opening up the Wallabies around the ruck and scoring through Faulua Makisi to lock it up at halftime.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii showed nice footwork and his offload set up a nice Wallabies try, Max Jorgensen barging over while the Wallabies were still down a man after the break.

The teams traded tries and then Japan took three points to make it a six-point game before the Wallabies were allowed their full contingent.

Fumbles kept Australia under the pump and Japan took another three to edge closer approaching the final quarter.

A penalty steadied them though and replacement prop Taniela Tupou easily burrowed over, under the posts, to stretch the lead to 10 with as many minutes to play.

Ben Donaldson entered the game at fullback, with Suaalii pushed to a wing when centre Isaac Henry became Wallaby No.999 with eight minutes remaining.

Japan weren’t done though, winning a scrum penalty and peppering the line and Dearns finally crossing with two minutes to play.

The hosts had possession searching for the match-winner but spilt it in the final seconds to secure Australia an unconvincing win.

Eddie Jones has spoken to Stan Sport after tonight’s 35-32 defeat to Australia.

Here is his initial reaction.

We let ourselves down with a few fundamental errors in the last 20 minutes when we had an opportunity to probably put Australia away.

So pretty disappointed. But I’m really proud of how hard the players have played.

Here are the initial thoughts of new Wallabies coach Les Kiss, who has won his first match in charge, 35-32 against Japan.

He has been interviewed on Stan Sport.

That was tough, wasn’t it? They’re a good team. They play fast and hard, and at home in their own backyard, they’re a tough team to play against.

[We] probably offered a few too many opportunities for them. Some kicking went astray [and we] overplayed a couple of times.

You want to be able to be ambitious, while at the same time temper that.

Overall, that’s a Test win. Well done boys.

The Wallabies were able to score five tries tonight, but they left plenty of points on the board.

At times the Wallabies’ attack was really good, but too often it lacked polish.

Winger Harry Potter, who scored Australia’s first try tonight, said the foundations are there for the Wallabies to work on as the year continues.

I think fans will be watching that, thinking ‘they missed some opportunities’. We certainly felt that way on the field.

We found space, but then didn’t quite make the last pass. That will certainly be something to work on for next week, but promising.

Wallabies captain Harry Wilson has joined Stan Sport after Australia’s 35-32 win over Japan.

The number eight says he is thrilled to get the win tonight.

We’re really happy with the win. They’re a good team, we saw what they did to Italy. They were in it against France right to the end.

We knew it was going to be a tough battle in their conditions, in some bloody tough conditions.

There’s plenty to work on, I think we hurt ourselves way too much, but when we held onto the ball [and] went through them, I thought we looked really good too.

It was hot and humid in Osaka, and the game was played at a frantic pace. Reflecting on his team’s performance and what the Wallabies need to do moving forward, Wilson said discipline in attack and defence was an area of focus.

We pushed the pass too often. In these conditions, the ball is soaked, and we probably needed to be a bit smarter with it.

In defence, sometimes we were a bit lazy. A few passive tackles and they get quick ball and then they really put you under the pump.

Let’s get some reaction from Australia’s 35-32 win over Japan.

Fly half Declan Meredith, who played 80 minutes tonight, has joined broadcaster Stan Sport.

We knew it was going to be a tough game; Japan are a quality side and they showed that tonight.

We’ll definitely take the win, but I think a lot of positives [with a] new coaching staff. A lot of positives to take into next week.

Defensively, the Wallabies were keen to put a lot of pressure on the Brave Blossoms.

But that high pressure came at a cost, with Japan taking opportunities to slice through and score.

Meredith says the Wallabies have positives to take out of that defensive performance, but there was still plenty to improve on.

I think we’ve got a lot of boys with different strengths in our D-line. We just wanted them to show those strengths and I think the boys executed that well tonight. We’re still trying to find continuity, but again, I think a lot of positives going into next week.

New Wallabies coach Les Kiss has won his first Test in charge of Australia, surviving a major scare against Japan in a frantic match in Osaka.

Japan threatened to earn a historic first Test win over Australia, taking an early lead and playing 20 minutes against 14 men after Wallabies lock Miles Amatosero was red-carded for a dangerous cleanout.

But the Wallabies regrouped in the second half, scoring three tries to earn a 35-32 win.

The Wallabies kick-off and they go long.

Japan needs to go 80 metres to score a try and win the Test match.

A field goal or penalty goal will earn a draw.

Japan goes through seven phases, and Brave Blossoms legend Michael Leitch drops the ball.

We have a grandstand finish.

With a third penalty in a row, Japan went for the tap.

They pounded the Wallabies’ goal-line, and it was captain Warner Dearns who scored with a pick-and-drive from close range.

Japan will have one minute to score a try to beat Australia for the first time.

Japan 32

Australia 35

Japan has another line-out five metres out, and again they go for the rolling maul.

Australia defends it again, forcing Japan to go through the hands.

The Wallabies have been penalised for being offside. Issack Henry was the man offside.

Japan keeps attacking.

Japan has a line-out, just five metres out.

The Brave Blossoms go for the rolling maul, but Australia defuses it.

Japan plays on, and they are playing with advantage.

PENALTY.

Attacking from close range, Australia has scored through reserve prop Taniela Tupou.

The big man was too strong and muscled his way over the line, under the posts.

The Wallabies have a 10-point lead.

Japan 25

Australia 35

Wallabies fly half Declan Meredith has produced a second terrific kick to the corner from a penalty.

The Wallabies have the chance to attack and try to put the game to bed.

The Wallabies go for a trick play from the line-out which doesn’t work, but they hold possession.

They go several phases, playing with advantage …

Three more changes for Australia.

Flanker: Charlie Cale on for Rob Valetini

Wing: Ben Donaldson on for Harry Potter

Scrum half: Tate McDermott on for Ryan Lonergan

Ben Donaldson has moved to fullback and Tom Wright is now at left wing.

Australia won a scrum penalty, and it would be an easy kick at goal.

Wallabies captain Harry Wilson called for another scrum.

The Wallabies dominated the Japanese scrum, and played with advantage.

PENALTY AUSTRALIA.

Fly half Declan Meredith goes for a quick tap, and he kicks the ball over his own head.

Scrum half Ryan Lonergan catches the ball, but is tackled and Japan pilfer the ball, winning a penalty.

That was so, so poor from Meredith, and EXACTLY what Australia did not need. Australia could have gone for another scrum and tried to put more pressure on the Japan front row, seeking a yellow card if more penalties came.

Japan has been awarded a penalty, right in front of the posts.

Australia’s Taniela Tupou looked to have stolen the ball from Japan, but teammate Fraser McReight was penalised for not rolling away from the ruck and disrupting the Japanese players.

Takuro Matsunaga kicks the goal to reduce the margin to three.

Japan 25

Australia 28

The 20-minute red card has ended for Australia.

They are back to 15 players on the field.

Jeremy Williams is on at lock, covering for Miles Amatosero who was sent off.

Other substitutions made by Les Kiss:

Prop Taniela Tupou on and Allan Alaalatoa off.

Hooker Billy Pollard on and Josh Nasser off.

Japan have been awarded a penalty, after Australian prop Angus Bell was penalised for hands in the ruck.

Down by nine, the Japanese have elected to kick for goal.

Takuro Matsunaga kicks the goal to reduce the margin to six.

Japan 22

Australia 28