A win’s a win, and the Wallabies will be pleased to get their spring campaign off to a winning start, but it was a ragged performance at times away to Japan. The absence of Samu Kerevi exposed familiar failings in midfield. In open play Australia offered little creatively beyond Quade Cooper, and thankfully the veteran delivered - creating two tries with some glorious skills - but on many other occasions the Wallabies ended up conceding possession, asking too much of their playmaker.
The pack continued its run of excellent performances at the set-piece, nailing a beautiful training-ground routine to score off a lineout, then icing the game with a pushover try. Around the ground there was less to enthuse about with plenty of breakdown penalties.
Japan showed great intent and their line speed and industry in defence denied Australia quick ball, while in possession they strung a number of decent multi-phase drives together. They proved they deserve a seat at rugby’s top table.
Thanks for joining me this afternoon. There will be more coverage as Australia’s tour continues.
Rob Leota’s try helped Australia to victory in Japan. Photograph: Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images
The Wallabies extend their winning run to five matches for the first time in 13 years (outside a World Cup). Japan made them work for every point but Australia had just enough where it mattered.
77 mins: Following the restart Australia get the ball back in gold hands in midfield and work a series of short drives. With space on the right the ball is spun wide where Petaia does brilliantly to collect a pass on his laces then chip and chase his own ball over the back. The short pick and go phases resume, but this time in Japan’s 22 - the Wallabies grinding the Brave Blossoms - but there’s a breakdown steal and Japan escape! They don’t get far though. They try to keep the ball alive on the left but Valetini is too big and strong, he holds his ground, and the penalty goes Australia’s way.
73 mins: Japan attack off the lineout on halfway from right to left, but the defensive line is strong. Eventually the bomb goes up but it’s easy for Wright and the Wallabies can run the ball through midfield. It’s a conservative drive though and Cooper is deep in the pocket to hammer a kick downfield, which is in turn belted back by Japan. Nobody seems to want to grab this game by the scruff of the neck. Australia go through the motions of a few phases in midfield, but it all grinds to a halt and Japan are awarded a penalty! It’s a long way out, but it’s still going to be a kick for goal.
71 mins: Japan secure the lineout on their own line then grind 10m forward before earning a breakdown penalty. Play is back to halfway - nine minutes remaining.
70 mins: Cooper strikes the left-hand upright with the penalty effort, the ball bounces back into play and bobbles into touch near the corner! Have you ever seen that before!?
68 mins: The Wallabies win that scrum against the head and Cooper is asked to kick for goal from 40m out to the right of the posts. That decision is an indication of how much Australia have to respect Japan in these closing stages.
68 mins: Another scrappy series of phases from both teams in midfield, this time ending with a Japanese scrum feed just inside their own half. As the substitutes have come on this contest has lost its structure and the Wallabies are looking a little aimless.
65 mins: Both sides play butterfingers in midfield and Australia are forced to hack clear from deep. Japan rebuild just inside Australia’s half but they’re soon at the 22 and loading up. Australia have their backs against the wall but Cornelsen and Moore have some miscommunication at the clearout and the Wallabies breathe a sigh of relief. An awful lot of this match has been played on Japan’s terms.
63 mins: An even defensive scrum this time allowing White to smash a massive clearing kick to halfway. 17-minutes left, all still to play for. No easy final quarter for the Wallabies.
62 mins: It’s a long lineout that’s taken at the back, but there’s no maul, bodies hit the deck, and all the oxygen is sucked from the move. The Australian penalty is a formality. Japan have really let themselves down in that phase of the game today.
61 mins: Japan do well in midfield and then find some room on the left wing to send them to the 22. Petaia halts the attack and tries to win the ball back on the ground but someone in gold is penalised and Japan kick to the left corner. Pressure building.
59 mins: Attacking scrum to Australia on the right wing. They’ve dominated this aspect all day, but Japan hold their own - then get a shove on - and it’s a penalty to the hosts! Huge win for Japan’s pack. They can clear their ground and reset on halfway with 15-men back on the field and just a converted try the difference.
“It’s the circle of lifeeeeeee...” Maybe that missed penalty was meant to be? Three points missed becomes seven gained in no time. Australia try to take the game on inside their own 22, Japan are up quickly, Nakamura intercepts, and the centre can dart unopposed under the bar.
55 mins: Yikes! Japan earn a breakdown penalty in Australia’s half, and they elect to take the three points from gimme range in an effort to milk the clock with 14-men on the field. But Matsuda somehow misses to the right.
The Wallabies have their heads down and bums up in midfield for a series of phases. Ikitau provides the much needed burst of inspiration on the right, clearing up behind Petaia, and after his dart feeds White, the chip and chase is perfect, continuing the flood of gold jerseys forward. Deep in Japanese territory play resettles, but it’s blown wide open again when Cooper unleashes a pass out the back of his hand that unlocks the left edge. The ball is then nursed through hands until Leota car rumble around the outside and score. Thrilling improvised attacking rugby.
Cooper misses the conversion attempt from the left touchline.
There was a long pause for some replacements to come on, during which the TMO studied the tape and spotted a clear shoulder charge on Paisami at the end of that phase featuring Cooper’s forward pass. Lemeki has ten minutes to consider his tackling technique.
48 mins: This time the set-play is a rolling maul. It forms, but as it starts to rumble it’s worked towards the touchline to the ball is freed and sent infield. Japan soon force a turnover and kick miles clear. The Wallabies gather and send the kick back with interest once Wright charges down the next attempted boot. Japan struggle in broken field and Australia are soon in possession in great field position, only for Cooper to spray his long floaty pass to the left forward.
46 mins: Good defensive pressure from the Wallabies, starting from a vicious kick-chase, then a series of brutal tackles pushing Japan backwards with every carry. Eventually there’s a penalty on the ground which allows Cooper to pound a free-kick deep to the left corner.
Lovely set-play try from the Wallaby forwards. The lineout was crisp, Valetini ran around off the back and offloaded out to his hooker on the touchline. The immediate pass back infield to Tupou invites the prop to charge into space and once he has a trot on he’s impossible to stop from 10m out, despite bodies trying to get in his way.
42 mins: Australia secure the restart but it’s Japan who have the first proper use of the ball. It’s a conservative drive though until Matsuda launches a garryowen from right to left that Petaia does superbly to mark mid-air. The Wallabies soon receive a penalty advantage which is eventually called and allows Cooper to drill a kick inside the 22 on the right.
39 mins: Finally an Australian wriggles free of the gainline - Leota on the right edge. That followed a series of honest midfield drives and opened up the Japanese defence. Scrambling, then concede a penalty advantage that Cooper tries to exploit, but his Hollywood pass doesn’t land and play will come back for the shot at goal.
37 mins: Japan’s counter-rucking has been a real feature of this half. Australia’s runners are hitting the line from standing starts and white jerseys have been first to the contest in numbers. But it’s broken field play that prompts their latest attack with a sloppy Australian carry down the left resulting in a series of improvised slaloming runs diagonally towards Australia’s left corner - Labuschagne prominent. The Wallabies scramble well in defence and gain a turnover on their 22. The last 10-15 minutes have been played on Japan’s terms.
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