Wallabies Edge Japan in Rain-Soaked Tokyo Thriller
It was a real grind in Tokyo as Australia just managed to hold off a brave Japanese side in a rain-drenched rugby Test that had everything — drama, grit, and no shortage of heart. In the end, the Wallabies walked away with a 19–15 victory, but Japan made them earn every inch of it.
From the first whistle, it was clear that conditions were going to play a big part. The rain never really let up, turning the ball into a bar of soap and making handling a nightmare. Australia, despite fielding a much-changed lineup, started the stronger side. Their pack dominated early, pushing Japan back in the scrums and making solid ground with every carry. Jake Gordon, at scrum-half, set the tempo beautifully, and Hunter Paisami was at his powerful best through midfield.
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Nick Champion de Crespigny opened the scoring for the Wallabies after a series of relentless drives near the line. It was the kind of try that summed up the first half — ugly, physical, but effective. Japan, though, never stopped fighting. Lee added a penalty to get them on the board, but Australia struck again through Josh Flook after a slick move from the backs that showed glimpses of the visitors’ attacking potential. By halftime, the Wallabies led 14–3 and looked in control, though their missed chances and two injuries to key forwards kept things from feeling comfortable.
The second half, however, was a different story. Japan adjusted to the wet conditions much better. Their scrum began to hold firm, and players like Fujiwara and Gunter started to shine. Takeuchi crashed over for a well-worked try to bring Japan back into the contest, and not long after, Gunter powered through again to narrow the gap to just four points. The home crowd could feel the upset brewing.
Australia, to their credit, didn’t panic. They slowed the tempo, tightened up their play, and relied on experience to close it out. Every metre gained in those final minutes was hard-fought. Japan threw everything they had at them — line breaks, grubber kicks, brave offloads — but the Wallabies’ defence held firm.
When the final whistle blew, the relief was clear on Australian faces. It wasn’t pretty, but in the driving Tokyo rain, it didn’t need to be. For Joe Schmidt’s side, it was a confidence-building start to their spring tour. For Japan, it was another performance that proved how far they’ve come — and how close they are to beating one of rugby’s traditional powers.
Both teams left the field soaked but proud, knowing they had battled through one of those classic Test matches that’s as much about heart as it is about skill.
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