Match report
There was good, bad and plenty of ugly but the Les Kiss era is off to a winning start. Despite searing heat and a brave home side, the Wallabies shrugged off an early red card and a litany of reckless errors to welcome their new coach to international rugby with a brave but dramatic victory over Japan in Osaka.
Summary
Thank you for joining me this evening. I hope you enjoyed that ding-dong affair as much as I did.
I’ll see you back here for the second half of this double-header next Saturday afternoon. That one comes to you from Townsville.
Stay tuned for all the reaction and analysis as Australia begin the Les Kiss era with a hard fought win.
Kiss was good value in his first postmatch media duties, encouraging his players to back their skills, lamenting a lack of game management, and providing some tactical insights into how he set up his team differently after half-time.
“That was tough, they’re a good team,” remarks Les Kiss. “We gave them too many opportunities. We overplayed at times. But overall its a Test win. Well done boys.”
Harry Potter had a good game for Australia tonight and he spent some of his time in front of a microphone complimenting Japan’s attack, name-checking Ito and his ability to pop up in unexpected places. The 21 year old is going to be his country’s first rugby superstar.
Australian skipper Harry Wilson has said a few words. “We’re really happy to win,” he told Stan Sport, they’re a good team. They were bloody tough conditions.”
“We’re trying to be disciplined… that was our main message… discipline on both sides of the ball.”
Wilson then jogs off to lift a handsome looking trophy akin to the Vince Lombardi awarded after the Super Bowl, and pose with a hilariously large bottle of what looks like cough mixture in support of the matchday sponsor.
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That’s the first time in a year Australia have won back-to-back Tests, and only the third time in the past two years.
“Did what we needed to do but simply had to win that for Les to get off to a winning start against a team like Japan,” emails Marlon Maton, a sentiment I’m sure is shared by many Australians. But make no mistake this is a very handy Japanese team and the more exposure Ito gets the better they will become.
That was a thoroughly entertaining Test match. Japan are tremendous fun and Ryunosuke Ito is a superstar.
Australia showed grit to come through despite playing 20 minutes with just 14 men and Declan Meredith enduring a stinker at fly-half.
Full-time: Japan 32-35 Australia
Les Kiss wins his first match in charge of the Wallabies.
80 mins: Meredith goes long from the restart. Japan have 90m to go.
79 mins: One minute remaining for Australia to hold on.
CONVERTED TRY! Japan 32-35 Australia (Dearns, 78)
We do have a grandstand finish! The hosts lay siege to the line. Pick and go after pick and go. Dearns thinks he’s over. The whistle blows. The referee clears the wreckage from the mass of bodies. And he raises his arm to the sky!
77 mins: The lineout is to the front this time and there is something resembling a maul. Japan attack infield off the back, there’s a penalty advnatge on the play, Saito sends the ball back to the left touchline but the door’s closed. Japan camp on the line but there’s no way through. Eventually play is halted and Japan reload from a 5m tap and go.
76 mins: The lineout is secure but the Wallabies are waiting to repel, and then obliterate the maul. Gunter keeps the drive alive, there’s a grubber in behind, but McDermott is alert and pounces on the loose ball – but play is recalled for a Japan penalty and they repeat the trick.
75 mins: Australia try to milk the clock at the scrum but the penalty goes Japan’s way! And the Wallabies are marched for backchat! The kick to the left corner gives the hosts a late opportunity to set up a grandstand finish.
73 mins: Japan get into some phase play across halfway and then there’s some chaos ball in the Australian defence that takes some scrambling from Jorgensen and McDermott to clear up. The latter then box kicks downfield and Yazaki spills it, taking the sting out of the contest. That was a massive let off for the Wallabies.
71 mins: Wilson’s bravery to kick for the corner instead of accepting penalty points comes good for Australia again. It has cost them points twice today, but the statement of intent is worth its weight in gold.
CONVERTED TRY! Japan 25-35 Australia (Tupou, 70)
Can the Australian set-piece spin gold once more? The throw is to the front, but the ball out is spilled – backwards – and the attack continues. It’s pick-and go from 5m out, now with a penalty advantage. Cale gets close. Paisami closer. Tupou goes over under the posts! The Wallabies pack comes up trumps close to the line yet again!
68 mins: Paisami, Meredith, and Jorgensen, link neatly in midfield. Williams straightens things up as Australia grind through the phases and win a breakdown penalty just about within kickable distance. Meredith kicks for the left corner.
67 mins: Australia attack from right to left off a lineout on halfway, a move that ends with a nothing kick forward that Japan belt back with interest. Both teams trying to play for territory late in the game.
65 mins: Japan’s scrum just about holds firm and Ito can boot beyond halfway.
63 mins: Both team’s finishers are now on the field but it’s Jorgensen from the starting XV that changes the dynamic of the play with a scorching run down the right. Bell solidifies the platform, but Suaalii fails with his grubber. Ito glides infield menacingly but his kick is wayward and the game descends into broken field chaos. And now Paisami gets in on the act, throwing a loose pass miles forward, giving everyone a chance to catch their breath and pack a scrum.
Meredith will have a three minute hydration break to receive the feedback of his teammates.
62 mins: There’s a penalty advantage on the scrum. Lonergan extracts it, but is quickly wrapped up by Leitch. Play goes back to the infringement, Meredith taps and goes quickly, and he’s monstered at the breakdown. What an absolutely mindless call that was by the No 10. Completely against the structured set-piece based gameplan by a man having an absolute stinker. Another guaranteed three points thrown away.
61 mins: And that scrum becomes a penalty – with Australia opting to repack the set-piece instead of kicking the easy three points.
60 mins: Japan make a mess of the restart allowing the Wallabies an immediate chance to hit back but McReight is just unable to collect the bouncing ball from his bootlaces with the chalk from the try line entering his nostrils. Australia still have an attacking scrum feed.
Penalty! Japan 25-28 Australia (Matsunaga, 59)
Japan attack off the lineout and ease into their phases, executing those quick breakdowns that Eddie Jones demands, and eventually they earn a simple penalty under the crossbar that Matsunaga dabs over. The margin is back to three.
58 mins: Japan attack from right to left off the back of a lineout. Ito dabs a grubber in behind that Wright contemplates touching down for a drop-out, instead passing to Metcalf who makes a hash of his clearing kick. Japan with an attacking lineout.
57 mins: It’s 15 v 15 again as Williams enters the fray in the second row. Australia got away with a couple of fumbles coming out of defence – and a crunching hit on the blindsided Meredith – but they survive.
55 mins: Japan get back into their phase play around halfway, sucking the Australian defence onto them. Ito executes a magnificent sidestep but the gold defensive wall stands firm. With momentum flatlining Saito box kicks and the Wallabies are forced to scramble.
Penalty! Japan 22-28 Australia (Matsunaga, 53)
Matsunaga strokes over the three points as the benches empty with replacements.
51 mins: Japan grind their way through the phases but Australia defend stoutly. Eventually play is recalled for a penalty and the hosts accept the invitation to kick for goal. Perhaps surprisingly considering the player advantage they still have.
CONVERTED TRY! Japan 19-28 Australia (McReight, 49)
The lineout is secure, the Wallabies quickly recycle play at the breakdown and McReight is too quick and strong with the pick and drive to urge himself over the line for another try! That score has become Australia’s trademark in 2026, taking advantage of the solid set-piece and rampaging back row.
Lonergan makes it 4/4 off the tee.
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47 mins: Japan threaten again with Takeuchi picking and going but Bell does well in defensive to force the turnover. Meredith multiplies the value with a massive kick out of hands to set up the 5m lineout in the left corner.
TRY! Japan 19-21 Australia (Ueda, 45)
Gifted attacking territory Japan show great urgency around the ruck, Ito is alive to every opportunity, and eventually there’s an overlap on the right. But instead of going through hands Ueda straightens and accelerates through the line with a turbo boost of speed to scorch over for an immediate reply. Matsunaga fails with a straightforward conversion attempt, dragging it across the face.
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44 mins: Lonergan kicks out on the full clearing his lines and Japan get an attacking platform.
43 mins: That was outrageous handling from the Wallabies, keeping the ball alive in tight on multiple opportunities when play looked destined to be reset. Seven massive points against the run of play.
CONVERTED TRY! Japan 14-21 Australia (Jorgensen, 42)
Japan begin the second half on the front foot, working through phase from right to left, keeping the defensive line in motion. Eventually Saito box kicks and Suaalii mounts a solo counter. Paisami is busy, Bell comes off the bench to add some muscle, then it’s party time among the backs, flicking and offloading like a sevens exhibition to the left! Suaalii is in the mix, Jorgensen, Lonergan, and when play is brought to ground inches form the line Jorgensen is on the spot for a pick and go!
Lonergan stripes another beautiful conversion to complete the perfect start to the half.
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Considering how awful Meredith was that half, could he be hooked for Jeremy Williams to secure the Australian pack for the remaining 12 minutes they have to operate with 14 men?
“Aggressive Amatosero Trusted to Toe the Line” was the headline in Sydney’s Daily Telegraph this morning.
Japan’s halves are so much fun to watch, Ito in particular has extraordinary potential. The bravery to attack from anywhere, and the execution of combination passing moves is expressive and thrilling.
Australia had to weather an early storm, and then survive the final seven minutes before half-time a man down, but in between looked capable of taking the game away with a couple of clinical tries.
Everything turned around half-an-hour in when Wilson rejected an easy three points in favour of a kick to the right corner. Not only did Australia not score from the set-piece but they lost their enforcer lock forward Amatosero for the night. He flew in to execute a clearout but failed to make any wrapping motion with his arms and his shoulder connected with the head of the Japanese skipper. It was always a minimum yellow and soon upgraded to a 20 minute red.
Half-time: Japan 14-14 Australia
An incident-filled, entertaining half of rugby ends all square.
Amatosero yellow card upgraded to 20 min red card (39 mins)
39 mins: Belatedly Japan get the shove on, win the penalty advantage, then attack down the right. Play comes back infield for more Ito combination magic. Dearns busts the line, steams inside the 22, but then Wright not only executes the tackle but gets to his feet, puts his head over the ball, and secures the breakdown penalty.
Meanwhile, Amatosero’s yellow is upgraded to a 20 min red.
37 mins: Valetini packs down in the second row for Australia as Japan feed a scrum on halfway. The scrum is set, reset, then reset again, wasting a full two minutes of Amatosero’s sin-binning.
35 mins: Meredith’s horror night continues with a restart out on the full. He is having an absolute Barry Crocker in the 10 jersey.
CONVERTED TRY! Japan 14-14 Australia (Makisi, 34)
Wow! Japan make 15v14 look easy! Following the clearing kick Takeuchi powers downfield miles, Cornelsen takes up the running through a non-existent ruck, and with all the momentum and a ragged defensive line Makisi is strong enough to carry bodies with him for a thrilling try just to the left of the posts.
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33 mins: That was a massive moment in the match. Australia rejected three easy points and now find themselves down to 14 men as half-time nears.
Yellow Card! Amatosero (Australia, 33 mins)
That’s ten minutes in the bin for the Australian enforcer. It could yet be upgraded remember.
33 mins: Replays show Amatosero comes in from the side and collects Dearns flush on the head with his shoulder. Dearns was falling under contact from Valetini. Which takes precedence, the contact or the mitigating circumstances?
32 mins: This time the maul forms, but it wheels dangerously close to the sideline. The ball is released infield, Japan cover, and the Wallabies get into some slow phase play – until Amatosero flies in from the side and concedes a penalty. The offence is considered severe enough for a video review.
31 mins: The lineout is short, quickly spoiled by Japan, and play is soon recalled for a penalty and another kick to the right corner.
30 mins: Wilson asks Meredith to kick to the right corner instead of going for goal.
29 mins: Canham with the first lineout steal of the night. Australia counter down the left from deep and benefit from a kindly ricochet to allow Potter to steam into attacking 22. 15m out there’s a penalty advantage so Wilson tries something funky, Amatosero passes blind, and play is recalled for the gimme three points.
CONVERTED TRY! Japan 7-14 Australia (Wright, 27)
Superb set-piece try for the Wallabies! From the lineout on the right the ball goes through hands crisply, Paisami draws in the extra defender, then Wright exploits the overlap on the outside. That is a credit to the coaching staff – forwards and backs – because that lineout was long and precise, creating the space behind for the runners to exploit.
Lonergan curls over a beautiful touchline conversion.
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26 mins: Japan grind through phases in tight just inside Australia’s half, but it’s mainly an opportunity for Australia’s centres and back rowers to demonstrate their ferocious tackling. By phase 10 all forward momentum is lost, Canham locks down at the ruck and wins his side a penalty.
24 mins: Australia kick clear from a defensive scrum but Meredith won’t be thrilled with his contact. It’s been a tough start for the Wallabies’ five-eighth.
22 mins: Potter returns a Japanese kick with interest to set up a platform on attacking 22. Not for the first time tonight though Australia are clunky going through midfield, Meredith again not covering himself in glory, and momentum stalls. Japan soon pinch a turnover at the breakdown and counter down the left. The Wallabies set up a roadblock 30m out but the Brave Blossoms just get back up and flourish in broken field, sending the ball to Main to eat up more metres. Ito is a hell of a player. Only 21, still not a senior professional, but mountains of creative and bravery.
This has been a very entertaining opening quarter. Both teams have come to play and get the ball into the hands of the backs as often as possible.
20 mins: Japan attack to the left from their scrum on the right but Maksi is jackalled at the ruck. Wright immediately kicks in behind on the left wing, that is a beautiful kick, almost a 50-22 and forcing indecision from winger and fullback. Potter chases hard, forces the ball free – but is then penalised for playing on the ground.
Time for a much needed hydration break.
18 mins: Australia’s scrum holds firm but as the ball is spun to the left Meredith fumbles a simple catch-and-pass manoeuvre.
17 mins: Japan return to their early dominance of open field footy, the two halves working superbly in tandem, but Okabe loses possession in contact and the Wallabies take a breather. The hosts are running some creative set plays with Ito and Saito playing with incredible freedom.
CONVERTED TRY! Japan 7-7 Australia (Potter, 14)
The Wallabies hit straight back! The bounce of the ball favours Australia on the right wing, allowing Paisami to burst into attack. From that platform the ball is spun wide to the left as far as Potter, who changes the angle of attack infield, straightens up, and the Japanese defence is unable to adjust quickly enough. One attack, one score for Australia.
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CONVERTED TRY! Japan 7-0 Australia (Ito, 12)
Brilliant individual try from Ito! The 21-year-old fly half dances through the exhausted Australian defensive line and crosses under the posts with a couple of gold jerseys hanging off him. That was improvisational brilliance, seizing the moment after relentless pressure forcing the Australian defence to wilt in the heat. That is no less than Japan deserve for a bright start.
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12 mins: The Japanese reload from halfway, get the rub of the green from a bouncing bomb, but as they enter the red zone get hauled back for a dangerous clearout. Yet again Australia can’t clear effectively and Japan come back for more, this time from 30m.
10 mins: Japan’s first scrum feed withstands some serious pressure and the adventurous backs have a chance to gallop into the open paddock. There’s a breakdown advantage to the hosts so Ito dabs a delicious kick through the line for his left winger to gather. He chips and chases forcing a scrambling try-line save from Jorgensen. The Wallabies can’t clear their lines decisively so Japan storm right back into the fray, crossing the gainline at will until the left corner is in sight – whereupon there’s a lost ball and Canham can hack clear.
8 mins: As is now customary, there’s a reset, which nobody will mind tonight considering the fierce heat. It’s an even set piece that allows Lonergan to dart off the back and set the Wallabies away down the left but Paisami’s long pass is poor and momentum stalls. From the breakdown play returns infield and Suaalii spills in contact. Japan have enjoyed the better of these opening exchanges.
6 mins: Lonergan makes it three kicks from three phases of Australian possession as the Wallabies focus on clearing their lines early. Japan remain on the front foot with Gunter sharking from the ruck, but after he’s brought to ground there’s a knock-on and we’ll see how both these teams match-up in the scrum.
4 mins Lonergan again kicks the Wallabies out of defence, and again Japan attack off the back of a secure lineout. Ito and Saito have been given freedom to play by Jones and both have looked busy early, the latter jabbing a smart low kick in behind the Australian defence to maintain territorial advantage.
2 mins: Australia accept the kick-off, make no ground with a couple of drives, so Lonergan kicks to touch from inside the 22. Japan are more expansive after securing the night’s first lineout, going through hands from left to right wing. Play returns infield and the hosts work some neat combinations to keep the Wallabies shifting in defence. After nine phases Ito lofts a dangerous crossfield bomb that Wright is fortunate to see come off the fingertips of Ueda and into touch. Excellent show of intent from the Brave Blossoms.
Kick-off!
Australian rugby’s Les Kiss era is under way…
Prematch formalities taken care of, kick-off is imminent.
Out come the two sides into the fierce Higashiosaka heat. The hosts are in their white and red hoops, the visitors in traditional gold and green.
Irishman Eoghan Cross is tonight’s referee and the man who will doubtless earn the ire of the cast of former Australian internationals barracking from the commentary box.
“Deep care,” is the message from Les Kiss ahead of his first match in charge of Australia. He wants his team to care about every second, on and off the pitch, when they’re on national team duty.
The 2026 Test calendar is a patchwork quilt of matches scattered around the world as the the All Blacks and Springboks flex their financial muscles and teams begin preparations for next year’s World Cup.
The year’s tentpole is the inaugural Nations Championship, the first three rounds of which have concluded. The second block of three aren’t until November, by which point the Wallabies will have played bilateral series against Japan, Argentina, and New Zealand, as well as a one-off clash against South Africa.
Conditions in Higashiosaka are brutal. The mercury peaked at 35C earlier today. It remains 30C as we approach kick-off, with the “feels like” measurement higher still.
The 30,000 capacity Hanazono Rugby Stadium is the home of the Kintetsu Liners rugby union team and J. League club, FC Osaka. It hosted four off-Broadway matches in the 2019 World Cup.
Angus Fontaine cast his eye over the first squad of the Les Kiss era.
As a player, Kiss was renowned for his speed, fierce tackling and courage under fire. This squad of hard-hitters, gritty stayers and smart cookies is built in his image. He also brings in fresh thinking: Scott McLeod, an ex-All Blacks staffer, 2IC Jonny Fisher, analyst Eoin Toolan and setpiece gurus Tom Donnelly and John Ulugia.
Australia XV
Kiss has not looked to make wholesale changes to his first XV. In the backs there is only one alteration from the side that defeated Italy last time out with Hunter Paisami replacing the injured Len Ikitau. That means faith is shown in the inexperienced halves pairing of Ryan Lonergan and Declan Meredith.
Further forward, Fraser McReight returns to the back row, Josh Nasser gets the nod at hooker, and their are maiden Test starts to prop Aidan Ross and massive second rower Miles Amatosero.
1. Aidan Ross, 2. Josh Nasser, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Josh Canham, 5. Miles Amatosero, 6. Rob Valetini, 7. Fraser McReight, 8. Harry Wilson (c), 9. Ryan Lonergan, 10. Declan Meredith, 11. Harry Potter, 12. Hunter Paisami, 13. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 14. Max Jorgensen, 15. Tom Wright.
Replacements: 16. Billy Pollard, 17. Angus Bell, 18. Taniela Tupou, 19. Jeremy Williams, 20. Charlie Cale, 21. Tate McDermott, 22. Ben Donaldson, 23. Isaac Henry
Japan XV
Eddie Jones has tweaked the side that overcame Italy in Tokyo a month ago. Goal-kicking, try-scoring fullback Takuro Matsunaga is vital, and Naoto Saitō controls the tempo from scrum-half, while the majority of the pack is the same that held its own against Australia this time last year.
The four leading cap-winners in the matchday squad were all born outside of Japan, a list including the inspirational Christchurch native Michael Leitch, who is nearing a century of Tests, and Queenslander Jack Cornelsen, one of three players born in Australia. That includes Ben Guntner, who Harry Wilson grew up playing club rugby with, and Harry Hockings, who counted the Wallabies skipper among his wedding party a couple of years ago.
1 Takato Okabe, 2 Hayate Era, 3 Shuhei Takeuchi, 4 Jack Cornelsen, 5 Warner Dearns (c), 6 Ben Gunter, 7 Kanji Shimokawa, 8 Faulua Makisi, 9 Naoto Saitō, 10 Ryunosuke Ito, 11 Taira Main, 12 Samisoni Tua, 13 Dylan Riley, 14 Kazuma Ueda, 15 Takuro Matsunaga
Reserves: 16 Mamoru Harada, 17 Sojiro Otsuka, 18 Keijiro Tamefusa, 19 Harry Hockings, 20 Michael Leitch, 21 Tiennan Costley, 22 Shunsuke Uenobo, 23 Yoshitaka Yazaki
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Back to tonight’s match, with Jack Snape setting the scene as the Les Kiss era begins in sweltering Japanese heat.
The heat is on for new Wallabies coach Les Kiss – both physically and metaphorically – as he prepares for a sprint to next year’s World Cup, beginning in sweltering Osaka on Saturday.
The temperature for the clash against Japan is forecast to climb to a steamy 36C in the day before the evening kick-off. The only thing that would make the short runway to next year’s showpiece tournament more uncomfortable for Kiss would be an embarrassing first loss to the Brave Blossoms.
Les is the latest in a long line of sportspeople of Hungarian descent named Kiss.
Among them is Gergely, a legend of water polo, Kristina, a Canadian international footballer, Nicky, the former Great Britain rugby league hooker, and László, the scorer of the fastest hat-trick in FIFA World Cup history, and still the only one by a substitute.
Here’s some background on the Wallabies’ new head coach.
Kiss is an outlier. For starters, he’s a “leaguie” who’s never even played union. “It meant I really had to earn my stripes,” Kiss says. “I’ve learned it’s a player’s game and the locker room is every club’s heartbeat. Get standards right, create an environment which allows everyone to be their best, and the 80 minutes of game time takes care of itself. I’m not a copy-and-paste coach. I’m a big believer in values forged together.”
Kiss’s own values were shaped by his parents who fled the Hungarian Revolution to settle in Bundaberg in the 1950s, and his rapid rise as a flying winger in the 80s.
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of Japan v Australia in the first of a two-Test bilateral series. Kick-off at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Higashiōsaka is scheduled for 7.05pm local time (8.05pm AEST).
The dawning of a new era for Australian rugby begins, appropriately enough, in the land of the rising sun. Les Kiss is now the man responsible for the fortunes of the Wallabies, taking the head coaching reins from Joe Schmidt.
Although Schmidt won just two of his last 11 Tests (and 12/31 overall) he departed with his reputation undiminished for the job he did picking up the pieces from the 2023 World Cup fiasco, unearthing some serious talent, and proving that at their best the Wallabies are a match for anyone.
The problem Kiss has to solve is how to maintain top form for 80 minutes, consistently.
With so little preparation time before the 2027 World Cup on Australian soil Kiss needs to hit the ground running. His first squad indicates his approach will be one of continuity not wholesale changes.
As always seems to be the case with Australian rugby Eddie Jones is never far from centre stage and the 66 year old will be in the Japanese coaching box for Kiss’s debut. The pair go way back, but the wily veteran would love nothing more than embarrassing his former employers in such a high profile clash.
I’ll be back with final team lists and more shortly. Please send me your emails and keep me company throughout the evening. The address is jonathan.howcroft.freelance@theguardian.com.
