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Australia came from behind to beat Japan 35-32 at Hanazono Rugby Stadium, holding on in a match they spent the majority of playing with 14 men after a first-half red card. It was a second narrow win over the hosts in a matter of months, following the 19-15 result in Tokyo last October, and this time it took a late stand to see it through.
R. Ito (11'), F. Makisi (33'), K. Ueda (44'), W. Dearns (77')
Tries
H. Potter (14'), T. Wright (25'), M. Jorgensen (41'), F. McReight (48'), T. Tupou (69')
T. Matsunaga (12', 34', 78')
Conversions
R. Lonergan (15', 26', 42', 49'), B. Donaldson (70')
T. Matsunaga (52', 58')
Penalties
The scoreline tells you plenty. Nine tries, a red card, a lead that changed hands more than once, and a finish that came down to whether Japan could find one more score. They could not, but only just.
Japan made the brighter opening. Ryunosuke Ito crossed on 11 minutes and Takuro Matsunaga converted for a 7-0 lead, and the fly-half's early involvement set the tone for a lively home attack. But Australia responded quickly through Harry Potter, who was a constant threat all afternoon, and Tom Wright added a second on 25 minutes with Ryan Lonergan converting both.
Then the match tilted. On 31 minutes Miles Amatosero was shown a red card, leaving Australia a man down for the rest of the contest. Japan took advantage before the break, Faulua Makisi going over on 33 minutes and Matsunaga levelling it at 14-14 at the interval.
This was where the match turned. Rather than fold with 14 men, Australia came out and struck twice early in the second half. Max Jorgensen scored within a minute of the restart, and after Kazuma Ueda pulled one back for Japan on 44 minutes, Fraser McReight crossed on 48 to push the visitors 28-19 clear. For a side down a player, it was a remarkable spell of control.
Japan chipped away through Matsunaga's penalties on 52 and 58 minutes to make it 28-25, but the game's most telling blow came off the bench. Taniela Tupou forced his way over on 69 minutes, and with Ben Donaldson's conversion Australia led 35-25 with time running down.
Warner Dearns gave the hosts hope with a try on 77 minutes, Matsunaga converting to close the gap to three. Japan had the numerical advantage and the momentum, but they could not manufacture the final score. For all their territory and effort in the closing minutes, the visitors' defence held.
CARRIES
CLEAN BREAK
DEFENDER BEATEN
TACKLE
MISSED TACKLE
TURNOVER WON
TURNOVERS CONCEDED
PENALTY CONCEDED
RED CARD
POSSESSION
SCRUMS
LINEOUTS
The numbers point to why Japan will feel this one got away. They made more carries (127 to 101), more clean breaks and beat more defenders, and enjoyed 53 per cent of possession. But they conceded 15 turnovers to Australia's 11 and were beaten at the breakdown, where Australia won seven turnovers to two. Playing against 14 men for nearly 50 minutes, that turnover count was a major difference between a famous win and a narrow defeat.
Japan will look back on this with plenty to ponder. They created enough, especially with the extra man, and had strong contributions from Makisi and Dearns up front and from Ito and Ueda in the backs. But the turnovers and the failure to cash in late cost them a scalp they were well placed to take.
For Australia, winning with 14 men for so long says plenty about their resolve, even if the red card and the concessions will not please the coaches. After defeats to Ireland and France in July, this was a result they badly needed, and the bench again made a difference with Tupou's try and Donaldson's conversion helping settle it.
It remains tight between these two, and on this showing the next meeting could just as easily swing the other way.
