HIGASHIOSAKA, Japan - Japan went blow-for-blow with Australia but ultimately fell short of a first-ever test win against the Wallabies, losing 35-32 at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka Prefecture on Saturday.
The clash in sweltering summer conditions pitted a youthful Japan side against their head coach Eddie Jones' former team, who were playing their first test under new coach Les Kiss.
The contest was deadlocked 14-14 at halftime after Australian lock Miles Amatosero received a 20-minute red card late in the opening period, but the world No. 8 Wallabies were able to overcome their numerical disadvantage and regain the momentum following the interval.
University flyhalf Ryunosuke Ito continued to impress for the world No. 10 Brave Blossoms, producing a burst of pace to cut through the Australian defense for the opening try in the 12th minute.
The tourists hit back through winger Harry Potter to knot the score 7-7 before taking the lead with another converted try, this time from Tom Wright.
After Amatosero was marched for a high hit on Japan captain Warner Dearns, the Brave Blossoms drove the length of the ground for Faulua Makisi to dot down, with Takuro Matsunaga adding the extras.
In a frenetic opening to the second half, the 14-man Wallabies notched converted efforts from Max Jorgensen and Fraser McReight either side of an unconverted maiden test try by Japan winger Kazuma Ueda.
With Australia restored to 15 men, a pair of Matsunaga penalties brought Japan within a kick at 28-25 before Taniela Tupou's converted try pushed the Wallabies' lead back to 10 points.
Japan turned a period of sustained pressure into a 78th-minute try for Dearns, but the tourists were able to protect their slender lead until the siren.
"We let ourselves down with some key fundamental errors and that was the difference between the two teams in the end," said Jones, who was nevertheless buoyed by the performance of his younger players. "If you look at the side at the end, we had three university students and they all looked like they could be very, very good test players. I thought particularly Ito today was outstanding."
The two sides will meet again in a week's time in Townsville, Australia.
