Summary
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.
Updated
Full-time: Japan 23-32 Australia
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.
TRY! Japan 23-32 Australia (McInerney, 79)
The lineout is solid, the maul forms, the drive is powerful, Japan’s defence crumbles, and Connal McInerney seals the victory on his Test debut.
78 mins: Australia kick to the corner with time running out.
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.
Penalty! Japan 23-27 Australia (Tamura, 75)
From 46m out, Yu Tamura, the No 22, hoists a monster penalty to bring the margin down to four points!
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.
TRY! Japan 20-27 Australia (Nakamura, 56)
“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.
Matsuda doesn’t miss a second time.
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.
There's actually too much to go through there..
— Wallabies (@wallabies) October 23, 2021
1. Ikitau pass
2. Whitey chip-and-chase
3. Taniela at scrumhalf
4. Quade's 20metre behind-the-back flick pass
5. Robby Leota's first Test try!
TRY! Japan 13-27 Australia (Leota, 52)
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.
51 mins: Australia kick to the corner - but the lineout misses its target and Phillip knocks on in the air. Japan kick to halfway.
Yellow card! Lemeki, 50
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.
TRY! Japan 13-22 Australia (Tupou, 43)
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.
Cooper misses the touchline conversion.
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.
The teams are back out for the second half.
Half-time: Japan 13-17 Australia
The Wallabies take a narrow lead into the break, but there was plenty to keep the Brave Blossoms interested in that opening term.
Updated
Penalty! Japan 13-17 Australia (Cooper, 40)
Quade Cooper brings the half to its conclusion with a simple dab over the crossbar from 20m out.
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.
35 mins: Solid lineout, but off the back Fainga’a pummels Nakamura as the Japanese centre straightens up and Australia have a significant turnover.
34 mins: Australia try to run from the restart to regain some momentum but yet again there’s a breakdown penalty on the ground on halfway. Masirewa hammers a huge bomb to the right corner and the Brave Blossoms are right on top.
Penalty! Japan 13-14 Australia (Matsuda, 33)
That combination of Japanese attributes make them very dangerous on the counter and the Wallabies experienced just that with an attacking move breaking down soon turning into serious kick-chase pressure and a ruck penalty.
Matsuda continues his perfect day with the boot to narrow the margin to just one point.
30 mins: Japan have been solid in defence and industrious in attack. They have been ragged around the edges at times but broadly they’ve been very impressive. Defensively what they’ve demonstrated is Australia’s long-term problem of a lack of combinations and creativity with ball in hand. Plenty of possession heading in a straight line forward or sideways, but an absence of creativity and unpredictability.
TRY! Japan 10-14 Australia (Lemeki, 26)
Brilliant from Japan. From the restart the home side got to work in midfield, pushing Australia back with repeat drives, short passing, and and quick hands. The decisive break was to the left edge which opened the field on the right. Matsuda saw the opportunity and floated a glorious crossfield kick for Lemeki to haul in, step inside off the wing, and outmuscle Wright to dive over. That was a seriously good attack and a mighty finish.
Matsuda backs up his work by stroking over a nonchalant conversion from the right touchline.
TRY! Japan 3-14 Australia (Petaia, 22)
The lineout on the left touchline is safe and soon becomes a penalty advantage. There’s no maul to speak of so the task is to get the ball out as fast as possible to the space on the right. The ball movement is precise and by the time it reaches Petaia on the right touchline he has an age to run around the outside and touch down.
Cooper converts a magnificent touchline conversion from the right.
21 mins: Japan’s first scrum feed of the day holds up and play sweeps from left to right until Matsuda straightens up and is taken down in a vital tackle. Thereafter play gets ragged with Japan conceding the turnover, Australia kicking to the vacant space in behind, and the hosts making a big old mess of the clearing hack to touch. After all that the Wallabies overcook their lineout on the 22, but off the back of it Australia are awarded a “who knows what?” penalty in midfield inviting a kick to the corner.
18 mins: Australia are back in motion, going through the phases in midfield, but it’s a touch purposeless after the initial burst and Phillip concedes a penalty with a handling error. This is exactly where Kerevi makes such a difference outside Cooper. The No 10 has started well, busily orchestrating these long drives, but there is an absence of the kind of penetration and diversion Kerevi offers.
Penalty! Japan 3-7 Australia (Matsuda, 16)
From 25m out, just to the right of the posts, Matsuda makes no mistake.
16 mins: Australia try to expand from right to left but the passing it’s en pointe and Kellaway ends up with a hospital pass. He’s tackled as soon as he gathers, doesn’t release, and Japan have a penalty in kicking range.
15 mins: Second scrum, second scrum penalty to Australia. Meanwhile Hodge has left the field, replaced by Petaia.
14 mins: The lineout is secured but there’s no roll to the maul. Australia’s pack digs in, everything comes to a standstill, and the referee’s arm points gold’s way. A win for the Wallaby forwards.
13 mins: Better from Japan, working hard in midfield, driving at the heart of Australia’s defence and Himeno bursting out of a tackle to gallop into the 22. They’re on the lookout for the quick pass at all times, making them very hard to get a hold of once there’s some momentum. A penalty advantage is called on the left wing so Japan kick to the corner and build for a pushover.
10 mins: A scrappy few minutes with Australia clearing to touch on the full, Japan gifting the turnover in midfield off the lineout, but then Cooper handing it straight back. Eventually the Wallabies clear and then Phillip pilfers the host’s throw.
Conversion! Japan 0-7 Australia (Cooper, 9)
Dead silence in Oita for Cooper’s simple conversion. It was almost as though sound had been erased in some kind of science experiment. Anti-noise, if you like. But then as soon as the ball soared over the black dot Jet’s Are You Gonna Be My Girl kicks in.
TRY! Japan 0-5 Australia (Wright, 7)
Fainga’a is back on his feet and packing down into the first scrum of the afternoon. Of course it requires resetting. When it’s settled Australia soon earn a penalty advantage so once the ball comes off Cooper feeds Valetini on the burst with a sumptuous pass. The No 10 then guides Australia down the left into the 22, then hits the line himself, takes a step, offloads to Tom Wright, and there’s the first try of the day under the posts. Superb multi-phase attack, running purposefully with ball in hand, led by Cooper, who is in some rare form.
In the crowd, Japanese fans have those clappy thunderstick things, which makes it sound like there’s a downpour of rain on a corrugated iron roof every few minutes.
🔥 Vintage Quade
— Wallabies (@wallabies) October 23, 2021
LIVE BLOG: https://t.co/qjXWhgQeIy
🗓 TODAY Sat 23 Oct 3:45pm AEDT
📺 @StanSportAU#JPNvAUS #Wallabies @etoroAU @CadburyAU pic.twitter.com/yiL9BLOsTK
Updated
5 mins: Japan try to run the ball through midfield but it’s all a bit frantic and isolated and it’s little surprise when the ball hits the deck. Behind play, Fainga’a is in pain - looks like an ankle injury.
4 mins: Japan complete the first lineout of the day, but again the box kick clear is run straight back to good effect by the tourists. Hodge again is prominent entering the line - on two occasions - as Hodge controls a multiphase attack from left to right. The gainline is crossed repeatedly as Australia enter the 22. The forwards are doing plenty of grunt work, perhaps too much, as Phillip gets in the way of a Cooper pass that stops the long drive in its tracks and allows the eager Brave Blossoms to hack forward and gain territory. Australia scramble in defence and we’re back to halfway.
2 mins: Japan secure the kick-off but the clearing kick is gobbled up by Hodge and Australia get to work running at the hosts on the right wing. A few fast phases with slick hands take the Wallabies to the 22 but they run out of room.
Kick-off!
Australia’s spring tour is underway in southern Japan. It’s warm and clear and dry in a superb stadium.
Out dash the Wallabies in their traditional gold uniform with green strip. Japan follow close behind in a much more controlled march, wearing their cherry and white hoops, reminiscent of Wigan rugby league.
Another week, another need for a serious discussion around the role of concussion in the sport.
While Australia are in Japan, the All Blacks are in the USA, for what could prove a landmark Test.
Around the rugby world, the US remains an object of fascination. Its domestic men’s competition, Major League Rugby, recently completed a third full season. It provides all 23 players to face the All Blacks, a game day outside the autumn international window counting out those who play abroad. As Knight described, the game also continues to develop outside MLR, in schools and colleges, in sevens and, strikingly, on the women’s side of the ledger.
Some tragic rugby news this week with the death of Māori All Blacks representative Sean Wainui.
Bret Harris sets the scene:
It has been four long years since the Wallabies last played Japan. Remarkably, the Wallabies’ 63-30 win in Yokohama in 2017 was the only time the Australian side has played the Brave Blossoms in a Test on Japanese soil.
In Australia this match is only available on Stan Sport. This was news to me until about a minute ago. I am now exploiting my week’s free trial of the umpteenth separate pay-TV platform necessary to keep abreast of Australian sport.
I’ll be very interested to know if any of you have also signed up specifically for this match, whether you intend to continue with the subscription, or whether you’ve opted out.
Starting XVs
Dave Rennie has tinkered with line-up, in part to accommodate the absence of bulls Koroibete and Kerevi. Hunter Paisami and Tom Wright come into the XV, in the backline, while further forward, Rob Leota replaces Pete Samu at blindside flanker, and lock Matt Philip starts ahead of Darcy Swain.
Aussie Ben Gunter will debut for @JRFURugby against the @wallabies 👀
— Stan Sport (@StanSportAU) October 21, 2021
↳ Japan v Wallabies LIVE Saturday 3:30pm AEDT, only on Stan Sport.
Stan Sport, the Home of Rugby.#StanSportAU pic.twitter.com/fpclLTxyhm
Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of the first instalment of the Wallabies’ spring tour. Japan’s Brave Blossoms are the hosts and the action at Oita Stadium gets underway at 1.45pm local time (3.45pm AEDT).
Even though Japan have played Test rugby since 1932, the Wallabies have only played them on five occasions, so there’s a novelty to this clash. And that historic unfamiliarity extends to recent months too, because while the Wallabies have played 16 Tests during the coronavirus pandemic, Japan have suited up only twice since 2019.
Australia’s coach, Dave Rennie, isn’t underestimating the challenge, despite his side starting as hot favourites on the back of four consecutive victories over South Africa and Argentina. “We’ve got a huge amount of respect for the Brave Blossoms who are now competitive with the best sides in the world,” Rennie said. “We’ll need to be at our best.”
The Wallabies will not be at full strength with power backs Marika Koroibete and Samu Kerevi both absent. Kerevi in particular has transformed Australia’s running game since returning to the side.
I’ll be back with more shortly, but if you would like to join in, you can reach me by email or Twitter (@JPHowcroft).
JRFU mascots, Ren-G are in da house! 💫
— Japan Rugby (@JRFURugby) October 23, 2021
🇯🇵 Japan v Australia 🇦🇺
📺 Watch from 13:15 on @jsports_rugby /@hulu_japan or from 13:30 on @ntv_rugby #WeAreBraveBlossoms 🌸 #JPNvAUS pic.twitter.com/ZJKbrOngeQ
