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With a daring move, Australia rested 13 key players and named the team's most inexperienced captain in 64 years. Against the odds, this gamble paid off, with Australia's national rugby side defeated ex-mentor Eddie Jones' Japan squad by four points in wet and windy the Japanese capital.

Ending a Losing Streak and Maintaining a Perfect Record

This narrow win halts a three-game slide and keeps the Wallabies' unblemished record versus the Brave Blossoms unbroken. It also prepares the team for next week's fixture to Twickenham, in which the squad's top lineup will strive to repeat previous dramatic triumph over the English side.

Schmidt's Canny Strategy Bring Rewards

Facing world No. 13 Japan, the Wallabies faced a lot on the line after a difficult domestic campaign. Coach Joe Schmidt opted to give younger stars an opportunity, fearing tiredness over a demanding five-Test tour. This canny yet risky approach mirrored an earlier Wallabies experiment in 2022 that resulted in an unprecedented loss to the Italian side.

First-Half Challenges and Injury Setbacks

Japan started with intensity, including hooker Hayate Era landing multiple monster tackles to unsettle Australia. However, the Australian team regained composure and improved, with Nick Champion de Crespigny crossing near the line for a 7-0 lead.

Fitness issues hit early, with locks second-rowers forced off—one with bruised ribs and his replacement Josh Canham. The situation forced the already revamped Wallabies to adapt the team's forward lineup and game plan mid-match.

Frustrating Attack and Key Score

The Wallabies pressed repeatedly on the Japanese line, hammering the defensive wall via short-range punches but failing to break through for 32 phases. Following probing central channels without success, they finally spread the ball at the set-piece, with a center breaking the line before setting up a teammate for a score extending the lead to eleven points.

Controversial Decisions and The Opposition's Resilience

A further apparent score from Carlo Tizzano got disallowed twice because of dubious rulings, highlighting an aggravating opening period for the Wallabies. Wet weather, limited tactics, and Japan's ferocious tackling kept the contest close.

Second-Half Drama and Tense Conclusion

Japan started with renewed energy in the second period, registering through Shuhei Takeuchi to narrow the deficit to six points. The Wallabies responded quickly with Tizzano powering over close in to restore an 11-point lead.

However, the Brave Blossoms struck back after Andrew Kellaway fumbled a grubber, letting a winger to score. With the score four points apart, the game hung on a knife-edge, with Japan pressing for their first-ever win over the Wallabies.

In the final stages, Australia showed character, winning a crucial scrum then a penalty. The team stood firm in the face of a storm, clinching a gritty win which prepares the squad well for the upcoming European tour.