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With a daring move, the Wallabies rested a dozen-plus stars and named the team's most inexperienced captain in over six decades. Despite the risks, this gamble paid off, with the Wallabies overcame their former coach's Japan squad 19-15 in wet and windy Tokyo.

Snapping a Slide and Maintaining a Perfect Record

The close win halts a three-game slide and maintains the Wallabies' unblemished record versus the Brave Blossoms intact. It also sets them up for next week's return to rugby's hallowed ground, in which their top lineup will strive to repeat last year's dramatic win over the English side.

The Coach's Shrewd Tactics Bring Rewards

Up against the 13th-ranked Japan, the Wallabies faced a lot on the line after a challenging home season. Coach the team's strategist opted to give younger players their chance, fearing tiredness during a grueling five-Test tour. This canny yet risky approach mirrored a previous Australian experiment in 2022 that ended in a historic defeat to Italy.

Early Challenges and Fitness Blows

Japan started strongly, with front-rower a key forward delivering multiple big tackles to unsettle the visitors. However, the Australian team regained composure and sharpened, with their new captain crossing from close range for a 7-0 lead.

Fitness issues struck in the opening period, with two locks forced off—Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and stand-in the other with concussion. The situation required an already revamped side to adapt the team's forward lineup and tactics on the fly.

Challenging Attack and Key Score

The Wallabies applied pressure repeatedly on their opponents' try-line, hammering the defensive wall with one-inch attacks but failing to score for thirty-two rucks. After testing central channels ineffectively, they finally went wide from a scrum, and a center slicing through and assisting a teammate for a try extending the lead to eleven points.

Controversial Decisions and The Opposition's Fightback

A further potential score from a flanker got disallowed on two occasions due to questionable rulings, highlighting a frustrating opening period for Australia. Wet conditions, limited strategies, and Japan's courageous tackling kept the match tight.

Late Drama and Tense Conclusion

Japan came out with renewed energy after halftime, registering through a forward to narrow the deficit to six points. The Wallabies responded quickly through the flanker scoring from a maul to re-establish an 11-point lead.

But, the Brave Blossoms struck back after Andrew Kellaway dropped a grubber, letting Ben Hunter to score. With the score four points apart, the match was in the balance, with Japan pressing for their first-ever victory against the Wallabies.

In the dying stages, the Wallabies showed character, securing a crucial scrum and a infringement. The team held on under pressure, clinching a gritty victory that prepares the squad well for the upcoming European tour.