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With a daring move, the Wallabies rested a dozen-plus stars and named the team's most inexperienced skipper in 64 years. Despite the risks, this high-stakes decision proved successful, as Australia's national rugby side overcame their former coach's Japan squad by four points in wet and windy Tokyo.

Ending a Losing Streak and Preserving a Perfect Record

The close win ends three-match slide and maintains Australia's unblemished record against Japan unbroken. It also sets them up for next week's fixture to rugby's hallowed ground, in which their top XV will aim to replicate last year's thrilling win over England.

Schmidt's Shrewd Tactics Bring Rewards

Up against world No. 13 Japan, the Wallabies had a lot on the line following a difficult domestic campaign. Coach Joe Schmidt chose to hand less experienced players an opportunity, fearing tiredness over a grueling five-Test tour. This shrewd yet risky approach mirrored an earlier Wallabies experiment in 2022 that resulted in a historic loss to Italy.

First-Half Struggles and Injury Setbacks

Japan began strongly, including front-rower a key forward delivering multiple big tackles to unsettle the visitors. However, the Australian team steadied and improved, as their new captain scoring from close range for an early lead.

Injuries struck in the opening period, as two second-rowers substituted—one with bruised ribs and his replacement Josh Canham. This required an already reshuffled Wallabies to adapt the team's pack and game plan mid-match.

Challenging Offense and Key Try

The Wallabies applied pressure for long spells on their opponents' try-line, hammering the defense via one-inch punches yet failing to score over thirty-two phases. Following probing central channels ineffectively, the team finally went wide from a scrum, and Hunter Paisami slicing the line and setting up a teammate for a score extending the lead to eleven points.

Debatable Calls and The Opposition's Resilience

Another potential score by Carlo Tizzano was disallowed twice due to dubious calls, summing up an aggravating first half experienced by the Wallabies. Wet weather, narrow strategies, and the Brave Blossoms' courageous tackling kept the contest tight.

Second-Half Action and Nail-Biting Finish

Japan came out with renewed energy in the second period, scoring via Shuhei Takeuchi to narrow the deficit to six points. The Wallabies responded soon after with the flanker scoring close in to restore a comfortable advantage.

However, Japan struck back when the fullback dropped a grubber, letting Ben Hunter to score. With the score 19-15, the match was on a knife-edge, as the underdogs pressing for their first-ever victory against Australia.

During the dying stages, the Wallabies dug deep, winning a crucial scrum then a infringement. They stood firm in the face of a storm, clinching a hard-fought win which sets them well for the upcoming Northern Hemisphere tour.