More questions than answers as Wallabies scrape past Japan

The Wallabies scraped past Japan in less than convincing fashion in Oita on Saturday afternoon, leaving more questions than answers as Dave Rennie’s side prepares for three Tests in three weeks.

The Wallabies started the match hot favourites following four consecutive wins against the Springboks and Argentina, and the visitors appeared to have read their own press.

The 32-23 win was unconvincing, to say the least.

All week, the Wallabies spoke about the threat Japan posed. The Brave Blossoms play high-tempo rugby and Australia needed to play the game at their pace to win the match comfortably.

Within a few minutes, it was clear there was either no such plan or the players had decided to attack as they pleased.

Apart from a dominant period 15 minutes after half-time, the match was played at the frenetic pace Japan coach Jamie Joseph would have desired.

Quade CooperCredit:Getty

With Samu Kerevi unavailable, more of the emphasis in attack fell on Quade Cooper’s shoulders.

The star five-eighth has played a far more understated role than Australian rugby fans have become accustomed to since his return to the Test arena, but he had much more licence to thrill on Saturday.

He set up Tom Wright for the first try of the afternoon after six minutes of vintage Cooper.

There were no-look inside passes, brilliant offloads and flash feet, all aimed to dazzle a Japanese team lacking players with similar creativity.

But that style played into Japan’s hands. Joseph’s side are happy to play at breakneck speed and for the next 15 minutes, they applied some pressure to the Wallabies.

A Japanese turnover turned into field position for the Wallabies and, from a set-piece, an overlap on the right edge turned into five points for Jordan Petaia, who replaced an injured Reece Hodge after 14 minutes.

Hodge suffered what appeared to be a shoulder injury, allowing Andrew Kellaway time to shine at fullback.

Izack Rodda spilled the restart following Petaia’s try. Several phases later, a cross-field kick to Lomano Lava Lemeki gave Japan their first try.

At that point, the Wallabies were clearly trying to beat the home side at their own game. It may not have been the best way to ensure victory, but it made for an entertaining contest.

Leading 17-13 at the break, the first Wallabies loss to Japan was suddenly a real possibility.

Rennie’s half-time speech and game plan adjustments worked. When play resumed, the Wallabies looked far more settled.

A penalty inside their half allowed Cooper to kick his team into Japan’s 22, and Taniela Tupou scored a well-worked try from the lineout soon after.

When Lemeki was shown a yellow card for a shoulder charge a few minutes later, the match was being played on the Wallabies’ terms for the first time.

Rob Leota was on the end of an All Blacks-style try soon after.

Len Ikitau started the break with a sublime offload, but Nic White was stopped short of the try line after regathering his own chip and chase.

Tupou tried his hand at being the world’s biggest halfback. After a couple of loose passes, Cooper threw a no-look, behind-the-back flick across the face of several Wallabies. Folau Fainga’a drew the final man and put Leota in.

But just as the Wallabies threatened to run away with the match, Ryoto Nakamura snatched an intercept from a long, looping Cooper cut-out.

With 23 minutes to play, the Wallabies led 27-20.

That margin was cut to four with six minutes to go, when Yu Tamura slotted a penalty goal.

Set-piece eventually saved the day. Connal McInerney crashed over for a try on debut at the back of a rolling maul, and the result was put beyond doubt.

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