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With a daring strategy, the Wallabies benched a dozen-plus stars and appointed their most inexperienced skipper in over six decades. Against the odds, this gamble paid off, with the Wallabies overcame ex-mentor Eddie Jones' Japanese team by four points in wet and windy the Japanese capital.

Snapping a Slide and Maintaining a Unbeaten Run

This narrow victory ends three-match slide and keeps Australia's perfect record versus the Brave Blossoms unbroken. Additionally, it prepares the team for the upcoming fixture to Twickenham, where the squad's top XV will aim to replicate last year's thrilling win over England.

The Coach's Canny Tactics Pay Off

Up against world No. 13 team, Australia had a lot on the line following a challenging home season. Head coach Joe Schmidt opted to give less experienced stars an opportunity, concerned about fatigue over a grueling five-week road trip. This canny though daring approach echoed a previous Wallabies experiment in recent years that ended in an unprecedented loss to Italy.

Early Struggles and Fitness Setbacks

The home side started strongly, with hooker a key forward delivering several monster hits to unsettle the visitors. But, the Australian team steadied and sharpened, as Nick Champion de Crespigny scoring from close range for an early lead.

Injuries struck early, as locks second-rowers substituted—one with bruised ribs and his replacement the other with concussion. The situation required an already revamped Wallabies to adapt their forward lineup and game plan on the fly.

Frustrating Offense and Key Try

Australia pressed repeatedly on their opponents' try-line, hammering the defensive wall via short-range punches but failing to score for thirty-two rucks. After testing the middle ineffectively, the team eventually went wide from a scrum, and Hunter Paisami breaking the line before setting up a teammate for a score extending the lead to eleven points.

Debatable Calls and The Opposition's Fightback

A further apparent score by Carlo Tizzano got denied twice because of dubious rulings, summing up an aggravating first half for the Wallabies. Slippery conditions, narrow strategies, and the Brave Blossoms' courageous tackling ensured the contest tight.

Late Action and Tense Finish

The home team came out with renewed vigor after halftime, registering through Shuhei Takeuchi to close the gap to 14-8. Australia responded soon after through Tizzano powering over close in to re-establish an 11-point lead.

But, Japan responded immediately after the fullback dropped a grubber, allowing a winger to score. With the score 19-15, the match was in the balance, as Japan pressing for a historic win over Australia.

In the dying stages, Australia dug deep, securing a crucial scrum and a infringement. The team stood firm under pressure, clinching a hard-fought win that sets them well for the upcoming Northern Hemisphere fixtures.