Wallabies vs Japan live: Les Kiss leads Australia in first rugby Test as coach
New Wallabies coach Les Kiss has won his first Test in charge of Australia, surviving a major scare against Japan in a frantic match in Osaka.
Japan threatened to earn a historic first Test win over Australia, taking an early lead and playing 20 minutes against 14 men after Wallabies lock Miles Amatosero was red-carded for a dangerous cleanout.
But the Wallabies regrouped in the second half, scoring three tries to earn a 35-32 win.
Follow all the action of the rugby union Test match between the Wallabies and Japan with the live blog below.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 8:25pm
Live: Japan vs Australia, first Test
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 9:59pm
FULL-TIME: Australia 35 def. Japan 32
New Wallabies coach Les Kiss has won his first Test in charge of Australia, surviving a major scare against Japan in a frantic match in Osaka.
Japan threatened to earn a historic first Test win over Australia, taking an early lead and playing 20 minutes against 14 men after Wallabies lock Miles Amatosero was red-carded for a dangerous cleanout.
But the Wallabies regrouped in the second half, scoring three tries to earn a 35-32 win.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 9:59pm
80′ Japan has one final attack
The Wallabies kick-off and they go long.
Japan needs to go 80 metres to score a try and win the Test match.
A field goal or penalty goal will earn a draw.
Japan goes through seven phases, and Brave Blossoms legend Michael Leitch drops the ball.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 9:57pm
78′ TRY: Warner Dearns (5) scores for Japan
We have a grandstand finish.
With a third penalty in a row, Japan went for the tap.
They pounded the Wallabies’ goal-line, and it was captain Warner Dearns who scored with a pick-and-drive from close range.
Japan will have one minute to score a try to beat Australia for the first time.
Japan 32
Australia 35
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 9:55pm
76′ Japan keeps attacking
Japan has another line-out five metres out, and again they go for the rolling maul.
Australia defends it again, forcing Japan to go through the hands.
The Wallabies have been penalised for being offside. Issack Henry was the man offside.
Japan keeps attacking.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 9:54pm
75′ Japan attacking the Wallabies’ goal-line
Japan has a line-out, just five metres out.
The Brave Blossoms go for the rolling maul, but Australia defuses it.
Japan plays on, and they are playing with advantage.
PENALTY.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 9:48pm
71′ Issac Henry comes on for his Test debut, Wallaby number 999
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 9:45pm
69′ TRY: Taniela Tupou (18) scores for Australia
Attacking from close range, Australia has scored through reserve prop Taniela Tupou.
The big man was too strong and muscled his way over the line, under the posts.
The Wallabies have a 10-point lead.
Japan 25
Australia 35
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 9:45pm
68′ Declan Meredith (10) with another great kick
Wallabies fly half Declan Meredith has produced a second terrific kick to the corner from a penalty.
The Wallabies have the chance to attack and try to put the game to bed.
The Wallabies go for a trick play from the line-out which doesn’t work, but they hold possession.
They go several phases, playing with advantage …
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 9:40pm
63′ Wallabies make three changes
Three more changes for Australia.
Flanker: Charlie Cale on for Rob Valetini
Wing: Ben Donaldson on for Harry Potter
Scrum half: Tate McDermott on for Ryan Lonergan
Ben Donaldson has moved to fullback and Tom Wright is now at left wing.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 9:35pm
60′ Wallabies turn down two chances to kick for goal
Australia won a scrum penalty, and it would be an easy kick at goal.
Wallabies captain Harry Wilson called for another scrum.
The Wallabies dominated the Japanese scrum, and played with advantage.
PENALTY AUSTRALIA.
Fly half Declan Meredith goes for a quick tap, and he kicks the ball over his own head.
Scrum half Ryan Lonergan catches the ball, but is tackled and Japan pilfer the ball, winning a penalty.
That was so, so poor from Meredith, and EXACTLY what Australia did not need. Australia could have gone for another scrum and tried to put more pressure on the Japan front row, seeking a yellow card if more penalties came.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 9:31pm
58′ PENALTY GOAL: Japan reduce the deficit to three
Japan has been awarded a penalty, right in front of the posts.
Australia’s Taniela Tupou looked to have stolen the ball from Japan, but teammate Fraser McReight was penalised for not rolling away from the ruck and disrupting the Japanese players.
Takuro Matsunaga kicks the goal to reduce the margin to three.
Japan 25
Australia 28
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 9:27pm
53′ Red card over for Australia. Substitutions made
The 20-minute red card has ended for Australia.
They are back to 15 players on the field.
Jeremy Williams is on at lock, covering for Miles Amatosero who was sent off.
Other substitutions made by Les Kiss:
Prop Taniela Tupou on and Allan Alaalatoa off.
Hooker Billy Pollard on and Josh Nasser off.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 9:24pm
53′ PENALTY GOAL: Japan reduce the deficit to six
Japan have been awarded a penalty, after Australian prop Angus Bell was penalised for hands in the ruck.
Down by nine, the Japanese have elected to kick for goal.
Takuro Matsunaga kicks the goal to reduce the margin to six.
Japan 22
Australia 28
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 9:19pm
49′ TRY: Fraser McReight (7) scores for Australia
Excellent from the Wallabies.
With a line-out five metres out, Australia wants to maul but they missed their timing, and captain Harry Wilson had to offload the ball.
But the Wallabies are pounding the goal-line, and after a couple of runs, flanker Fraser McReight took a pick-and-drive and he fought his way to the line.
Japan 19
Australia 28
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 9:19pm
48′ Declan Meredith (10) produces the perfect kick for the Wallabies
Australia earned a penalty at midfield after Japan held onto the ball in the break down.
Wallabies fly half Declan Meredith kicks for touch, and he puts it five metres from the Japan goal-line.
Australia has a huge chance here.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 9:15pm
45′ TRY: Kazuma Ueda (14) scores for Japan
A perfect response from Japan.
They keep the ball in hand, running against a 14-man defence.
Wallabies outside centre Joseph Suaalii rushed out of the defensive line, and it created a little gap for Japanese winger Kazuma Ueda to burst through and score.
Takuro Matsunaga misses the conversion attempt. The first miss by either side tonight.
Japan 19
Australia 21
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 9:12pm
42′ TRY: Max Jorgensen (14) scores for Australia
A stunning try from the Wallabies.
They make a break down the left wing, after a couple of lovely flick passes led to fly half Declan Meredith coming within one metre of scoring.
Right winger Max Jorgensen has come to the other side of the field to pick and drive, and the little winger fights with everything he has to get the ball on the line.
Japan 14
Australia 21
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 9:11pm
Second half begins in Osaka
We have a substitution from Australia.
Prop Angus Bell is on.
Aidan Ross is off.
Sat 8 Aug 2026 at 8:59pm
HT: Japan 14-14 Australia
A frantic first half has come to an end.
Japan is threatening to spoil Australian rugby’s new dawn, and have a fantastic chance to claim an historic win.
Both sides scored two converted tries in the first half, but the red card to Wallabies lock Miles Amatosero may prove to be the crucial moment of that 40 minutes.
