Wallabies edge Japan in Osaka heartstopper

Australia got new coach Les Kiss off to a winning start on Saturday with a nail-biting victory over Japan in a sweltering Osaka.

Wing Harry Potter, fullback Tom Wright, wing Max Jorgensen, flank Fraser McReight and prop Taniela Tupou all scored tries for the Wallabies in their narrow 35-32 win to take a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.

Japan were looking for their first win over Australia and they set up a tense finale when captain Warner Dearns reduced the deficit to three points with two minutes left. tbzikra.org

Kiss was leading the team for the first time after taking over from Joe Schmidt with just 14 months to go until they host the World Cup.

Japan’s Ryunosuke Ito, a 21-year-old university student winning only his fourth cap at flyhalf, scored the opening try for the home team, who also got scores from Faulua Makisi and Kazuma Ueda.

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The match started at a furious tempo despite the conditions and Japan took the lead with just over 10 minutes on the clock. Ito broke free and jinked past two Australian defenders to score his first try for his country.

The Wallabies hit back three minutes later when Potter picked up a loose ball and sauntered through the Japan defence. Australia then took the lead when Wright cantered home to score in the 26th minute.

The Wallabies were left temporarily short-handed when lock Miles Amatosero, making his first start for Australia, was yellow-carded for charging Dearns’ head with his shoulder.

Japan immediately made their advantage count when Makisi charged through for a try, which Takuro Matsunaga converted to even the score. Amatosero’s yellow was upgraded to a 20-minute red card seconds before the half-time hooter blew.

Australia restored their lead two minutes into the second half when Jorgensen crossed the line for a try. But Japan hit back again when Ueda finished off a quick passing move in the 45th minute. Matsunaga missed the conversion to leave the Wallabies two points ahead, and McReight stretched Australia’s lead with another try soon after.

Matsunaga kicked two penalties to bring Japan within three points until Tupou gave Australia a cushion.

Dearns crossed late to keep Japan in it but Australia held on for the win.

JAPAN – Tries: Ryunosuke Ito, Faulua Makisi, Kazuma Ueda, Warner Dearns. Conversions: Takuro Matsunaga (3). Penalties: Matsunaga (2).
WALLABIES – Tries: Harry Potter, Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Fraser McReight, Taniela Tupou. Conversions: Ryan Lonergan (4), Ben Donaldson.

– AFP

Photo: Paul Miller/Getty Images

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The DHL Stormers went down 38-21 in an entertaining clash with New Zealand in the opening match of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour in front of 47,130 spectators at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town.

It was an impressive effort from the DHL Stormers, who were in the game until the last 15 minutes until several injuries to key players saw the All Blacks score four late tries to inflate their score.

The visitors struck first as they claimed advantage in the 22 and made use of it, with hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho scoring from a maul.

The DHL Stormers were not to be deterred and marched straight into opposition territory with a strong maul of their own.

New Zealand centre Anton Lienert-Brown was shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Jonny Roche and his teammate Simon Parker followed to the sin-bin shortly afterwards, after an infringement at a maul.

The DHL Stormers took advantage after an initial maul try by Andre-Hugo Venter was disallowed, but made sure at the second attempt, with veteran flanker Deon Fourie going over.

The conversion by debutant flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed levelled matters, and it looked like they would go into half-time deadlocked, but a try from Parker just before the break saw New Zealand claim a 14-7 advantage.

The home side came out firing in the second half and were back on level terms when Seabelo Senatla burst through from a set move to score under the poles.

Injuries to Dewaldt Duvenage and captain Ruhan Nel forced the DHL Stormers to juggle their resources, with Senatla playing scrumhalf and flank Hacjivah Dayimani moving to the wing.

New Zealand managed to take advantage by scoring a string of tries, although the hosts never stopped fighting and were awarded a penalty try when Warrick Gelant was tackled high in the act of scoring.

The end scoreline flattered the visitors somewhat after an entertaining game that saw the enthusiastic crowd engaged throughout.

Scorers:

DHL Stormers 21 (7) – Tries: Deon Fourie, Seabelo Senatla, Penalty try. Conversions: Yaqeen Ahmed (2).

New Zealand 38 (14) – Tries: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Simon Parker, Rieko Ioane, Leroy Carter, Josh Moorby, Asafo Aumua. Conversions: Beauden Barrett (3), Josh Jacomb.

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

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Le RC Lens poursuit sa préparation estivale avec une affiche face à Sunderland, ce samedi 8 août. Cette rencontre disputée à Bollaert-Delelis représente un nouveau test pour les Sang et Or avant le début de la saison officielle.

Le coup d’envoi est programmé à 10h00 GMT. Les deux formations profiteront de cette opposition pour effectuer leurs derniers réglages et donner du temps de jeu à plusieurs éléments de leurs effectifs.

Pour les supporters souhaitant suivre cette rencontre, le match sera diffusé sur Ligue 1+ et accessible également via Molotov.

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