Wallabies crush Eddie’s Blossoms

Prop Taniela Tupou scored twice as the Wallabies swept past Japan in Townsville on Saturday to win three Tests in a row for the first time since 2024.

Australia ran in eight tries to the Brave Blossoms’ three for a 56-17 victory in another boost for new coach Les Kiss, who got his reign off to a winning start with a tense 35-32 victory in Osaka last week.

Hooker Josh Nasser, prop Angus Bell, debutant prop Massimo De Lutiis, flank Charlie Cale, No 8 Harry Wilson and replacement hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa also dotted down for the hosts, who went to the break with a 21-17 lead then took full control with 35 unanswered points to complete the job.

Scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan chipped in with five conversions to leave Japan still searching for a first victory over the Wallabies, now spanning nine Tests dating back to 1975.

After a run of prolonged poor form under former coach Joe Schmidt, a return to winning ways is a shot in the arm for Australia, who are desperate to improve and mount a challenge at the World Cup on home soil next year.

The back-to-back victories over Eddie Jones’ men came on the heels of a 57-10 thrashing of Italy in Schmidt’s last game, which snapped a six-Test losing streak.

The last time Australia won three on the trot was back in 2024 when they won four, beating Portugal, Wales twice and Georgia.

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The afternoon match in front of 18,076 fans started at a furious tempo in warm conditions at the Queensland Country Bank Stadium, which will host games at the 2027 World Cup.

A pumped-up Wallabies, with eight changes from last week including an almost completely new forward pack, quickly put Japan on the defensive with a seventh-minute converted try.

Hooker Nasser stole the honours but it was the culmination of some excellent work by the backs that set Max Jorgensen free to scorch down the touchline.

The advantage was short-lived with Japan pulling back five points minutes later when Australian-born Harry Hockings charged down an attempted clearance from Lonergan and dotted down.

Australia kept their cool and stretched the lead when Tupou bulldozed over to finish a move that started with a short lineout throw and Lonergan again added the extras.

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Japan refused to go away and a clever tap and go from scrumhalf Naoto Saito after Australia were penalised saw him dart 5m to the line and haul them back to 14-12.

The visitors were building into the game nicely, and they took the lead on 33 minutes after Dylan Riley brushed off some ineffective tackles to score after some effective ruck play.

But it was an unrelenting Australia who went to half-time ahead after the unstoppable Tupou charged over once more on the siren on a penalty advantage.

The second period started strongly for Australia with Bell flopping over from close range after a sustained period of pressure, then substitute prop De Lutiis – who became the 1,000th Wallaby – adding another on his debut, finishing a line break.

With Japan tiring and the hosts dominating in the breakdown, Cale, Wilson and Paenga-Amosa added to the carnage to ensure an emphatic win.

WALLABIES – Tries: Josh Nasser, Taniela Tupou (2), Angus Bell, Massimo De Lutiis, Charlie Cale, Harry Wilson, Brandon Paenga-Amosa. Conversions: Ryan Lonergan (5), Ben Donaldson (3).
JAPAN – Tries: Harry Hockings, Naoto Saito, Dylan Riley. Conversion: Takuro Matsunaga.

– AFP

Photo: Chris Hyde/Getty Images