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International Rugby / Sunday, 9 August 2026 at 02:15 JST

New coach Kiss off to a winning start as Wallabies rumble past bold Japan

Japan 32-35 Australia Wallabies withstand early red card against former coach There was good, bad and plenty of ugly but the Les Kiss era is off to a winning start. Despite searing heat and a brave home side, the Wallabies shrugged off an early red card and a litany of reckless errors to welcome their new coach to international rugby with a brave but dramatic victory over Japan in Osaka. Against an unpredictable Brave Blossoms side coached by the former Wallabies mentor Eddie Jones, this Test was a banana skin for Kiss. But the former rugby league star, who is coaching Australia’s union side despite never having played the game himself, escaped the ambush Jones laid for him and comes home with a heartening triumph. Continue reading...

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International Rugby

New coach Kiss off to a winning start as Wallabies rumble past bold Japan

Japan 32-35 Australia Wallabies withstand early red card against former coach There was good, bad and plenty of ugly but the Les Kiss era is off to a winning start. Despite searing heat and a brave home side, the Wallabies shrugged off an early red card and a litany of reckless errors to welcome their new coach to international rugby with a brave but dramatic victory over Japan in Osaka. Against an unpredictable Brave Blossoms side coached by the former Wallabies mentor Eddie Jones, this Test was a banana skin for Kiss. But the former rugby league star, who is coaching Australia’s union side despite never having played the game himself, escaped the ambush Jones laid for him and comes home with a heartening triumph. Continue reading...

Source: The Guardian Rugby Union / 8 Aug, 22:42 JST

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The rugby value

New coach Kiss off to a winning start as Wallabies rumble past bold Japan sits in International Rugby because international rugby shapes selection debates, union strategy, player pathways and the fixtures that define each Test cycle. The important part is not only the headline; it is what the story changes for teams, players, supporters and the next competitive decision.

Our read

Japan 32-35 Australia Wallabies withstand early red card against former coach There was good, bad and plenty of ugly but the Les Kiss era is off to a winning start. Despite searing heat and a brave home side, the Wallabies shrugged off an early red card and a litany of reckless errors to welcome their new coach to international rugby with a brave but dramatic victory over Japan in Osaka. Against an unpredictable Brave Blossoms side coached by the former Wallabies mentor Eddie Jones, this Test was a banana skin for Kiss. But the former rugby league star, who is coaching Australia’s union side despite never having played the game himself, escaped the ambush Jones laid for him and comes home with a heartening triumph. Continue reading...

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