TOKYO :Australia were pushed until the last few seconds but held on for a scrappy 19-15 win over Japan at a rain-soaked National Stadium to kick off their end-of-season tour on Saturday.

Nick Champion de Crespigny scored a try in his first match as captain, with Josh Flook and openside Carlo Tizzano also crossing to give the Wallabies a seventh win in seven matches against the Brave Blossoms.

Japan had a sniff of an upset of the twice world champions when second-half tries from prop Shuhei Takeuchi and Australian-born flanker Ben Gunter brought them to within four points of the lead in the final quarter.

The Wallabies hung on, however, and will move on to Europe for tests against England, Italy, Ireland and France over the next four weeks, having snapped a three-match losing streak.

Su

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