Japan U23 Cap Off Memorable Tour Down Under
Japan U23 returned home with their heads held high following their three-match tour to Australia. Having tasted victory in their opening fixture against the Australian Barbarians 31-43, they suffered defeats in their following two matches. They went down 54-26 against Australia U20 and 36-31 against Randwick in their final match.
However, the results of all three matches need to be taken in context. While Japan fielded regular matchday 23s across all three fixtures, being exhibition matches, their opponents opted for extended reserve benches and rolling substitutions. This played out in different ways across the three fixtures; however, the matches clearly delivered the physicality and challenge that Head Coach Eddie Jones was looking for.
Against the Aussie Baa-Baas in their first match, Japan established a 7-43 lead up to the 60th minute mark. Following a raft of substitutions, the Baa-Baas ran in 24 unanswered points right up to the final whistle. Despite the courageous fightback from their hosts, Japan held on to secure a gutsy 31-43 win.
In their second match against Australia U20, Japan were leading 14-19 at half time following a hotly contested first 40. In the second half, Australia brought on their 11-man reserves bench, essentially fielding a brand-new forward pack. With the combination of the quality of players across the Aussie U20 squad and their fresh legs in the second half, Japan struggled to contain their hosts who eventually ran out 54-26 winners.
One win and one loss then set the scene for a memorable final match at Sydney’s Coogee Oval against Randwick, the club where Jones started both his senior playing and coaching careers. Known affectionately as the Galloping Greens, Randwick boasts a roster of famous Australian players, past and present, who came up through its ranks.
As with the two earlier matches, Randwick opted for an extended, 12-man bench. The side they selected comprised a mix of players drawn from their Colts (U22) and across their senior grades. While they enjoyed the advantage of fresh legs and player rotation in the second half, they lacked the cohesion and consistency that Japan had faced four days earlier in Coffs Harbour against the Aussie U20.
Nowhere was this more evident than at scrum time. While Randwick had enjoyed a dominant scrum throughout the first 40, the tables clearly turned in Japan’s favour in the second half. With the men in green running an entirely new forward pack, they struggled to contain a resurgent Japanese scrum, a platform from which the visitors were able to launch their second half fightback.
In what was a tight, seesawing contest, Japan took a 26-31 advantage with fifteen minutes left on the clock. Randwick answered a minute later to tie the scores at 31-31. With a minute to go, the visitors had the chance to seal the win after being awarded a penalty within easy kicking distance. Japan sprayed the kick wide, keeping the scores tied with the clock running into the red.
The final play of the match saw a stunning cross field kick which Randwick winger Christian Yassmin snatched from the sky to run in unopposed in the righthand corner on the 83rd minute. While clearly disappointing for Japan, it was a fitting way for the match to end, with a beautifully executed piece of creative, ambitious play.
Commenting following the match, Japan Head Coach Eddie Jones said:
“Today’s game was a wonderful experience for the players. We had the game won and then managed to lose it, so we’ve only got ourselves to blame for the result. But I’m really pleased with the character and skill the players showed, particularly in the second half.
“Overall, the tour has been a great success, and we’ve seen great development in the players. They’ve grown in terms of their physical capacity, their ability to play against older and much heavier players and their ability to play our style of rugby. For our next game at home in Beppu against New Zealand Universities, we want to put on a display like we did in the second half today. Where people are on the edge of their seats watching us play. So please come along to support the team and watch us play.”
The Japan U23 will play their next fixture against New Zealand Universities on Tuesday, May 20 in Beppu, on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu. The match will be one of three tour matches for NZU who will also face Japan U20 on Friday, May 16 and the Japan XV on Saturday, May 24, with both fixtures to be held in Oita City.
Japan U23 2025 Australian Tour
Saturday 5 April
Australian Barbarians vs Japan U23
Coffs Harbour
31-43 (W)
Friday 11 April
Australian U20 vs Japan U23
Coffs Harbour
54-26 (L)
Tuesday 15 April
Randwick vs Japan U23
Coogee Oval, Sydney
36-31 (L)