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Tane Edmed nailed a pressure conversion after the siren to give “clunky” Australia A a fortunate 22-21 win over a Japan XV and an unassailable 2-0 lead in their three-game series.
The Australians were behind 21-15 from the 66th minute before a rolling maul try from a lineout near the hosts’ line saw Richie Asiata trundle across for a five-pointer.
Reds prop Harry Hoopert will have scans on a knee injury and coach Jason Gilmore said the Australians were concerned about him.
Edmed, in a virtual shootout with Tahs teammate Ben Donaldson for a place on the Spring Tour, was nerveless, although his kick started wide before drifting back in for the crucial two points.
Emed, who showed his emotion with a teary post-match TV appearance during Super Rugby this year, was mobbed by his delighted teammates.
Coach Jason Gilmore said the moment proved the worth of the Australia A set up.
“It’s what the tour is built for isn’t it? You bring in guys that want to step up to play Wallabies and to give that experience to him to win a game after full time at that level is excellent,” Gilmore said.
“If you wind the the clock back a month he missed a field goal for Eastwood to put them into a Grand Final. To see him step up today and knock that one over shows the maturity in his play. He works really hard on his goal kicking.”
Gilmore said he hoped both Edmed and Donaldson could be fitted into the 23 for game three next weekend, but that he would be guided by Wallabies coach Dave Rennie.
Wallabies’ wannabe fullback Jock Campbell, and the man Rennie clearly trusts most as his Test No.15, Tom Banks, scored excellent running tries as Australia A looked on course for a comfortable win before being reined in by the Japanese.
Banks was playing his first game since breaking his arm in the first Test against England in July.
Last week the former Brumbies star acknowledged his second such break in two years of The Rugby Championship made him wonder if his time was up as a Wallaby.
(Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)
“I looked at my arm, it wasn’t too good,” he said. “I thought my Test career was done.”
He has signed to play in Japan with Honda Heat but if he’s to feature in the World Cup next year he needs to convince Rennie to choose him as one of his three overseas selections – presuming those rules stick through to France 2023.
Banks came on at halftime, replacing Campbell, and scored a try with his second touch. Rennie will have been been jumping off his couch – or at least turning his lips up in a smile.
With his first touch he took a neat ball from Edmed deep in his own half and cruised into open space. A clever exchange of passes with Dylan Pietsch on the left wing saw Banks take the return and force his way over.
“It’s exactly what we’ve come to know about this Australia A side, when they get some front foot ball and some execution off set piece, Banks was given a lot of time and space,” said Justin Harrison on Stan Sport.
“He timed his pass wonderfully to Dylan Pietsch, and that’s what we want to see from a Test player. When you have your coach saying I want to see you play like a Test player all the time – Tom Banks’ second touch creates an opportunity to score a try for himself.”
Andrew Mehrtens added: “What a fantastic return. A couple of little basics here lovely hands from Tane Edmed. He didn’t hold onto it and die with the ball. He gave the pass at a time when he could give Pietsch an opportunity but also stay in support and get that pass on the inside.”
Gilmore was full of praise for Banks, who was left out of the first match of the series to be ready for his 40 minutes on Saturday.
“From the moment he stepped on this tour he’s put the team first, worked really hard,” said Gilmore. “He really helped the younger boys with his leadership and it was just really good to see him get that try. It settled him down as well. He hasn’t played footy since the England series but he didn’t miss a beat.”
Campbell had left his own stamp on the game in the first half. Joining the attack and sliding through effortlessly to cross on the half hour.
“A great example of Jock Campbell creating space and offering himself in counter attack,” said Harrison.
“There was just so much to like about it,” added Mehrtens. “The way he ran, the angle he ran. The timing onto the ball but also he way he was looking at his outside support but keeping an eye at all times on the defence. He wasn’t looking for [the try] initially he was looking to distribute. The defence ran off and he capitalised.”
Australia had won the opening match after conceding a halftime lead and Japan started brightly again with a try inside the opening minute through Kotaro Matsushima. Japan ended with two tries as legendary No.8 Michael Leitch drove over for the second from close range. That helped Japan hit a lead they surrendered through their late defensive naivety.
There were some strong performers in gold, despite the clunkiness of the overall performance, and Pone Fa’amausili was immense in his 50 minutes. But there will be concerns over winger Suliasi Vunivalu. Given big minutes for the second week running he failed to stamp himself on the contest.