Arizona Tribune - Nervy Australia hold off Eddie Jones's Japan 19-15 in Tokyo

The Wallabies held on after a nerve-jangling finale to set themselves up for their trip to Europe, where they will face England, Italy, Ireland and France on successive weekends.

Nick Champion de Crespigny, captaining the team in just his third international appearance, scored Australia's first try before Josh Flook added another before half-time.

Japan hit back after the break through Shuhei Takeuchi before Carlo Tizzano scored another try for the visitors.

Australia-born Japan flanker Ben Gunter brought the home side within four points midway through the second half but the Wallabies escaped with the win.

"I don't think it needed to be that tense," said Australia coach Joe Schmidt. "They kept working their way back.

"It was wet tonight, very difficult conditions. You would have seen a pretty high error rate from both teams just because the ball was slippery."

Schmidt fielded a new-look team with 13 changes from the side that lost to New Zealand earlier this month.

Both teams were forced into early changes, with Australia's Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Japan's Shogo Nakano leaving the field within the first 10 minutes.

Australia took the lead minutes later when Champion de Crespigny pounced for a try after a penalty dangerously close to the Japan line.

A yellow card for Japan's Charlie Lawrence left the home side temporarily short-handed and there was more injury woe for Australia when Josh Canham went off following a heavy hit.

Seungsin Lee kicked a penalty to get Japan on the board but Australia scored their second try minutes later.

A nicely worked move sent Andrew Kellaway running through the Japan defence and he fed Flook to canter over the line.

Japan had Takeuchi yellow-carded and Australia had a try ruled out by the television match official after Tizzano had gone over late in the first half.

Japan looked livelier in the second half and Takeuchi scored their first try in the 52nd minute after a period of pressure.

Australia hit back five minutes later when Tizzano rumbled over for their third try.

Japan scored again through Gunter to bring them within one try of their first win over Australia.

Aidan Ross came off the bench to become the fifth man to represent both Australia and New Zealand in Test matches.

"A really tight contest in some tough conditions," said Champion de Crespigny.

"Full respect to Japan, we knew they were going to be a quality side and they definitely proved that today."

A.O.Scott--AT