Les Kiss began his tenure as head coach of the Wallabies with a win against Japan in an international rugby Test held in Osaka. The match, played under intense heat, presented significant challenges for the Australian side, which had to navigate the game with a numerical disadvantage following an early red card.

Despite these setbacks and a series of errors throughout the match, the Wallabies secured a victory against a Japanese team led by former Australia coach Eddie Jones. The game was characterized by a high degree of unpredictability, with the Australian squad forced to adapt to both the conditions and the tactical approach employed by Jones.

This match marked a notable transition for the Wallabies, as Kiss—a former rugby league professional—takes charge of the union side. His appointment has been a point of interest given his lack of a background as a player in the rugby union code. While the team showed resilience in overcoming the red card and the pressure applied by the Japanese side, the performance was described as containing a mix of positive and negative elements, with the team struggling with discipline at various stages of the contest.