The Sunwolves battled valiantly but ultimately suffered their second straight loss of the young Super Rugby season Saturday, defeated 31-30 by the New South Wales Waratahs in Tokyo.

A last-gasp drop goal attempt by Hayden Parker was all that stood between the home team and a win, but it flew wide in the stiff Tokyo breeze, sending a cry of angst around the healthy crowd at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground.

Fleet-footed Wallabies superstar Israel Folau scored a double for the Waratahs, his fellow internationals Kurtley Beale and Jack Dempsey also crossing.

For the Sunwolves, Gerhard van den Heever answered with his own brace of tries and Tom Rowe also scored a five-pointer. Parker was excellent with the boot, kicking three penalties and three conversions.

(Gerhard van den Heever scores his second try)

Playing their second home game of the season, but the first in Tokyo, the Sunwolves started brightly, giving as good as they got in a competitive first half which they closed three points ahead.

After changing ends, however, the Waratahs -- Australia Conference champions and semifinalists last year -- showed their quality to sneak the win. The team's Wallabies platoon shone as they won for the first time this season and maintained their unbeaten record against the Japanese team.

"Obviously, we are disappointed with the result but proud of the performance," acting head coach Scott Hansen said.

"We put ourselves in a position to win the game with that drop goal, we worked well in the second half to come from behind and we worked well into the wind also."

"I thought there was some good leadership from the group and I thought we played some really smart rugby in the second half at times and we were not quite rewarded like we could have been."

Waratahs captain Michael Hooper was full of praise for the Sunwolves, especially the forward pack which caused the Australian team's scrum big problems. Hooper said it was the hardest he has been pushed when visiting the Japanese capital.

"I thought the Sunwolves put us under a lot of pressure from our turnover. They were able to move the ball to space, get in behind us," the ball-hawking flanker said.

"The Sunwolves forwards were very effective around the breakdown, very effective in their tackle and they were hard to bring down onto the ground. And on top of that, I thought their set-piece worked quite well. It was a very tough-fought game and I am very pleased to get the win."

The first highlight for the Sunwolves came on their own try line, Semisi Masirewa making a stunning try-saving defensive effort in which he came off his own wing to knock the ball out of Curtis Rona's grip as he dived for the left corner.

The Sunwolves converted their competitiveness into points thanks to an eighth-minute intercept by season debutant Ryoto Nakamura. The 27-year-old latched onto a wayward Bernard Foley pass on his defensive 22 and streaked downfield. He was eventually run down by the Waratahs' speedsters, but found van den Heever who touched down.

The home team's joy could not have been more short-lived, though, as on the ensuing kickoff return Shane Gates chipped the ball directly into Beale's arms and he ran away to cross untouched, the conversion by Foley leveling the score at seven.

The Sunwolves were next on the scoreboard via a Parker penalty goal, but not long after Folau put the Waratahs ahead when Karmichael Hunt set him up for an easy try to extend the Sydney team's lead to 12-10.

(Tom Rowe scores for the Sunwolves)

Folau went over again in the 29th minute, Masirewa undoing his earlier good work with some lackluster defending as the Wallabies fullback maestro waltzed down the right touchline.

Another Parker penalty cut the deficit to 17-13. And once more, Nakamura again set up a try for the Sunwolves. His offload put Tom Rowe into space and the big lock rumbled over between the posts. Parker converted to send the home team into the change room with a 20-17 lead.

Parker extended the Sunwolves' lead with a penalty goal four minutes into the second period. But another four minutes later the Waratahs' Jack Dempsey picked and drove his way over for a try, which Foley dutifully converted to restore the visitors' the lead, 24-23.

Referee AJ Jacobs handed the Waratahs a seven-point penalty try in the 61st minute, when the Sunwolves defense collapsed a driving maul on the try line. With the score 31-23, Jacobs then showed Luke Thompson yellow and sent him to the sideline for 10 minutes.

The Sunwolves refused to lay down, however, Parker laying on a superb inside ball to put van den Heever into space with his team still a man down.

The South African did the rest, putting on the afterburners to score with Folau on his back. Parker converted to cut the deficit to one.

Parker had a chance to play the hero late, but his field goal attempt hung in the air, the Tokyo wind blowing away the home team's hopes of a deserved win.