Japan grinded out a 52-48 win over Australia A in the last game of the three-match, non-test rugby series Friday after losing the first two.
Playing as Japan XV, the hosts had five tries by halftime, two of them by Tevita Tatafu, en route to a 35-19 lead against Australia's second national team behind the Wallabies at Yodoko Sakura Stadium in Osaka.
Australia A made a furious second-half comeback to pull within 45-43, but Faulua Makisi's try with Takuya Yamasawa's conversion increased Japan's lead again with about 10 minutes remaining.
The three-match series between Japan XV and Australia A was played about 11 months before the Rugby World Cup kicks off in France.
"There were things that didn't work for us, but I'm glad we got a win in the end," Japan captain Atsushi Sakate said. "We improved in this three-match series. We'll try to improve further in the next two weeks and play our rugby to defeat the All Blacks."
Japan will play New Zealand at Tokyo's National Stadium on Oct. 29 before traveling to Europe for matches against England and France in November.
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