Carter Gordon impresses on return as Wallabies surge clear of Japan for dominant win

• Australia 56-17 Japan in Nations Championship Test in Townsville

• No 10 shows why he could be solution to coach Les Kiss’s problem

Les is proving more for the Wallabies, with new coach Les Kiss leading the side to a second consecutive victory in an eight-try 56-17 triumph over Japan in Townsville.

The impressive victory gives the Australian men their first three-match winning streak since 2024 and fires the hearts and hopes of fans in the 13-month run-up to the 2027 World Cup.

In eight attempts, Japan had never beaten Australia at home.

But after a scratchy, scary https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/08/australia-wallabies-japan-nations-championship-2026-match-report">three-point win in Osaka last week, the https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/aug/15/wallabies-japan-nations-championship-rugby-union-international-townsville-aus-v-jpn-live-updates">Wallabies had to be far more ruthless on Saturday.

Kiss’s strategy to https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/aug/13/wallabies-team-selection-carter-gordon-australia-vs-japan-rugby-union-test">swap his starters and finishers again paid off, with several of the Wallabies exciting young stars seizing their chance to shine on the big stage.