Australia run riot to crush Japan 56-17 in Townsville

Hulking prop Taniela Tupou scored twice as a rampaging Australia swept past Japan 56-17 with a blistering second-half display on Saturday to win three Tests in a row for the first time since 2024.

The home side ran in seven tries to the visitors’ three in Townsville for another boost to new coach Les Kiss, who got his reign off to a winning start with a tense 35-32 victory in Osaka last weekend.

Josh Nasser, Angus Bell, debutant Massimo De Lutiis, Charlie Cale, Harry Wilson and Brandon Paenga-Amosa also dotted down for the hosts, who went to the break with a 21-17 lead then took full control with 35 unanswered points to complete the job.

Ryan Lonergan chipped in with five conversions to leave Japan still searching for a first victory over the Wallabies, now spanning nine Tests dating back to 1975.

Wallabies captain Wilson admitted that in the first period “our spark probably wasn’t there.