Kiss' relief as Wallabies look to build off debut Japan win
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Wallabies coach Les Kiss was all smiles even after a tense 35-32 win over Japan in Osaka, looking for improvements ahead of next week's return leg in Townsville.
Kiss started his tenure with a tight win over the Brave Blossoms in testing conditions, dealing with a myriad of setbacks to get the victory.
The heat was sweltering, not dropping below 30 degrees as the humidity took its toil on the players.
The Aussies also lost Miles Amatosero early after the lock's cleanout on Warner Dearns was upgraded to a red card late in the first half.
It left the Wallabies to make close to 40 tackles more than the Japanese, weathering the storm before the bench helped secure the win.
All throughout the day, Kiss' trademark laid-back nature never wavered.
He found time to wave to Aussies in the crowd pre-match whilst a kick for touch late in the second half drew a smile and a laugh in the coaching box.
"I think internally we're learning about each other in the box," Kiss elaborated with journalists in Osaka.
"Even at one moment where I said something, one of the coaches looked at me and asked, 'Is that right to say that.' We're just seeing how we sit in the coach's box and how we communicate, and they're a good bunch. We're getting on well.
"It was just a nice little moment where we had a bit of humour. I know it was tight, but it's got to be fun doing this too."
Kiss was quick to focus on the work-ons, focused on finding the right moments for their expansive play and the execution of their kicking game after a number of missed opportunities.
"I just ask us to be skilful when we're doing it, and the nature of the game at times probably said, let's just hold that a little bit longer and put them under pressure more," he said.
"When we kicked, we could have turned it more. Most of the kicks they gained, they got it back on the front foot in some form. They bounced around, they got the front foot and we had to scramble again to save it.
"We had to come up with the qualities when s*** happened like that. I think we did that for the most part."
The Wallabies will base themselves in Brisbane ahead of next Saturday's clash in Townsville, looking to lighten the travel load after a gruelling Test, with Kiss forecasting changes.
"I'd imagine there might be one or two tweaks just to help us get through this period. The heat's been pretty tough here," Kiss added.
"Tonight was a fast game. I think we needed the three-minute breaks; that's for sure."
Tom Hooper is an outside chance to return from a shoulder injury, whilst Kiss was optimistic there were no injuries out of the win post-match.
