Australia defied a 20-minute red card and brutal heat and humidity to pip Eddie Jones's plucky Japan 35-32 and ensure the Kiss era began with victory on Saturday.
Flyhalf Declan Meredith battled all night to make ground with his exit kicks, and the fluency shown in a last-start flogging of Italy wasn't there.
But, after winning just five of 15 Tests under Joe Schmidt last year, they did enough and will meet Japan again in friendlier conditions in Townsville this Saturday afternoon, hoping to find a higher gear.
"We've tweaked a few things, but we didn't even really get to see those out there," halfback Ryan Lonergan said.
Japan's opening try came after Fraser McReight had won a turnover and raced out of his own 22m area with a quick tap, only to turn the ball over with a speculative pass.
When the Wallabies were clinging to a late lead, Meredith also fumbled a quick tap directly in front of Japan's posts that handed back possession.
"He (Kiss) has given us the licence to play and is all for us having a crack ... (if we) see space, take it," Lonergan said.
"Now it's up to us to know how to make use of it ... we've got to know that when we take that space we've got to be on board with it and commit."
Kiss made four changes to the starting side in his first Test since taking over from Schmidt, and said more were inevitable in Townsville.
Lock Miles Amatosero's red card will likely see him suspended - Lukhan Salakaia-Loto was firming for a Townsville return anyway - while the forward pack could be shuffled further, with prop Isaac Kailea unused in Japan after his recall to the squad.
Called in as injury cover, young prop Massimo De Lutiis could become Wallaby No.1000 in Townsville.
How Kiss responds to Meredith's middling night, particularly with the boot in general play, will be crucial given Carter Gordon is fit for a return.
"I'd imagine there will be one or two tweaks," Kiss said.
"This trip took a lot out of a lot of guys; we'll have to look at where the energy is, and at the numbers, because you lose a lot of weight."
Kiss acknowledged his side's kicking struggles, that they had overplayed or been impatient and struggled to defend around the ruck.
But the coach's composure in the box rubbed off, cameras catching him laughing late in the game with the result in the balance.
"It wasn't frivolous," Kiss said of the coaching booth gag.
"We're learning about each other in the box, getting on well, and it was a nice little moment and I know it was tight but you've got to have fun doing this, too."
Kiss, the former Kangaroos and Queensland rugby league winger, has pushed an Australia brand to his playing style, likening the mentality to backyard footy and cricket battles.
"It's a balance of backing yourself and managing the game at the right time," he said.
"I just ask us to be skilful, and the nature of the game at times probably said 'let's just hold it a bit'.
"We had to come up with quality when shit happened, and we did that."
9°C