The All Blacks have held on to narrowly overcome a tenacious Japan 38-31 at Tokyo, in what was an unconvincing start to New Zealand's end of year tour.
New Zealand were forced to play the last part of the match with 14 men after lock Brodie Retallick was sent from the field for a dangerous cleanout, leaving his side to see off a Japanese side - one that's never come close to beating the All Blacks - by a whisker.
The All Blacks, as expected, went to Tokyo as overwhelming favourites and they got off to a good start with Retallick - the man who was eventually sent from the field - crossing inside 10 minutes after a Samisoni Taukei'aho linebreak put him in.
It took the men in black another 15 minutes but they eventually crossed again through Braydon Ennor to put his side up 14-3.
When Sevu Reece crossed in the 30th minute after an intricate backline move from a lineout, one would usually expect the All Blacks to keep building on a convincing 21-3 lead.
But not against this Brave Blossoms team - not today. Jamie Joseph's side simply refused to lay low and came up with two quick tries of their own entered the interval only down 21-17.
The All Blacks, after an unconvincing end to the first half, needed to be the first to cross the tryline in the second stanza and Caleb Clarke did exactly that - breaking several tackles to extend their lead to 11.
But that gap quickly closed again courtesy of a try to New Zealand-born lock Warner Dearns, who proved a handful all night.
As the clock approached the 60 minute mark, the All Blacks were able to pinch another of their own through a pick and go from Hoskins Sotutu - giving Japan a lot to do in the final quarter.
The twist came after Retallick was sent from the field. Japan won a penalty and, from a lineout deep inside the All Blacks' half, they delivered a killer blow try and took the score to 35-31.
But with only three minutes left on the clock, it just proved too little too late. Some good defence from the All Blacks deep inside Japan's half led to a penalty for holding on, with Richie Mo'unga given the simple task of banging over three points from out in front to give New Zealand an unconvincing seven point win.
That's taking nothing away from the Brave Blossoms, who fought hard to the very last whistle and is by-far the lowest margin of defeat they have conceded to the All Blacks.
