Wales press conference Live as Matt Sherratt names team for first Japan Test
Alex Mann and Josh Macleod are preferred to the experienced back-rowers, as Sherratt opts for a 6-2 split on the bench to deal with the expected heat and humidity on Saturday. There are just four survivors in the starting XV from the one that ended the Six Nations against England - with Nicky Smith, Taulupe Faletau, Ben Thomas and Blair Murray keeping their jerseys.
Wales take on the Brave Blossoms at Mikuni World Stadium this weekend as they look to end a 17-Test losing run.
Defeat to Japan would see Wales slide down to 14th in the rankings, falling behind Saturday's opponents as well as Samoa.
Having named his side, Sherratt will now face the media - with that press conference set to take place at 7am UK time.
You can follow all the updates from that in our live blog below.
Japan: Takuro Matsunaga; Kippei Ishida, Dylan Riley, Shogo Nakano, Malo Tuitama; Seungsin Lee, Shinobu Fujiwara; Yota Kamimori, Mamoru Harada, Shuhei Takeuchi, Epineri Uluiviti, Warner Deans, Michael Leitch (c), Jack Cornelsen, Amato Fakatava.
Replacements: Hayate Era, Sena Kimura, Keijiro Tamefusa, Waisake Raratubua, Ben Gunter, Shuntaro Kitamura, Ichigo Nakakusu, Halatoa Vailea.
Wales: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Johnny Williams, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams; Sam Costelow, Kieran Hardy; Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake, Keiron Assiratti, Ben Carter, Teddy Williams, Alex Mann, Josh Macleod, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Liam Belcher, Gareth Thomas, Archie Griffin, James Ratti, Aaron Wainwright, Tommy Reffell, Rhodri Williams, Joe Roberts.
Live updates:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
17 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Rhian Wilkinson insists Wales are ready for landmark Euro 2025
Wales kick off their campaign against the Netherlands in Lucerne on Saturday evening as the lowest ranked team in the competition. While few expect Wales to progress from a daunting group that also includes reigning champions England and France, Wilkinson – the 181-times capped Canadian international of Welsh heritage – says the game has changed in the country forever. Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson signs fans merchandise before the squad's departure for the Euros in Switzerland (Nick Potts/PA) 'This is a wonderful team, great people, fantastic footballers, and we're going to be tested against some of the best in the world,' head coach Wilkinson said at her pre-match press conference. 'That's what we've been wanting. To showcase Wales as a country, this team and their talent. 'This is the first generation of Welsh player that is completely professionalised. 'That is something that changes the game at home in Wales, and that's what I'm excited about. This team gets to be the face of a watershed moment back home. 'To be able to stand next to them when they do that is one of the honours of my career. This team is ready, fit and excited.' Wilkinson says she has told her squad the identity of the historic Wales starting line-up at the Allmend Stadium. Former captain Sophie Ingle hopes to make her first appearance since damaging an anterior cruciate ligament in September, although Wilkinson conceded the midfielder is unlikely to play 90 minutes. The Netherlands – ranked 11th in the world and 19 places higher than Wales – possess both rich tournament pedigree, having won the Euros in 2017, and top players such as Manchester City forward Vivianne Miedema and Everton striker Katja Snoeijs. Wilkinson said: 'They are a top team, very fluid, and have some of the biggest stars in the game. Former captain Sophie Ingle hopes to play some role for Wales after being for 10 months with an ACL injury (Nick Potts/PA) 'They're really an enjoyable team to watch and I'm looking forward to challenging my team against them. 'We know we've got to be sharp and key moments count. 'Success for us is that the team shows up, is confident and just plays. That will be critical to Wales' success in this tournament.' But Wilkinson has dismissed the suggestion that the first game is all or nothing and that Wales' tournament rests on the outcome in Lucerne. Manchester City striker Vivianne Miedema is a key player for the Netherlands (Andrew Milligan/PA) She said: 'I've won Olympic medals losing first games. What sets the tone is working through the nerves and the excitement, and finding that flow. That's what is critical. 'Opening day nerves are normal, excitement is normal, and this team is handling it like seasoned pros. 'There's definitely an understanding this is a moment in Welsh history. Don't let it get too big, let it all in, and be there for that moment. 'We know we're not the biggest nation, but we are adaptable and we've earned the right to be here.'
The Guardian
20 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Siegemund plays Keys to perfection while Osaka is ‘upset' by Wimbledon defeat
When it comes to Wimbledon, Madison Keys has not had the best luck. Last year, she was 5-2 up in the final set against Jasmine Paolini in the fourth round only to pull her hamstring, watching on in disappointment as the Italian reached the final. In 2022, she missed Wimbledon altogether due to an abdominal injury. Winning the Australian Open in January for her first grand slam title was meant to free her up, perhaps marking a turn in fortunes, but on Friday she was beaten 6-3, 6-3 by the 37-year-old Laura Siegemund. A couple of hours later, reporters were informed that the American would not be doing her mandatory press conference due to illness. Keys had struggled through her opening two matches and, whatever the reason, she was well below par against Siegemund. The German can get under the skin of her opponents at the best of times, her drop shots outstanding and the strength of her grunting at the louder end of the spectrum, and Keys looked out of sorts from the start. In all, the sixth seed sprayed 31 unforced errors in two sets, threw in four double faults and won just one point from 19 on her second serve. Siegemund took full advantage, becoming the oldest woman in the open era to reach the last 16 at Wimbledon for the first time, testament to the longevity and perseverance of a woman who lost 10 times in qualifying at slams before making the main draw here for the first time in 2015. 'You can't not be happy when you beat a great player like Madison,' said Siegemund, who will now play Katie Boulter's conqueror, the lucky loser Solana Sierra from Argentina. 'It was not easy today, it was quite windy and swirly, at times it wasn't the best quality. But I managed and in the end I found solutions and kept my nerves.' Keys was not the only big name to fall. Naomi Osaka had been showing good improvement on grass this year but was worn down 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 by Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Osaka fought back from 3-0 down to level at 3-3 in the decider but could not force it home. 'Right now I'm just really upset,' Osaka said, asked to sum up her thoughts on the short grass-court season. 'I think if I look back on it, I can be happy with how I played. I started getting a lot more comfortable on grass. 'It's because I actually thought I could play well in general. Not saying I didn't play well, but make a deep run here. I wanted to do better than I did before. Also, I felt like I was trying so hard. I low-key busted a vein in my hand.' Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion Osaka will now head to the hard courts, a time in the season in which she normally thrives, having won the US Open twice. But having lost in the second round in New York last year, she is wary of making any projections. 'Obviously, I look forward to it,' she said. 'I think last year I put a lot of stress on myself because I know I have a history of playing well there, and then also the Asian Swing. I am looking forward to it, but I don't want to kind of psych myself out.' Amanda Anisimova continued her superb grass-court season with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 win over Dalma Galfi of Hungary. The American, runner-up at Queen's Club, will play Linda Noskova next.
Reuters
21 minutes ago
- Reuters
Chelsea given huge fine for breach of financial rules
July 4 (Reuters) - Chelsea have been fined 31 million euros ($36.50 million) by UEFA for breaches of its financial rules, while Aston Villa, Barcelona and Olympique Lyonnais were also levied with large fines, UEFA announced on Friday. The punishments come with the potential for far harsher fines down the road, with Chelsea risking being hit with a further 60 million euros if they do not get their finances in order. Barcelona must pay a 15 million euro fine, with UEFA fining Lyon 12.5 million and Aston Villa five million. The teams agreed to settlement agreements which cover periods of two, three or four years, with the clubs' final targets to be fully compliant with the football earnings rule by the end of their specific settlement period. Additionally, Lyon agreed on an exclusion from the 2025/26 UEFA club competitions should the French authority (DNCG) confirm the club's relegation to Ligue 2. ($1 = 0.8493 euros)
