Wales lose 24-19 to Japan for 18th straight Test defeat
Wales should have won for the first time since victory against Georgia in the 2023 World Cup when they led 19-7 in the second half and were comfortable.
However, chances weren't taken and Japan, who had eight debutants and are themselves rebuilding, came storming back to stun interim head coach Matt Sherratt's side.
It is a defeat that means Wales slide to 14th – FOURTEENTH – in the world rankings.
They are a side who have forgotten how to win because they put themselves in a great position, albeit with a safe approach in which they frequently turned to the boot to use their aerial dominance.
Scores in the first half by Ben Thomas and Tom Rogers plus a penalty try should have been followed by a killer blow soon after the restart.
Instead, Japan came alive late on in what turned out to be a horror afternoon that started with a worrying injury to Dragons captain Ben Carter.
TREATMENT: Dragons lock Ben Carter suffered an early injury but was 'up and around' in the changing room (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)
The lock was injured just 27 seconds into the game when he caught the right side of his head on the hip of centre Shogo Nakano when making a tackle.
After lengthy treatment, Carter was stretchered off with his neck in a brace.
Elliot Dee revealed in a half-time interview that his Rodney Parade teammate, whose father was in the crowd, was 'up and around' in the changing room.
Wales overcame that early disruption to make an impressive start and got their opener in the fourth minute.
A penalty was kicked to the corner and a slick training ground move saw number eight Taulupe Faletau slip centre Ben Thomas in, Costelow converting.
An opportunity was wasted in the 22 to extend the lead and paid the price when Japan levelled with their own impressive strike play, Kippei Ishida making a break and putting full-back Takuro Matsunaga over. Seungsin Lee converted.
OPENER: Wales struck first through Ben Thomas (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency)
Wales had their noses back in front after 20 minutes after a kick over the top led to replacement back Ichigo Nakakusu, fresh on the field, slapping the ball dead when battling wing Josh Adams on the line.
They swiftly made the most of the numerical advantage to work wing Tom Rogers over down the right to make it 19-7.
The 14 men were close to striking back in the 28th minute but number eight Amato Fakatava was held up over the line.
The error count was high – the humidity did mean the ball was slippery – and both sides were happy to head to the changing rooms for an extended break.
Wales were wasteful after early pressure in the Japanese 22 following the restart and then Japan went over through lock Epineri Uluiviti, although only after referee Damian Schneider played it safe by not whistling when there looked to be a clear knock-on.
TMO footage showed there was one by scrum-half Shinobu Fujiwara.
Wales couldn't shake off Japan and paid the price for their safety-first approach when Japan struck approaching the hour, putting pressure on in the 22 and eventually going over through Nakakusu after Rogers slipped off a tackle.
The conversion by Lee made it 19-14 in the final quarter when fresh legs, including those of Dragons number eight Aaron Wainwright, would be key.
Japan thought they had levelled through Ben Gunter only for the try to be chalked off for a forward pass and instead they settled for three points from the boot of Lee to cut the gap.
There was no settling with 10 minutes to go when they kicked a penalty to the corner from halfway, put the drive on and then Halatoa Vailea peeled off and powered over, Lee making it 24-19 from the tee.
The game was frantic and the clock was against weary Wales, and time ran out on them as the nightmare goes on to Kobe.
Sherratt has one more chance at making sure the next permanent boss doesn't start against Argentina in the autumn with the aim of avoiding hitting 20.
Japan scorers: tries – Matsunaga, Nakakusu, Vailea; conversions – Lee (3); penalty – Lee.
Wales scorers: tries – B Thomas, penalty, Rogers; conversion – Costelow.
Referee: Damian Schneider
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