Wales coach explains why he's benched two of Wales' best players for must-win Japan game

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2 days ago

Matt Sherratt has explained the bold back-row call that has seen Aaron Wainwright and Tommy Reffell named on the bench for the first Test against Japan in Kitakyushu on Saturday.
The pair have 84 caps between them, but Sherratt has turned to Cardiff blindside Alex Mann and Scarlets openside Josh Macleod to pack down with Taulupe Faletau in the back-row. Faletau accounts for 108 of the Welsh back-row's 115 Test caps - with it being one of the few places where Eddie Jones' inexperienced Japan boast more international appearances.
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Few would have predicted a starting line-up without either Wainwright or Reffell ahead of this summer's tour. Wainwright was one of Wales' standout players in 2024, while Reffell seemed the obvious openside with Jac Morgan in Australia on Lions duty.
"We wanted to reward players who had performed for their clubs," said Sherratt about naming Scarlets captain Macleod in his starting XV. "I think Josh and Johnny (Williams) have had really good seasons for the Scarlets.
"Josh has had some real ups and downs in terms of injures. The last time he was in the squad was 2022.
"As a Cardiff coach, I know that when he's picked, we always preview him. He's a really good player." Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack for the exclusive five-week tour diary from Japan and Australia.
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Sherratt has backed Macleod to continue his fine regional form after three years away from the Welsh jersey, while Mann - who tends to empty the tank for Cardiff, sometimes quite literally - is also afforded a Test recall after falling out of favour under Gatland.
Crucially though, Sherratt believes having the experience of Wainwright and Reffell on the bench should prove crucial in the final quarter.
"Obviously, we've had three weeks prep," added the Wales interim coach. "So it's really a mixture of recent club form, trying to get combinations together, what we've seen in training.
"It's a new coaching group. The opinion of Danny (Wilson) coming in as forwards coach. Gethin (Jenkins) is pretty familiar with a lot of the players, but not all of them, is in as defence coach.
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"It's trying to let the players start on a even field and select on what we've seen. What's added to that which is a really point is trying to spread experience out.
"What we wanted to do is put experienced players on the bench. The likes of Aaron Wainwright, Gareth Thomas, Tommy Reffell.
"We feel conditions will be tough to start, getting used to it. To have some real quality experience off the bench will be massive.
"It's not a 15 we've picked, it's a genuine 23. We feel it's going to be an 80 minute performance we need.
"What I've learned at Cardiff is not to throw all your experience on at once, because between 60 to 80 is where the crucial decision-making comes in."
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While Wainwright and Reffell alone have 84 caps between them, with Wales' entire bench boasting 145 international appearances, Japan's replacements have just 19.
They belong to just two players, with six uncapped players on the bench for Saturday's clash. The fact Sherratt has gone for a 6-2 split, giving Wales one extra fresh forward compared to Japan, could be crucial in the Kitakyushu heat and humidity.
"We know Japan start very well," added Wales captain Dewi Lake. "The first 20 minutes of the game, they've been beating some of the best teams in the world, or been within three points.
"So they start well in each half. We know in the conditions as well, that's when the bench becomes massively important after 60 minutes.
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"We get fresh legs on the field and it's like a second team goes on almost to finish off the game. We've seen in rugby how important those finishers have been to reignite the game and finish it off."