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Wales Online
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
The day Wales' 644-day misery ended as players barely able to stand amid the tears
The day Wales' 644-day misery ended as players barely able to stand amid the tears Ben James was in Kobe' to witness a dramatic and chaotic end to Wales' 18-match losing streak Blair Murray of Wales celebrates with his family (Image: 2025 Getty Images ) In Kobe's Noevir oven, the sound of the hooter is everything to Wales - cutting through the suffocating hot air like a cool relieving breeze. Seconds had felt like minutes before now, with devastation loitering under the roof; ready to pounce on its favourite prey. 644 days of it, enveloping the players, the staff, the fans - all of Welsh rugby - in a blanket of misery. Like the heat in Kobe; it's stifling. Inescapable. And yet, as the hooter sounds, there's a ladder hanging down from the top of this deep, deep hole. Devastation and misery chased away by the desperate choruses of Hymns and Arias. On the sidelines, the Welsh dugout is a throng of staff and players - all embracing with the knowledge that, finally, it's over. This run - this wretched run - has been left behind. 18 and done. History, not the good kind, beckoned, but Wales, somehow, escaped. In the end, it never mattered how. On the field, those in red can barely stand. Tom Rogers and Dan Edwards - the hero of the hour - embrace with a load-bearing hug keeping them both off the sweat-soaked grass. Article continues below Josh Macleod slowly walks onto the pitch as fast as his legs, pulsing with lactic acid, can take him. Once there, he drops to his haunches - taking in a Welsh performance that almost dragged defeat from the jaws of victory once again. But it didn't. Not this time. Hours before, there's a sense of dread. Last week, in the baking hot sun of Kitakyushu, it was hot. But Kobe's Noevir Stadium, with the roof closed, is something else. The word in the week is the air conditioning isn't great. That's an understatement. Once up in the lofty seats of the press box, sweat drips down my face at an alarming rate. Typing is hard, but, I grant you, compared to 80 minutes of rugby, it's nothing. This is going to be brutal. As Wales warm up, I retreat down a floor - intermittently stepping under an air conditioning unit to stop the melting. As one punter near the press box remarks, even Prince Andrew would struggle in this. On my press lanyard, the hand-written name has long been smudged beyond comprehension in the heat. Supporters use anything - hats, programmes, notepads - to fan themselves down. One Welsh fan, perhaps not grasping the roof, applies sun cream liberally. Sensing the discomfort I'm in, or simply out of fear of drowning, one local journalist offers me a napkin to wipe away the sweat. I am forever indebted. Martyn Williams, Wales' team manager, strides over to Macleod, patting him on the shoulder for his lung-draining efforts. It's enough. Replacement hooker Liam Belcher, still on cloud nine from the pinpoint lineout that helped Wales get over the line, floats across the pitch in a way that belies his sweat-drenched kit. When he reaches a cooling box with water bottles, he collapses to one knee - shattered as he wearily sticks a water-soaked hat on his head to bring his temperature down just a touch. Debutant Chris Coleman turns to the huddle of friends and family in the stands near the one sideline, giving a fist pump as he meets their glare. There's no wild celebrations in the heart of it, just relief painted over a rugby field in its purest form. This doesn't fix Welsh rugby - far from it - but for those here in Japan, for now, like the hooter, it's everything. Every moment isn't shouty or wildly jubilant, but it means something more. An on-field post-match press conference is met with rapturous applause by that small group of Welsh fans. Dan Edwards of Wales throws the ball to fans (Image: 2025 Getty Images ) It all starts fairly well early on. Josh Adams races away to score the opener. Minutes earlier, he had been grimacing down on the one sideline - having apparently been dealing with a knock in the week. On halfway, the Welsh pack don't sprint across to join in with celebrations- simply looking quietly pleased with their efforts. As the cogs slowly continue to turn, Welsh voices are louder, actions more animated. So far, so good. It's not all perfect. One kick through for Adams looks a certain try, only for the winger to fail to gather it. He drops to the deck almost in unison with Macleod, some 50 metres away - both struggling to deal with a try gone begging. Eventually, Tommy Reffell drags Adams to his feet - leaving him to ruminate on the missed opportunity. By now, the Welsh lineout is purring. Japan, having disrupted it last week, can't stop it now. If you want truly unseen things, then it's what happened in the room when Wales put their case to the match officials. All teams do it before Test matches, getting their point across. But here, as Japan don't get anywhere near the purchase as last week in stopping the maul, Wales have done something right. As the momentum builds, a lone Ogi, Ogi, Ogi rings out high up in the stands. A second try follows, with Welsh players towelling themselves off in delight. Even after half an hour, Welsh players are struggling in the heat. One scrum penalty for Wales sees Nicky Smith stay down for treatment as Archie Griffin is engulfed by team-mates to congratulate him. Smith stays down, still getting some help, as Wales restart play from the lineout. By the time he's back on his feet, Kieran Hardy is over for his second and Wales' third. The loosehead prop raises one arm in the air. On the bench, the sight of Keelan Giles - after nine years of waiting for a first cap - pops into view. Ready to enter the field, he stretches as Williams gives him some final pointers. Hold on, the bib goes back on, as does the wait. Although, as he'll soon find out, not for long. By now, Matt Sherratt - having wiped the tears from his eyes - has made it down to the pitch. He's met by WRU medical services manager Prav Mathema and Williams, who both embrace him. Among the revolving door of hugs, even Wales' Japanese interpreter gets caught up in it. It's all a bit much for the interim head coach, taking a few moments away from the group to compose himself. Finally, Sherratt and Lake meet - coach and captain - with a long embrace. In this heat, there's no more bodily liquid left to cry - all sweated away long ago. But the emotion, even from afar, is palpable. "Enjoy tonight" is the parting message from Sherratt to the travelling fans, who hang on his every word. Ben Thomas (L) and Tommy Reffell (R) of Wales celebrate (Image: 2025 Getty Images ) By now, the heat in the press box is unbearable. Thankfully, there's an air-conditioned box downstairs to watch the second-half. On the way down, a Japanese policeman with a Welsh rugby facemask greets me, proud as punch of the three feathers just west of his nose. Navigating through the corridors, one open door reveals Wales' coaches waiting for the lift down to the changing room. Leading the conversation, Sherratt finalises his half-time message for the players. Soon, the room is filled with Japanese policemen - seemingly a hang-out spot on matchday. Then, just as I spot Giles not warming up with the other replacements, Japan's defence coach Gary Gold walks in. This should be interesting. As the second-half kicks off, Sherratt's unmistakable voice echoes out in the corridor behind us, as he makes his way back to the coaching box for arguably the biggest 40 minutes of his career to date. Macleod, with the tank having seemingly been nearing empty for so long, gets over the ball. On the sidelines, former openside Williams spots it long before anyone else - raising his arms to call for the breakdown penalty. Kieran Hardy of Wales dives to score the team's third try (Image: 2025 Getty Images ) To my left, Gold simply whispers to himself: "That's suicide, lads." Occasionally, the South African saunters behind me, looking for a better view, before heading back to his notebook to scribble some notes. In fairness, as the momentum swings, he has little to write about from a defensive point of view. Welsh players drop to their knees in breaks, shaking the sweat off their hands. Referee Luke Pearce, repeatedly, has to hurry them along. After one charge down, Japan are in full flight while Welsh players can only stand with hands on their thighs as the action happens around them. It's unfolding again in familiar fashion. Unsettling, but familiar nonetheless. As Lake waits for the trophy lift - namely an oversized energy drink bottle replica and an actual trophy- he looks around, taking it all in. Hands behind his back, he's had to wait a while for this. Once Lake lifts the actual trophy for a photo, Gareth Thomas takes over possession of the bottle. Pure relief has passed.. Now, Wales are all smiles. Wales players celebrate the team's 31-22 victory (Image: 2025 Getty Images ) Two even larger bottles dwarf Thomas' replica on either side of the Wales team photo. Elliot Dee picks up one of the massive bottles, throwing it at Belcher, before it's taken away by some stadium staff. As the players head off for a lap of honour, Williams takes a photo of Sherratt and his coaching ticket on the pitch. Even Gethin Jenkins is smiling. Soon, the captain's race is run. Lake makes way during the water break. As he goes, he gives Belcher a hug and a lengthy piece of advice, pointing down to the corner. Soon, that corner is where Belcher would step up. Another Welshman withdrawn from the action, tighthead Griffin, drags off one of the cooling boxes from the pitch. All hands to the pump, both metaphorically and literally. As Japan get closer, Wales try to find a foothold. With rare attacking ball, Gold urges more from the home defence. "Work-wise, we can't be walking," he says. He's barely finished his sentence before Dylan Riley picks off a loose ball and sprints 60 metres to score. Suddenly, it's a two-point game. As Welsh players stand around in disbelief, Johnny Williams lies on the turf. It doesn't look good. Wales are rushed to kick-off, while Williams hobbles to the sideline. Reuben Morgan-Williams, the uncapped Ospreys scrum-half, bursts onto the field for his debut, before being pulled back just four yards in. He's not getting on yet. The aching Williams then tries to return, but it soon becomes apparent he's not coming back on. So, in the space of a few seconds, Morgan-Williams makes his second Wales debut. As a makeshift wing, fly-half Edwards and full-back Murray shepherd him around the backfield. The wheels, once again, look like they're coming off. Still, there's moments of resistance against the Japanese tide. One Macleod breakdown penalty elicits a four-letter expletive in a South African accent in our box. Welsh bodies are tiring, with Edwards slapping the backs of those who look like they've nothing more to give. But there's just a little more left. Belcher, in that corner Lake had pointed to minutes earlier, nails his darts. It's patient, until Taine Plumtree does something magic, and Edwards squeezes over. No delirium. Welsh bodies are far too tired for that. All they can muster is walking back to Huw Bennett for more water and instructions. Five minutes between Wales and victory. Soon it's two, then one. Hymns and Arias rings out. Rogers finds touch with a clearance. The crowd celebrate like a try has been scored. On the sidelines, Halfpenny and T. Rhys Thomas edge nearer the action. Those squad members not involved in the game hurry down to the dugout. Soon, it's seconds. Finally, the sound of the hooter cuts through the air. The corridors under the stands are manic. As one Welsh staff member passes by, all he can muster is "Thank God it's over." "I'll shake Ben's hand as he's been miserable for 18 months.," says Sherratt before starting his press conference. 18 months is generous. Both him and Lake are clapped out of the room by the local press once their duties are done. Down the corridor, in the Welsh dressing room, joyful renditions of 'Believe', 'Walking in Memphis' and 'Country Roads' ring out - each one chosen by the new caps as their song. If you never knew Giles was a Cher fan, you do now. There's little time to saviour it all. There's a train to Tokyo to catch. A flight home back to Wales - and all the normalities and uncertainties that come with it - awaits. But, for a few moments before they leave the stadium, in a near-empty dressing room that has been cleared of all of Wales' equipment and paraphernalia, a half-open door shows the sight of Wales' interim coaching staff sharing a cold beer or two - having achieved what they set out to do. Article continues below For now, after 644 days, this is everything.
Times
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Times
Wales end the humiliation with first win in 18 games and 644 days
Please read this very carefully if you will: Wales have won a rugby match. This is not a drill. This, finally, puts an end to an excruciating 644-day wait since October 2023, with 18 consecutive defeats building remorselessly and devastatingly over that time. But it is over. Of course, it was not without its drama and nervousness as both teams battled the challenging conditions under the roof in the Noveir Stadium in Kobe, with handling errors to the fore and quality at a premium. And Wales, as they had done last weekend, nearly blew a hefty lead simply through a combination of fatigue and lack of confidence, but they prevailed because of a stunning performance from openside flanker Josh Macleod, more than justifying his inclusion ahead of Tommy Reffell, as well as significant contributions from the likes of No 8 Aaron Wainwright, wing Josh Adams and full back Blair Murray. Japan were as mediocre as they had been in the first Test as were Wales, who cannot exactly claim to have been ravaged by British & Irish Lions call-ups, and the delight at the final whistle showed how far this rugby nation has fallen, but at least it is a start. Appointing a permanent head coach may be a wise next step now. It was against the run of play after an Alex Mann turnover that Wales had scored first after just eight minutes through Adams, who benefited from smart play by centre Ben Thomas and typically lively support running from Murray. Japan so nearly scored from captain Michael Leitch after a fine break from full back Ichigo Nakakusu but Macleod made his first eye-catching intervention, a superb try-saving tackle, and immediately at the other end Adams should have scored a second after Wainwright's kick through but spilt the ball. It would not have counted, though, as Macleod, harshly in my view, was deemed to have made an illegal tackle in the build-up. From the resulting penalty Seungsin Lee kicked Japan's first points of the day, but Wales responded strongly, going to the corner three times, with scrum half Kieran Hardy going over from the third driving maul after a powerful carry from Dewi Lake. Dan Edwards converted to make it 14-3 and, what's more, Japan No 8 Faulua Makisi was sin-binned too. Wales made that count with a third try and a second for Hardy, who supported Adams on the inside after the wing had made an arcing break off his left foot, having been put clear by Murray. Edwards converted and it was 21-3, with the Japan scrummage conceding so many penalties that head coach Eddie Jones responded as only he can: by hauling off his entire front row before the break. In fairness it brought immediate dividends as replacement tighthead prop Shuhei Takeuchi won a scrum penalty, and Japan kicked to the corner, from where Edwards was targeted again in defence as he had been so often previously, and, when Takeuchi was tackled by Mann, he placed the ball on the ground, got up and went over. It was sloppy from Wales, but, with Lee converting, it was 21-10 at half-time. Ospreys wing Keelan Giles came on for his belated Test debut in place of Adams, nine years after first being in a senior squad, but it was Japan who started the second half much brighter, playing the game at a pace that was stretching Wales, just as it had in the first Test. But Wales were a little more on their mettle this time and, when Macleod won a turnover penalty, Edwards stepped up to land a difficult penalty to make it 24-10. Japan were making an awful lot of handling errors but they eventually found some accuracy after a Hardy kick had been charged down, going through the phases before lock Warner Deans, who had made that charge down, scored. Lee missed the conversion, but was it going to happen again? Were Wales going to crumble again? Well, immediately Hardy made a poor pass to his half-back partner Edwards, who dropped it, and Japan centre Dylan Riley pounced and ran away unhindered to score. Lee made sure with the easy conversion this time. It was 24-22. It was squeaky bum time for Wales. With ten minutes remaining a penalty call could have gone either way, but it went in favour of the brilliant Macleod to give Wales some respite. Reuben Morgan-Williams, another Osprey making a long-awaited debut, initially arrived on the wing but, moving to his usual scrum-half position, he added some much-needed impetus, and when replacement back-rower Taine Plumtree threw an outrageous back-handed pass in midfield that allowed Edwards to slip over for Wales' fourth try. He converted it too and it was 31-22. It was done. Captain Lake, by now on the bench, put his head in his hands in relief, and when Morgan-Williams booted the ball out to end the pain, head coach Matt Sherratt looked as if he was about to burst into tears. Scorers: Wales: Tries Adams (8min), Hardy (28, 36), Edwards 74). Cons Edwards (4). Pen Edwards (48). Japan: Tries Takeuchi (40), Deans (59), Riley (61). Cons Lee (2). Pen Lee (23). Wales B Murray; T Rogers, J Williams (R Morgan-Williams 64) , B Thomas, J Adams (K Giles 40); D Edwards, K Hardy; N Smith (G Thomas 43), D Lake (L Belcher 60), A Griffin (C Coleman 60), F Thomas (J Ratti 66), T Williams, A Mann (T Plumtree 48), J Macleod (T Reffell 75), A Wainwright.
Wales Online
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Wales' remarkable success story this season still has one more chapter to write
Wales' remarkable success story this season still has one more chapter to write The Wales full-back has enjoyed a remarkable first season since moving from New Zealand, but one thing still eludes him Blair Murray of Wales (Image: 2025 Getty Images ) When Blair Murray arrived in Llanelli last year, the versatile back-three was hoping for just a handful of appearances in his debut season with the Scarlets. A coffee with Leigh Halfpenny while the former Wales full-back was playing in Christchurch with the Crusaders convinced Murray that a move from New Zealand to Wales was the right one, but the former New Plymouth Boys' pupil - whose mother hails from Tonyrefail - had tempered expectations for what he was about to head into. Instead, a whirlwind ride has followed for the electric 23-year-old. Thrown into the Scarlets' starting side straight away, it's been some maiden campaign in Wales for Murray. Quickly becoming an important part of Dwayne Peel's side, he crossed for 11 tries in 17 starts for the Scarlets, helping them to the United Rugby Championship play-offs and earning him a place in the league's Elite XV at the end of the season. His form also warranted a call-up by Wales at the first opportunity, with Warren Gatland handing him his Test debut against Fiji last November. Since then, he's been involved in every Wales match this season. As he once again starts in Kobe this weekend, his first season in Welsh rugby will end with him already in double figures in terms of caps. Article continues below His name was even regularly thrown into the mix when it came to picking the British and Irish Lions squad. When the time comes to take it all in, it's been some rise. "I haven't really had the time to sit and reflect on the first season," Murray tells WalesOnline in Kobe. "It's been a bit of a rollercoaster. "Coming from where I was to where I am now, I wouldn't have expected any of it. If I think about it, it's been awesome. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack for the exclusive five-week tour diary from Japan and Australia. "I'm so grateful for the opportunities I've had. The opportunities with the Scarlets in terms of game-time and letting me express myself. And then being the Wales set-up as well, it's been awesome. "When I signed with the Scarlets, I was thinking I might get three to five games for them and then hopefully next year I'd be able to work my way into the starting team. So being put straight into the starting squad and getting as much game time as I did, I was stoked. "I just wanted to make the most of the opportunity. It's been amazing." In terms of cultural differences, as anyone who has visited Aotearoa, there's not a whole lot of difference between Wales and New Zealand. There's always been a kind of bond between the countries, so that part was fairly simple for Murray. "In terms of culture, it didn't feel too different coming over," he added. "It helped I had family in Wales and near Bristol as well. "Having people nearby that I can talk to and see if I need it, I never really felt homesick which was massive for me. Obviously my girlfriend came over with me as well. That's made it a lot easier here. "It's just different playing styles I guess. There's a lot more running rugby back in New Zealand. "Here, it's a lot more structure-based. A lot more kicking and territory. "Rugby-wise, I remember the first month I struggled a little bit with the amount of kicking. You say the Scarlets are known for throwing it about, but for me it didn't feel like that at all! "For me, it felt like we didn't run at all and were just kicking everything. Once I understood it and we got a bit experience as a group, it became a lot better and I started to really enjoy it after a bit." Murray was quite a find for the Scarlets. When they signed him, he'd played just eight games for Canterbury's NPC side, while he'd been told there was no place for him at the Crusaders in the short term. Most of his development came with the University of Canterbury Vipers - making his rapid rise all the more remarkable. Halfpenny was at the Crusaders when Murray was trying to force his way in - with the former Wales full-back, who is now coaching Wales on this tour, offering some sound advice. "I had chats with him," he said. "When the Scarlets offered me a contract, I had a coffee with him, just asking him what it was like. "He said I'd love it here and it'd be perfect for me. He helped me make a decision and make it more clear for me. "Now that he's in the set-up, it's quite cool to have another familiar face coming in. He's been a massive help. "He's one of the best full-backs to ever do it. The help he's had on me, in terms of positioning and skillset, has been amazing. "He's on the quiet side. But as a coach, he's been awesome. He hasn't been afraid to step into the team meetings and say his word. "He's helped me a lot individually. I know he's done it with other boys, getting us on our own and showing us clips. He's been great." Despite the quick ascension to Test double figures, there's still something Murray hasn't crossed off his list - a victory at international level. He's not alone in that regard, with so many of this Wales side having not tasted it for some time. Last weekend, 17 consecutive Test defeats became 18 - with a picture of Murray on his haunches after the full-time whistle perfectly illustrating the devastation of that latest defeat. "I just took a moment with myself to let it all sink in," he says about that moment. "It was a heart-breaking loss. "It felt like we were on to win. We just couldn't quite finish the job. "So I took a moment to myself to reflect, then it's getting around the boys to make sure we're all sticking together. It's a tough loss. "We're going into half-time 19-7 up and it's still the same with 20 minutes to go. We felt like we were in a comfortable spot to win. "We just lost momentum and things didn't really go our way. It's a heart-breaking loss." Despite that, Murray has no doubt in his mind that that run - the elephant that has been present in the room for over 600 days now - will be buried this weekend. "I feel confident we can get the win," he added. "I felt like we should have won last week and we can get the win. "It's just making sure we do stay in the game for the whole 80 minutes, sticking to our game plan. But I'm confident. Obviously, it's matters who shows up on the day. "Japan are a good side. They've got class players, attacking shape is great and they're known for playing fast and scoring tries. As long as we stay switched on for the whole 80 minutes, we've got a good shot and should get the win. Article continues below "Everyone knows that we're in a low point at the moment. We all want to get the win and be the team to end it. It's exciting for us to have the opportunity to get that done."
Wales Online
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Tonight's rugby news as Wales hit humiliating new rankings low and World Cup disaster looms
Tonight's rugby news as Wales hit humiliating new rankings low and World Cup disaster looms The latest headlines from Wales and around the world Blair Murray reacts after Wales' 24-19 defeat to Japan in Kitakyushu (Image: Masterpress/Getty Images ) These are your evening rugby headlines on Saturday, July 5. Wales hit humiliating new rankings low Wales have hit a humiliating new low in the World Rugby rankings following their shock 24-19 defeat at the hands of Japan on Saturday. Matt Sherratt's side's dismal winless run was stretched to 18 games as a second-half implosion saw them throw away a 12-point lead, with Japan scoring two tries in the final 20 minutes after Ben Thomas and Tom Rogers crossed for Wales either side of a penalty try. Not only does it mean Wales' long, long wait for a Test win - which stretches back to the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France - goes on, it has also seen them slip to a record low of 14th in the world. The last time Wales were on the Japanese island of Kyushu, they were ranked as the second best team in the world, having briefly occupied top spot earlier that year. However, they have now hit an all-time low, with Japan and Samoa both moving ahead of them for the first time as Sherratt's side drop down two places from 12th. The slip is a humiliating one but could lead to another potential disaster at next year's World Cup in Australia. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack for the exclusive five-week tour diary from Japan and Australia. Article continues below The 2027 edition of rugby's showpiece tournament will see the competition expanded to 24 teams, with all of the qualified teams to be confirmed before the draw takes place later this year. All the teams who qualify will be seeded based on their rankings at the end of the November internationals window, and with the next World Cup boasting six pools of four teams, the seeding bands are broken down by every six teams. So, the top six teams in the world would be top seeds for the tournament, with those between 7th and 12th in the second banding of seeds and so on. With Wales now slipping to 14th, they are currently in the third banding, which would likely see them drawn in a 'pool of death' at the 2027 World Cup with two of the world's top 12 teams among their opponents. Wales have just five Test matches left to play before the draw is made, but it certainly won't be easy to turn things around with a rematch against the Brave Blossoms next week followed by November internationals against South Africa, New Zealand, Argentina and Japan for a third time. Jones: Wales were tough to beat Japan head coach Eddie Jones has heaped praise on his side for defeating a "really tough" Welsh side in Kitakyushu earlier today, after a second-half comeback saw them come from 12 points down to win 24-19. The hosts were the poorer of two clearly nervous sides in the opening half, with Wales taking a solid 19-7 lead into half-time following tries from Ben Thomas and Tom Rogers, as well as a penalty try. However, while Matt Sherratt's side fell apart in the second half, Japan looked like a side reborn heading into the final quarter, with tries from Ichigo Nakakusu and Halatoa Vailea helping them to snatch a win and inflict more heartbreak on the tourists. While Wales are critically low on confidence following a winless run that now stretches to 18 Test matches, the win was no mean feat for Jones' side, which featured eight debutants. "For a young team's perspective, that's a very good win," said the Brave Blossoms coach after the final whistle. "First half, we were getting beaten in territory and possession. We had a lot of nerves. We frequently gave the ball back early in the phase count. "As a result, we were being beaten fair and square. But I sensed at half-time that the players knew what to do. With Mike's leadership in the second half, I thought they played a really good 40 minutes of rugby. Really tough. "At times, we were able to break the Wales defence. Our set-piece was absolutely outstanding. I can't remember the last time I saw a front-row play 80 minutes in a Test match, especially in difficult conditions," Jones added. "For the Wales team, for them to come from the northern hemisphere into those conditions is difficult. Like every Wales team, they were always tough to beat. They're a proud rugby nation and they produce tough, good players. "We're really happy with the win. We'll enjoy the win tonight and get ready to go again in Kobe, where we'll need to play much better than today." Townsend pleased by winning start By PA Sport Staff Gregor Townsend was pleased to see Scotland's summer tour 'start on a positive' after his side held on to claim a 29-26 win against Maori All Blacks in New Zealand. Having got off to a shaky start when Sam Nock crossed for the hosts, Scotland were able to clinch victory in the non-cap international with tries from Harry Paterson, Arron Reed and two either side of the break from George Horne. A late scare saw the Maori reduce Scotland's lead to three points with 10 minutes to play, but head coach Townsend was pleased to see his less experienced side prevail in Whangarei. He said: 'The Maori are a quality side and I suppose we decided to put a team out tonight that wasn't as experienced knowing that it'll be a great development and learning experience for them. 'But we also wanted to win this game and we're so pleased that we did win the game and how we set that win up in the first half – how clinical we were. And then the pressure around set-piece and our defensive effort at the end saw us through. So, we're really pleased that the tour starts on a positive. 'The players who haven't played that much for Scotland and players that were coming back from injury were able to be part of a winning side tonight.' Scotland led 24-12 at the break and Horne took advantage to bag his second try of the game in the 53rd minute when the hosts had two players shown yellow cards in quick succession. However, the Maori suddenly closed the gap with converted tries from Kurt Eklund and Gideon Wrampling and Townsend hailed his side's ability to see the game out. 'The good thing is we found a way to win. I think it was probably beyond expectations knowing what the Maori did last week in Japan and how strong they've been against touring teams that we were so far ahead,' Townsend added. 'And we knew that they would come back and they got an opportunity and went through a number of phases, got back into the game and it looked like they had the momentum at the end. 'We needed a momentum shifting moment and Jamie Dobie and Fergus Burke, after real pressure in the line-out, got through and just the reaction of the team to get that ball back. 'We're delighted that in sport that could easily have ended up with them winning with the pressure they had on us in the 22, and it would have been a really disappointing and devastating to lose at the end having led for so long, so we're so glad we saw it through.' Article continues below Scotland's tour continues with a clash against Fiji on July 12 before concluding with a game against Samoa the following week. Townsend confirmed that Ben Muncaster will be monitored ahead of the Fiji meeting after picking up a dead leg, while Gregor Brown will enter concussion protocol.
Wales Online
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Wales player ratings vs Japan as far too many crumble in second-half capitulation
Wales player ratings vs Japan as far too many crumble in second-half capitulation Wales fell to yet another Test defeat in scorching conditions in Kitakyushu Wales players react after allowing Japan their third try (Image: Masterpress/Getty Images ) Wales' losing run at Test level stretched to 18 matches as they collapsed in the heat against Japan in Kitakyushu. In difficult conditions that probably didn't translate on the TV, Wales crumbled as they failed to score in the second half. Here's how the players rated... Blair Murray - 6 Little chance with ball in hand, but when he first got one, he beat two men in a phone box. Few other moments of fleet-footedness, but not a game made for the full-back. Tom Rogers - 5 Article continues below Took his try well. Good in the air. Will be disappointed to have fallen off the tackle for Japan's second. Johnny Williams - 4 First start for Wales in the 13 jersey after nearly two years away from Test rugby. Caught narrow too often, including for both Japan tries. Ben Thomas - 5 Nice line for the opening score. Kicking game worked in the first half to keep Wales' tackles down, but maybe became a bit of a crutch as the match went on. Josh Adams - 6 First touch saw him cut back inside to space for a half-break. The sort of opportunities that haven't been coming his way at Test level for a while. Strong under the high ball too. Sam Costelow - 4 Tends to be a player who attracts a lot of criticism, as most Welsh 10s do. Was solid for the most part, but Wales clearly relied too heavily on the boot in these conditions. Kieran Hardy - 5 Smart kick over the top for the penalty try, while some other kicks were on the money. Became over-reliant on the boot and was a little loose around the edges of the breakdown. Nicky Smith - 5 Mixed day at the scrum. Wales were on top early on, but Japan seemed to grow in that area of the game. Important breakdown penalty just before he was replaced after 50 minutes. Dewi Lake - 6 Couple of early lineouts narrowly evaded their target, but that was more to do with greasy ball than bad throw. The captain largely fixed that, chucked himself into everything and carried well when asked. One breakdown penalty in particular felt like a level above most things in this match, in terms of quality. Keiron Assiratti - 4 Few issues at the scrum after a strong start. Ben Carter - N/A After waiting a year to pull on the Welsh jersey again, it's such a shame his return to Test rugby lasted just seconds. The main priority is that the injury hopefully isn't too serious. Teddy Williams - 5 Got around the park well. Not too much else to say. Alex Mann - 5 Tackled everything to begin with. Penalties crept up as he was asked to go the full 80. Emptied the tank though in a losing effort Josh Macleod - 5 Waited a long time for this. Tackled like a man who has been eager for a Test recall for three years. Some good breakdown work, including one penalty late in the first half. Perhaps a bit overeager at times in the second-half, with one offload nearly gifting Japan a try. Taulupe Faletau - 7 Deft pass at the line for the opener. What you expect from Faletau. Also made Rogers' score. Some lovely handling skills when others were struggling with the bar of soap. Still so classy. The few moments of genuine quality tended to involve him. Hopefully the knock he took before coming off isn't too serious. Replacements Liam Belcher - 4 Made his Wales debut with 12 minutes to go and the game still in the balance. Immediately found himself behind on the scoreboard. Arrows off target, unfortunately. Gareth Thomas - 4 Scrum continued to struggle when he came on. Archie Griffin - 4 Was sent skywards in one scrum. James Ratti - 5 Thrust into the game much earlier than expected. Solid enough. Aaron Wainwright - 5 Brought energy, but little chance to make an impact. Tommy Reffell - 5 No real sniffs at the breakdown as Japan finished the stronger side. Rhodri Williams - N/A Didn't get on. Joe Roberts - 5 Article continues below Some decent cover tackles as the game got loose, but no time to impress.
