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The Citizen
a day ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Video: Boks set to return to Brighton for Japan Test
The Springboks will kick off their end-of-year tour against Japan at the Brighton Community Stadium – the venue of their most shocking defeat. SIMON BORCHARDT reports. In their opening match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Heyneke Meyer's Springboks suffered a 34-32 loss to Eddie Jones' Brave Blossoms. Karne Hesketh scored the match-winning try in the 84th minute after Japan – then ranked 13th in the world – turned down a penalty goal that would have drawn the game. The Boks and Brave Blossoms met again twice in 2019, with South Africa winning a world cup warm-up match in Saitama 41-7 and a quarter-final in Tokyo 26-3 en route to lifting the Webb Ellis Cup. understands that this year's Test in Brighton is scheduled for November 1, followed by matches against France (November 8), Italy (November 15), Ireland (November 22) and Wales (November 29). Also read: Rassie to scale back on 'experiments' The Springboks will play a total of 14 Tests – and 15 matches including the non-cap clash against the Barbarians – in 2025, a workload that head coach Rassie Erasmus has welcomed. 'We have a tough season, but we need that. We still want to filter players and give others opportunities,' he said in March. Erasmus has already fielded 46 players in the Boks' first four matches of the season, including seven debutants. Watch the highlights of the historic match: The post Boks return to Brighton for Japan Test appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
South Wales Argus
12-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Wales overcome wobble to end 18-Test losing streak in Japan
Interim head coach Matt Sherratt succeeded in ensuring the next permanent boss doesn't inherit a nightmare run, although the tourists were far from convincing in Kobe. Once again they looked like a side who have forgotten how to win after being in a position of strength at 21-3 up approaching half-time, then 24-10 nearing the final quarter. Mistakes were made, players looked ragged but this time they held on after Japan closed the gap to two points. Credit to them for that and the hope will be that better performances will come after the release of pressure. Wales struck three times in the first half to lead 21-10 with wing Josh Adams followed over by scrum-half Kieran Hardy twice. Japan had cut the gap with the final play before the hooter and then made the most of sloppiness and shoddiness to make it 24-22 in the closing stages. Eddie Jones' men looked the more likely to win but then some rare composure led to a clincher by fly-half Dan Edwards. After fluffing their lines in Kitakyushu, Wales enjoyed victory celebrations for the first time since October, 2023 when Georgia were turned over at the World Cup. It certainly wasn't convincing in the heat and humidity of Kobe, and there were mixed-bag performances from most individuals, but it was job done at the second attempt in Japan. DEBUT: Dragons tighthead Chris Coleman made his first Wales appearance (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency) It also meant that Dragons tighthead Chris Coleman, who came off the bench in the second half for a debut, starts international life as a winner. Wales appeared to have learnt their lessons from the previous weekend by showing more attacking intent from the off. That paid off in the ninth minute when Blair Murray made a line break from a Ben Thomas offload and then put Adams racing over. Dan Edwards converted on his first Test start and a chance went begging to make it a quickfire double when Rogers flung a wild pass after bursting down the right when Japan made a complete mess of a box kick. The Brave Blossoms came alive in the 20th minute with a sudden burst, but scrambling defence saw talisman Michael Leitch tackled into touch down the left when a leveller looked on. Wales responded and should have crossed again when Wainwright gathered a dropped ball and kicked through but Adams dropped the ball with the line at his mercy. It would have been chalked off anyway after the TMO and assistants talked referee Luke Pearce into giving a penalty for a high tackle by Josh Macleod in the build-up. The referee had initially been happy that there was no foul play but instead gave Seungsin Lee a chance to cut the gap from the tee, which he duly did. Wales responded well through their driving lineout to put the pressure on in the 22, kicking penalties to the corner rather than between the posts. SNIPE: Kieran Hardy of Wales scores a try (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency) That paid off with scrum-half Kieran Hardy darting over under penalty advantage, the try not saving Japan number eight Faulua Makisi from seeing yellow after the offences racked up. Edwards converted and Wales were again in a position of strength at 14-3 up approaching the half hour. They needed to hammer home their advantage at the end of the first half against 14 men and did with a huge blow with 36 minutes on the clock. More intent led to Adams getting the ball on the left, stepping in and racing away before staying cool in the heat to put Hardy over for a try that Edwards converted for 21-3. That would have been a handy lead at the break but instead the Japanese struck before the hooter after kicking a scrum penalty to the corner. Playing under penalty advantage, replacement prop Shuhei Takeuchi carried hard, released the ball after being tackled and bundled over after getting to his feet. That defensive sloppiness allowed Lee's conversion to make it 21-10 at the break. Japan came out swinging in the second half yet it was Wales that got the first points with Edwards slotting a penalty, won by strong breakdown work from flanker Macleod, in the 49th minute to make it 24-10. Wales were in a strong position approaching the hour but then shot themselves in the foot. CLINCHER: Dan Edwards secured Wales' win in Japan (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency) Hardy tried a box kick inside the Japan half but without sufficient protection, leading to a charge down and an attack that ended with lock Warner Deans going over from close range. It looked to be short on the TMO footage but it was deemed that there was insufficient evidence to overturn the on-field decision of try. Lee missed the conversion but was soon adding the extras from a Dylan Riley try. Hardy flung a pass that slipped through Edwards' hands and was pouched by the centre, who raced under the sticks from halfway. Suddenly it was just 24-22 to Wales and the momentum was all with the hosts. Wales were all over the shop but found some composure in the 75th minute to clinch the game, a wonderful Taine Plumtree offload in the 22 leading to Edwards dashing over and converting. At 31-22 with five minutes left, this had to be it. And it was with some players and staff showing their emotion at the final whistle. Now the new boss will be tasked with starting a winning run as Welsh rugby chiefs grapple with a myriad of off-field issues. Wales scorers: tries - Adams, Hardy (2), Edwards; conversions - Edwards (4), penalty - Edwards. Japan scorers: tries - Takeuchi, Dearns, Riley; conversions - Lee (2); penalty - Lee. Referee: Luke Pearce.
Wales Online
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Welsh rugby's 'next big thing' to finally get first Wales cap after nine-year wait
Welsh rugby's 'next big thing' to finally get first Wales cap after nine-year wait Keelan Giles burst onto the Welsh rugby scene and seemed destined for remarkable things before injuries derailed his career Keelan Giles during training (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) The last time Wales played Japan, before this summer's tour, seems like a lifetime ago. Sam Davies calmly slotting over the winning drop-goal, Dan Lydiate crossing for his only Wales try, Leigh Halfpenny on the wing with Liam Williams in the 15 jersey. It's only nine years ago, but that 2016 clash with the Brave Blossoms in Cardiff just feels like it's consigned to a distant time - a time capsule of sorts. Certainly, a last-gasp victory for an out-of-sort, mix-and-match Wales side against Japan seems like a luxury now. Nine years have passed. With it, Welsh rugby rose for a while - reaching the highest summit in the rankings for a brief moment - then plummeted to uncharted territory at an alarming rate. Nine years. Just less than a decade from plans being hatched to conquer the world to Wales falling off the face of the planet. That summer, in 2016, Warren Gatland sat down with Rob Howley, the then-Welsh Rugby Union chief executive Martyn Phillips and then-head of rugby performance Geraint John to formulate a path towards World Cup success in 2019. Article continues below Somewhere else in that Wellington hotel, a young Keelan Giles - just 18 at the time and without a senior appearance for the Ospreys - was likely overcoming jet-lag after flying in to Hamilton from the U20s' World Championship in Manchester to provide injury cover for Wales. The future was his. Yet, for Giles, the last nine years must have felt like an eternal wait when it comes to that elusive Welsh cap. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack for the exclusive five-week tour diary from Japan and Australia. "If there's anybody, same as Liam Belcher last week, who deserves a cap, it's Keelan Giles," said Wales interim head coach Matt Sherratt this week, after handing the now-27-year-old another shot at that first Test appearance with a bench spot against Japan in Kobe this weekend. Earlier in 2016, the young wing had been an electrifying part of the age-grade side that won the U20s Six Nations. After his time in New Zealand with the senior side - with no Test cap coming his way there - September of that year saw him make his debut for the Ospreys. Within minutes of coming on as a replacement against Benetton Treviso, he had crossed for his first score. By the time the autumn internationals rolled around that November, he had eight tries in five matches and was being billed as Welsh rugby's next big thing. Despite that, he missed out on the initial squad - only to be called in again as injury cover. That Japan clash in 2016, when Giles was named among the replacements, remained his best chance to date of getting onto the pitch in a Welsh jersey. Despite the excitement surrounding him, he remained, agonisingly, on the bench. The following summer saw him tour Tonga and Samoa, but still no cap came his way. Then, injuries took hold. His first serious knee injury in 2017 required reconstruction, keeping him out for a year. Then, in 2019, he suffered knee ligament damage in the other knee. That one robbed him of 450 days of rugby. Keelan Giles of the Ospreys (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency ) He's also had to have his hamstring 'tightened', which doesn't exactly sound helpful to a rugby player. Still, he's persevered. A strong run of form last season saw him picked by Gatland to tour Australia, only for injury to once again deny him before the plane had even left the tarmac. Now, in Kobe's Noevir Stadium on Saturday, Giles will once again - after nearly a decade of waiting - have the opportunity to earn that first cap. "I don't know how much you've had to do with Keelan but he's a great personality," explains Sherratt, who was with Wales as an assistant on the summer tour of 2017 with Giles. "A really, really good kid. "I still call him a kid because I knew him when I was younger. A really good trainer, very diligent. "This is not the case with all wingers, but he's quite a rugby nerd. If there's any games on, if you speak to Keelan the next day, he's watched it. "I'm probably doing Keelan a disservice. All the coaches have said this. We watched him week two and he was just having x-factor moments. "He's got a linebreak in him. He's just that type of winger. Similar to Blair Murray if I'm honest in terms of how he moves. "He can change direction quickly. If you can get Keelan on diagonals, running against forwards, he's really hard to handle. He's got good basics. "He's got x-factor. If we need a bit of x-factor off the bench, Reuben (Morgan-Williams) and Keelan both provide that. They've both got big moments in them. "He's just maximised everything he's had. He's had tough luck with a few injuries. Coming so close to winning a cap in Samoa, being on the bench and not getting on. "He's probably someone who thought his time had come and gone." Sherratt will also know Giles from his time at the Ospreys, having worked there as a backs coach. The decision to put Giles on the bench, given he only covers wing, might have raised some eyebrows as Wales look to end an 18-Test losing run, but Sherratt is content with the decision to once again put the Gorseinon product into the mix for that elusive first cap. "Sometimes, especially in these conditions when the grounds are hard, he's just shown some moments," said Sherratt. "Obviously Josh Adams can cover 13 and 15, Tom Rogers can play 15, Ben has played 10 and 15 before. "We just felt it was worth giving Keelan a run off the bench. He's an out-and-out winger but we've got enough cover in the backline to cover elsewhere." Article continues below After nine years of waiting, the chance has come around once again. "I have to be careful saying this as he's on the bench on the weekend," adds Sherratt, "but hopefully we can get him on the field and get him the cap he deserves."
Wales Online
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
How to watch Wales v Japan on TV - channel and UK kick-off time
How to watch Wales v Japan on TV - channel and UK kick-off time Matt Sherratt's Wales face the Brave Blossoms in their second and final Test of the summer tour Wales are desperate to stop the losing run. (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd ) Wales are hoping to stop their 18-Test losing streak when they face Japan this weekend. Despite being in control against the Brave Blossoms at half-time in the first Test, Wales let a 12-point lead slip and lost 24-19 in Kitakyushu. Wales have now not won a Test game since the 2023 World Cup, where they beat Georgia in the pool stages. Saturday's match will be the final opportunity to break this losing run until the autumn internationals in Cardiff at the end of the year. Interim boss Matt Sherratt has made a couple of big changes for this match, with Taulupe Faletau missing out completely due to "heat-related cramps". Aaron Wainwright replaces him at number eight, with Taine Plumtree coming onto the bench. Freddie Thomas replaces an injured Ben Carter and Keiron Assiratti drops out for Bath star Archie Griffin. There's one change in the back line, with Dan Edwards replacing Sam Costelow. Sherratt has selected Edwards to start for the first time as Wales head coach. Speaking about the decision to select him, Sherrat said: "Dan's trained brilliantly over the three weeks. He was great in the Six Nations so we want to have a look at him." Reuben Morgan-Williams, Keelan Giles and Chris Coleman could earn their first caps off the bench. Article continues below Here's everything you need to know about the match. What time is Japan v Wales kick-off? Japan v Wales kicks off at 6.50am UK time on Saturday, July 12, at Noevir Stadium in Kobe. Viewing details Japan v Wales is being shown live on S4C. You can therefore live stream the game on S4C Clic or BBC iPlayer on your mobile device or laptop. Team news Japan: Ichigo Nakakusu: Kippei Ishida, Dylan Riley, Shogo Nakano, Halatoa Vailea, Seungsin Lee, Naoto Saito; Yota Kamimori, Mamoru Harada, Keijiro Tamefusa, Epineri UluiViti, Warner Dearns, Michael Leitch, Jack Cornelsen, Faulua Makisi. Replacements: Hayate Era, Sena Kimura, Shuhei Takeuchi, Waisake Raratubua, Ben Gunter, Shinobu Fujiwara, Sam Greene, Kazuma Ueda. Article continues below Wales: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Johnny Williams, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams; Dan Edwards, Kieran Hardy; Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake (c), Archie Griffin, Freddie Thomas, Teddy Williams, Alex Mann, Josh Macleod, Aaron Wainwright. Replacements: Liam Belcher, Gareth Thomas, Chris Coleman, James Ratti, Taine Plumtree, Tommy Reffell, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Keelan Giles. Match officials
Kyodo News
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Kyodo News
Rugby: Toulouse No. 9 Saito named in Japan lineup for 2nd Wales test
TOKYO - Japan rugby head coach Eddie Jones has named Toulouse scrumhalf Naoto Saito as one of five starting lineup changes for Saturday's second test against Wales at Kobe's Noevir Stadium. The Brave Blossoms are aiming to sweep the two-test series after beating Wales 24-19 last weekend at Mikuni World Stadium Kitakyushu, marking an unprecedented 18th straight loss for the Six Nations side. Fullback Ichigo Nakakusu and winger Halatoa Vailea are among the other new inclusions in the starting XV, having both scored tries off the bench as test debutants in Kitakyushu. Jones, who announced his lineup in an online press conference Thursday, said his decision to start Saito ahead of in-form No. 9 Shinobu Fujiwara was a strategic choice with the late game in mind. "To have someone like Fujiwara, who's been in good form all year, and he played really well on Saturday, to come fresh into the game, anywhere near the 30-minute mark, is a big advantage for us," Jones said. "(Saito) is in really good condition, you know, on the back of being champion in France. He's got a lot of confidence. He's learned a lot about rugby, and it's going to be important that he brings that experience to the table." Nakakusu replaces Brave Lupus Tokyo standout Takuro Matsunaga, who came off injured after scoring Japan's opening try in the first test. "Matsunaga is obviously a very important player for us, but again, we have that next-man-up mentality, and we believe Ichigo can step up into the position," Jones said. "He's got a similar sort of game, he's quite elusive on his feet, he's got a good long kicking game and he's brave under the high ball, so we've got every confidence in him." Captain Michael Leitch, who played primarily at No. 8 this season for back-to-back Japan Rugby League One champions Brave Lupus, will remain at flanker for the Brave Blossoms. Jones said Leitch's leadership and desire to win was crucial for Japan, comparing the 88-test veteran to former All Blacks great Richie McCaw. "Leitch illustrated that on Saturday, (with) his desire to get off the ground and make tackles to help his teammates," Jone said. "It's the most influential form of leadership, you know, that's like a Richie McCaw-type of leadership, where you're just leading from the front and other guys come with you."
