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6 days ago
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Faletau out as Edwards given first Wales start
Number eight Taulupe Faletau (left) has played 109 internationals while fly-half Dan Edwards has two caps [Huw Evans Picture Agency] Summer tour second Test: Japan v Wales Venue: Noevir (Misaki Park) Stadium, Kobe Date: Saturday, 12 July Kick-off: 06:50 BST Coverage: Watch live on S4C and BBC iPlayer; listen live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru & BBC Sounds; text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app. Advertisement Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau has been ruled out of the second Test against Japan in Kobe as fly-half Dan Edwards is given his first international start. Faletau, 34, came off during the second half of the 24-19 defeat in Kitakyushu after suffering "heat-related cramps" in the intense conditions and has not recovered. He will be replaced by Aaron Wainwright as one of four changes made by interim head coach Matt Sherratt, who said he wanted to "freshen things up a bit". Edwards comes in for Sam Costelow, while prop Archie Griffin starts with Keiron Assiratti dropping out of the squad. Advertisement Gloucester lock Freddie Thomas replaces Ben Carter who has been ruled out because of concussion. Ospreys duo Reuben Morgan-Williams and Keelan Giles, and Dragons prop Chris Coleman, could make their international debuts from the replacements bench. Missing Faletau Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau has been on three British and Irish Lions tours [Huw Evans Picture Agency] Faletau's absence is a major blow as he is Wales' most experienced player and was the tourists' most impressive performer in the first game against Japan. He left the field after 56 minutes in Kitakyushu in noticeable discomfort with the intense heat and humidity troubling the visitors, although Sherratt confirmed after the match Faletau's withdrawal had been tactical. Advertisement Wales had said they would allow Faletau time to recover before deciding on their line-up, after the Cardiff number eight did not train with the Wales squad on Tuesday. "Toby [Taulupe] had a little bit of heat stress-related cramping [following the game]," said Sherratt. "We decided it was best Aaron Wainwright starts at No 8." Scarlets back row Taine Plumtree comes onto the bench alongside Ospreys forward James Ratti, who played 79 minutes in Kitakyushu after coming on for Carter. Lock Thomas will make his second Wales start when he packs down alongside Teddy Williams. Assiratti has not been able to train much this week so his exit from the squad allows Bath tight-head Griffin to move up from the bench, while Coleman will get his first taste of international rugby if he comes on the field. Advertisement Cardiff captain Liam Belcher retains his spot in the squad after the hooker won his first cap in Kitakyushu when he replaced captain Dewi Lake. Dan is the man Dan Edwards is a former Wales Under-20s fly-half [Huw Evans Picture Agency] Ospreys fly-half Edwards made two replacement appearances against France and Italy under former head coach Warren Gatland during the 2025 Six Nations with Cardiff centre Ben Thomas starting at 10 in Paris and Rome. Wales interim boss Sherratt has used fly-halves Costelow, Gareth Anscombe and Jarrod Evans during his four games in charge but now selects Edwards for the first time. "Dan's trained brilliantly over the three weeks," said Sherratt, Advertisement "He was great in the Six Nations so we want to have a look at him." Edwards, 22, will have a familiar face when he links up with his club half-back partner Kieran Hardy, while another Ospreys scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams will hope to claim his first cap from the bench. Morgan-Williams' inclusion means Rhodri Williams drops out of the squad, after the Dragons scrum-half was an unused replacement last weekend with Hardy playing the full 80 minutes. The rest of the starting backline remains the same with wing Giles drafted in for Scarlets centre Joe Roberts on the bench, as one of only two back replacements. Advertisement Giles, 27, could end a nine-year wait for an elusive first cap which started when he was selected as a 18-year-old for the tour to New Zealand in 2016. He was an unused replacement in the narrow victory against Japan in November 2016 and was also not capped after being included for the trip to play Samoa and Tonga the following summer. Following significant knee issues and a hamstring problem, Giles was picked for the summer tour of Australia in 2024 but had to pull out because of injury. The touring Wales players who have not been involved in a match-day squad are uncapped duo Macs Page and Garyn Phillips, Cardiff full-back Cameron Winnett and Dragons hooker Elliot Dee. Advertisement Trying to halt the losing streak Wales will finish a dismal season looking to avoid becoming the first tier one rugby nation in history to suffer 19 successive international defeats. They have not won a Test match in 21 months since defeating Georgia in Nantes during the World Cup in October 2023. Wales' first match defeat to Japan means they dropped to an all-time world ranking low of 14th. Eddie Jones' Japan side are bidding to wrap up a first series victory against Wales and make history by winning consecutive matches against tier one opposition for the first time. Jones has made five changes to the starting side including the selection of Toulouse scrum-half Naito Saito who was unavailable for the first game having just been part of the Top14 winning side. Advertisement Kubota prop Keijiro Tamefusa, number eight Faulua Makisi, wing Halatoa Vailea and full-back Ichigo Nakakusu are also named, while Australian-born back Sam Greene could make his debut from the bench. How they line up Japan: Ichigo Nakakusu; Kippei Ishida, Dylan Riley, Shogo Nakano, Halatoa Vailea; Seungsin Lee, Naito Sato; Yota Kamimori, Mamoru Harada, Keijiro Tamefusa, Epineri Uluiviti, Warner Deans, Michael Leitch (capt), Jack Cornelsen, Faulua Makisi. Replacements: Hayate Era, Sena Kimura, Shuhei Takeuchi, Waisake Raratubua, Ben Gunter, Shinobu Fujiwara, Sam Greene, Kazema Ueda. Wales: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Johnny Williams, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams; Dan Edwards, Kieran Hardy; Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake (capt), Archie Griffin, Freddie Thomas, Teddy Williams, Alex Mann, Josh Macleod, Aaron Wainwright. Advertisement Replacements: Liam Belcher, Gareth Thomas, Chris Coleman, James Ratti, Taine Plumtree, Tommy Reffell, Reuben Morgan-Williams, Keelan Giles. Referee: Luke Pearce (RFU) Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (RFU), Damian Schneider (UAR) Television Match Official (TMO): Glenn Newman (NZR).
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
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Three Dragons to face Japan as Wales try to end 17-Test losing streak
STARTER: Ben Carter will win his 13th cap for Wales against Japan (Image: Chris Fairweather/Huw Evans Agency) Three Dragons will try to help Wales end their 17-Test losing streak in Japan on Saturday – with two of them tasked with finishing the job in sweltering conditions. Lock Ben Carter returns to the international fold as a starter for the first Test in Kitakyushu (kick-off 6am) with back row forward Aaron Wainwright and Rhodri Williams on the bench. Advertisement Uncapped tighthead Chris Coleman and hooker Elliot Dee miss out on the matchday 23 this weekend. Influential Wainwright and experienced Williams are joined among the replacements by flanker Tommy Reffell, with interim head coach Matt Sherratt pointing to the importance of the finishing line-up. Sherratt said: "We've had a very good build-up. We tried to give everyone a fair chance of selection. "One of the key messages was it's going to be a 23-man job. So, we've tried to spread the experience out in terms of getting some experience coming off the bench. "I think an 80-minute performance, that physical edge and making sure that we transfer training into the game is going to be the biggest thing for us. Advertisement "It's going to be humid. It's going to be hot. Japan traditionally play quite a fast brand of rugby, so us getting up to speed with that is going to be key." Scarlets flanker Josh Macleod, who has been plagued by Achilles and shoulder injuries, makes a first international appearance since the 2022 Autumn Nations Series. He joins Taulupe Faletau and Alex Mann as Sherratt makes 11 changes from the side humbled 68-14 by England in the Six Nations Championship in March. Faletau, prop Nicky Smith, centre Ben Thomas and full-back Blair Murray are the survivors from that record Cardiff defeat. Advertisement "There's a number of players who've worked their way back into the squad," said Sherratt. "(It's) Something we made a big point of in the first team meeting. Josh Macleod is an obvious one. "He's struggled with some injuries, had a real rollercoaster over the last three or four years, so him coming back in is massive. "I think you could tell from the players' reaction when Liam Belcher was selected (on the bench) how much he deserves it. "He's been in the regional game for 10 years. He's changed clubs. He's gone back to university to do an electrician's degree and then he's managed to work his way into the national squad." Advertisement The uncapped Belcher takes his place among the replacements with Sherratt having plumped for a relatively new-look pack. Captain Dewi Lake returns at hooker and is joined in the front row by Smith and Keiron Assiratti. With second-row forwards Dafydd Jenkins and Will Rowlands unavailable for various reasons, Carter and Teddy Williams step into the engine room. The changes in the back division see recalls for wingers Josh Adams and Tom Rogers, as well as centre Johnny Williams, who last featured for Wales at the 2023 World Cup. Kieran Hardy and Sam Costelow form a new half-back partnership, with Tomos Williams – who along with skipper Jac Morgan was selected for the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia – and Gareth Anscombe having started against England. Advertisement Wales: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Johnny Williams, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams; Sam Costelow, Kieran Hardy; Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake (captain), 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.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wales flankers Mann and Macleod return against Japan
Alex Mann and Josh Macleod will line up together in a Wales back row for the first time this weekend [Huw Evans Picture Agency] Summer tour first Test: Japan v Wales Venue: Mikuni World Stadium, Kitakyushu Date: Saturday, 5 July Kick-off: 06:00 BST Coverage: Watch live on BBC One Wales and BBC iPlayer; listen live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru & BBC Sounds; text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app. Advertisement Wales flankers Josh Macleod and Alex Mann have been recalled to face Japan in Kitakyushu on Saturday. Interim head coach Matt Sherratt has also brought back half-backs Kieran Hardy and Sam Costelow, Dragons lock Ben Carter and Scarlets centre Johnny Williams. Sherratt has made 11 changes to the starting side that lost 68-14 to England in March with Dewi Lake, Nicky Smith, Blair Murray and Taulupe Faletau the only survivors. Cardiff hooker Liam Belcher could make his debut as a replacement if he comes on for Lake, who captains the side. Belcher is one of six forwards named on the bench alongside Aaron Wainwright and Tommy Reffell. Advertisement "We've had a very good build-up and tried to give everyone a fair chance of selection," said Sherratt. "One of the key messages was it's going to be a 23-man job. So, we've tried to spread the experience out in terms of getting some experience coming off the bench." Wales are aiming to end a 17-match international losing streak and record a first Test victory since October 2023. They will face Eddie Jones' side again in Kobe on Saturday, 12 July. Back row balance Macleod and Mann will pack down alongside number eight Taulupe Faletau after the flanker pair were preferred to Wainwright and Reffell, with Taine Plumtree not included in the squad. Advertisement It has been a long road back for Macleod as he prepares to win his third cap, more than two and a half years since his previous international against Australia in November 2022. The Scarlets skipper has overcome a series of long-term injuries and was included in the squad for Japan following a fine domestic season. With Jac Morgan away with the British and Irish Lions, Macleod will wear the Wales number seven shirt. "There's a number of players who've worked their way back into the squad and Josh is an obvious one," said Sherratt. "He's struggled with some injuries, had a real rollercoaster over the last three or four years, so him coming back in is massive." Advertisement Cardiff blind-side flanker Mann returns after making his Wales debut during the 2024 Six Nations tournament. The 23-year-old missed the start of the 2024-25 campaign because of a back injury but impressed when he came back in the latter stages of the season. Dragons captain Carter is also selected after missing the past two international campaigns because of a knee problem. Carter packs down in the second row alongside Teddy Williams with James Ratti providing the lock cover from the bench. Props Nicky Smith and Keiron Assiratti are given starting spots instead of Gareth Thomas and Archie Griffin. Advertisement Cardiff coach Sherratt was delighted to name his club captain in the squad. "I think you could tell from the players' reaction when Liam Belcher was selected how much he deserves it," said Sherratt. "He's been in the regional game for 10 years. He's changed clubs. "He's gone back to university to do an electrician's degree and then he's managed to work his way into the national squad so we are delighted for Liam." Backline returns Ospreys scrum-half Hardy is rewarded for his fine form with a first Test start since August 2023. Hardy, 29, is preferred to his uncapped Ospreys team-mate Reuben Morgan-Williams, with Dragons scrum-half Rhodri Williams providing the replacements cover. Advertisement Hardy will partner Scarlets fly-half Costelow who missed the Six Nations because of a fractured collarbone. Costelow will form a new-look midfield alongside a fresh centre partnership consisting of Ben Thomas and Johnny Williams, who will play his first international since the World Cup win against Portugal in September 2023. Williams has played the majority of his career at inside centre with his previous seven caps all coming in the number 12 shirt. The 28-year-old starts for Wales for the first time in the outside centre role as he is preferred to his Scarlets team-mate and number 13 specialist Joe Roberts, who will cover the backline from the bench. Advertisement Scarlets full-back Murray will be joined in the back three by wings Tom Rogers and Josh Adams. Veteran Leitch leads Japan Veteran Michael Leitch, 36, will captain Japan and is the only member of the squad who has more than 50 caps. Leitch has featured in four World Cups and played 87 internationals for the Brave Blossoms. Head coach Jones says Japan were without about 15 players as he named eight uncapped internationals in his match-day 23. Prop Yota Kamimori and wing Kippei Ishida, who Jones says can be a Japan version of South Africa double World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe, will both make international debuts, while there are six new potential caps on the replacements bench. Advertisement Toulouse scrum-half Naoto Saito, who was part of the squad that won the French Top 14 title last weekend, is not involved this Saturday but will be available for the second Test in Kobe. Japan's only victory in 14 games against Wales came in 2013 when the 23-8 victory was masterminded by Jones during his first spell in charge. Japan are 13th in the World Rugby rankings, one place below Wales. Line-ups 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 (capt), Jack Cornelsen, Amato Fakatava. Advertisement 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 (capt), 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.
