Latest news with #JapanVsWales
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Japan hit back to stun Wales in first Test
Summer tour first Test: Japan v Wales Japan (7) 24 Tries: Matsunaga, Nakakusu, Vailea Cons: Lee 3 Pens: Lee Wales (19) 19 Tries: Thomas, penalty try, Rogers Cons: Costelow Japan stunned Wales in Kitakyushu with a first-Test fightback that condemned the visitors to an 18th successive defeat. Advertisement The tourists led 19-7 at the break, but wilted in the extremely hot and humid conditions in a match that took two hours to complete. Japan scored all the second-half points with Halatoa Vailea crashing over from a close-range line-out in the 71st-minute to claim the win for Eddie Jones' side. After losing lock Ben Carter to injury after only 24 seconds, Wales took the initiative through tries from from Ben Thomas, Tom Rogers and a penalty try, but Wales faded badly in the searing heat. Japan, inspired by 36-year-old captain Michael Leitch, claimed victory through tries from Takuro Matsunga, Ichigo Nakakusu and Vailea with nine points from the boot of Seungsin Lee. Advertisement It was a second victory for Japan against Wales with head coach Jones also masterminding the first in 2013. The defeat means Wales have fallen to a new low and they are now without a Test win in 21 months and have slipped two places to an all-time low of 14th in the world rankings, below Japan and Samoa. Matt Sherratt's side face Japan again in Kobe on Saturday, 12 July. Feeling the heat The game lasted more than two hours because of the extreme conditions. It kicked off at 14:00 local time and with temperatures reaching 34C with a very high humidity reading, the players were given a three-minute water break in the middle of each half, while the interval was extended from 15 to 20 minutes. Advertisement The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) had enquired about delaying the kick-off until later in the day so conditions would be cooler, but Japan wanted to play at this time. Home coach Jones had said whoever dealt with the conditions better would win and that he hoped for a hot day because the hosts would try to "run Wales off their feet". The water break and extended half-time measures are being taken under World Rugby's updated heat and air quality guidelines, to support players playing in hot conditions. The half-time extension was applied because conditions were deemed the second-most severe reading, with the next step being to consider "delaying or suspending the game". Advertisement That never materialised, but the excruciating conditions played a part in the length and quality of the contest. Wales had spent three weeks preparing at home and in Japan for the conditions, but struggled in the second half. No Wales home from home in 2025 Kitakyushu had been Wales' training base for the 2019 World Cup with the local population taking Warren Gatland's squad to its heart. More than 15,000 locals had crammed into the stadium just to watch Wales train before the home supporters launched into a rendition of the nation anthem. Six years later there was again a capacity crowd this time to watch what was only the second rugby international to be staged at the venue. Advertisement Cardiff coach Sherratt was again in caretaker charge after he had been brought into lead Wales for the final three Six Nations games after Gatland's departure in February. He made 11 changes to the side that lost 68-14 to England in Cardiff with flankers Josh Macleod and Alex Mann, lock Teddy Williams scrum-half Kieran Hardy and centre Johnny Williams rewarded for strong domestic form. Wings Adams and Rogers, fly-half Sam Costelow and Carter returned after being injured. Early disruption for Wales Carter, who missed the 2024 autumn internationals and 2025 Six Nations because of injury, lasted only 24 seconds on his international return. Advertisement He was injured while making a tackle and after a lengthy stoppage, was taken off on a stretcher. James Ratti came on in his place, with both sides having to regroup. Wales responded with a well-worked move that allowed Taulupe Faletau to provide a simple try-scoring pass to Thomas with Costelow converting. Some more incisive attacking saw Adams burst down the left-hand side with his inside grubber kick almost finding scrum-half Hardy. Wales had the early upper hand in the scrum, but their line-out was struggling and Japan capitalised on their first opportunity with a well-worked try for full-back Matsunga. Advertisement Scarlets midfield man Williams, who was back in Test rugby after an absence of almost two years, formed an eighth different Wales centre partnership in nine games this season. Williams is more used to playing at inside centre but his defensive inexperience in the wider channel was exposed as Japan produced a fine attacking move, involving new cap Kippei Ishida before Matsunaga crossed. Lee converted and it was 7-7 at the first water break after 20 minutes where Wales players used ice hats and towels to cool themselves. Wales rallied and a clever kick from Hardy resulted in replacement wing Ichigo Nakakusu slapping the ball deliberately out of play to deny Adams a try-scoring opportunity and resulted in a penalty try and a yellow card. Advertisement Wales took advantage of their extra man after another fine Faletau break released the backs and wing Rogers scored in the corner. The hosts responded with number eight Amato Fakatava denied by a last-ditch tackle by Ben Thomas. The 40-minute first half lasted more than an hour with all the stoppages but Wales led by 12 points as both sets of players almost staggered off the field. Either side of half-time Lake, Nicky Smith and Macleod, who was playing his first Test match in two-and-a-half years, gained valuable turnover penalties. Japan's final flourish Sherratt had stated the importance of his 23-man selection as he introduced experienced replacement forwards Gareth Thomas, Tommy Reffell and Aaron Wainwright compared to six uncapped Japan players on the hosts' bench. Advertisement But after the second-half water break, it was a Japan replacement in Nakakusu, who crossed after fine work from the home forwards, with captain Leitch at the forefront of the comeback. Lee converted and slotted over a penalty to reduce the deficit to two points, although Japan could have taken the lead if a try for Ben Gunter was not ruled out for a forward pass from Cornelsen. Cardiff captain Liam Belcher came on for his international debut when he replaced Lake, but Japan were preying on Wales' indiscipline, poor line-out and general fatigue. Japan took the lead for the first time through a try from Vailea with Lee again converting. Advertisement That was the final, decisive score with Japanese players sinking to their knees after the final whistle as they celebrated a famous victory, while Wales' squad were left shattered mentally and physically. 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. 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. Advertisement Replacements: Liam Belcher, Gareth Thomas, Archie Griffin, James Ratti, Aaron Wainwright, Tommy Reffell, Rhodri Williams, Joe Roberts. Referee: Damian Schneider (Argentina) Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England) & Luke Pearce (England) Television match official (TMO): Ian Tempest (England).
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Japan v Wales preview, teams and how to follow
Summer tour first Test: Japan v WalesVenue: Mikuni World Stadium, Kitakyushu Date: Saturday, 5 July Kick-off: 06:00 BSTCoverage: 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. Japan will host Wales in a two-match series that starts in Kitakyushu on Saturday and will finish in Kobe seven days head coach Matt Sherratt is in caretaker charge again having taken over from Warren Gatland during the Six Nations Championship in February with the Welsh Rugby Union's hunt for a permanent successor are seeking to end a record run of 17 consecutive Test defeats that stretches back to October are coached by Eddie Jones who is starting the second year of his second stint with the Brave have won four games and lost eight since Jones came back, and were beaten by 40 points or more by New Zealand, France and England in though, was the coach when Japan secured their only victory in 14 attempts against Wales in 2013. Where is the match being played? The first match is being played at Mikuni World Stadium which opened in 2017 and is normally home to third division football side Giravanz was the city that took Gatland's side to its hearts in 2019 when Wales chose it as its World Cup training base. Six years ago, the Mikuni World Stadium venue was where more than 15,000 locals packed into so they could watch Wales train, with the adopted home fans producing a rousing rendition of the Welsh national time Wales will play its first Test match at the venue that will host only its second international after Japan entertained Uruguay in 2022. How can I follow the game on BBC Sport? You cam watch the game live live on BBC One Wales and BBC iPlayer or listen live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru & BBC Sounds with kick-off at 06:00 can follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app, with build-up starting from 05:30 will also be post-match reaction and analysis online and via BBC Radio Wales and the Scrum V podcast. How hot and humid will it be? Wales and Japan will be given water breaks and an extended half-time period to help the two sides deal with the heat and humidity in Kitakyushu on match is being played at 14:00 local time with temperatures expected to reach 33C, while there will also be a high level of will be a three-minute break midway through each half, while half-time will be extended to 20 minutes from the original 15 measures are being taken under World Rugby's updated heat and air quality guidelines, which set out the measures to be taken to support players performing in hot half-time extension is the second most severe reading with the next step being to consider "delaying or suspending the game". Japan and Wales team news Sherratt has made 11 changes from the side humbled 68-14 by England in the Six Nations in eight Taulupe Faletau, prop Nicky Smith, centre Ben Thomas and full-back Blair Murray are the survivors from that record Cardiff Josh Macleod and Alex Mann are handed recalls, while centre Johnny Williams also returns. Scarlets captain Macleod makes his first Wales appearance since November 2022, while Williams' previous involvement came in September Hardy and Sam Costelow form a new half-back partnership, while Dragons lock Ben Carter returns after missing the Six Nations because of Cardiff captain Liam Belcher could make his international debut from the replacements bench if he comes on for hooker Dewi Lake, who skippers the is one of six Wales forwards on the bench including Tommy Reffell and Aron has named an inexperienced Japan team featuring two uncapped players in the starting line-up and another six on the Japan's new caps will be the diminutive wing Kippei Ishida, who Jones said "can be a Japanese version" of South Africa World Cup winner Cheslin Kolbe, while prop Yota Kamimori also starts for the first flanker Michael Leitch will captain the team in his 88th cap, with Japan regulars Warner Dearns, Dylan Riley and Seungsin Lee also in the starting side. 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 Hayate Era, Sena Kimura, Keijiro Tamefusa, Waisake Raratubua, Ben Gunter, Shuntaro Kitamura, Ichigo Nakakusu, Halatoa 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 Liam Belcher, Gareth Thomas, Archie Griffin, James Ratti, Aaron Wainwright, Tommy Reffell, Rhodri Williams, Joe Damian Schneider (Argentina)Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England) & Luke Pearce (England)Television match official (TMO): Ian Tempest (England).
BBC News
03-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Japan ready to conquer conditions against Wales
Summer tour first Test: Japan v WalesVenue: Mikuni World Stadium, Kitakyushu Date: Saturday, 5 July Kick-off: 06:00 BSTCoverage: 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. Japan coach Eddie Jones says the side who cope best with gruelling conditions in Kitakyushu will win Saturday's first Test against heat and humidity are expected for a match kicking off at 14:00 local in the scorching mid-afternoon sun are predicted to reach more than will also be a high degree of humidity, meaning players must cope with a greasy World Rugby heat guidelines will determine on the day whether there will be water breaks or an extended half-time the tourists have been preparing for the occasion with intense fitness sessions in Wales and Japan, Jones' side have been training in Miyazaki, south of Kitakyushu."We know Kitakyushu is going to be difficult conditions for both teams and the team that handles the conditions the best will win the game," said Jones. "We have had good preparation in the heat to play against Wales in those conditions and we could not have asked for more."It has been 32C every time we have trained. The ball is like a cake of soap and we have wet the field, so it has made the conditions difficult for the players."We can't do any more heat acclimatisation than we have done, so we are ready to go." 'Loud Wales anthem can inspire Japan' Wales have been based in Kitakyushu for more than a week as they rekindle their love affair with a city which was their World Cup base in has again taken Wales to its heart, with suggestions local fans will be cheering for the tourists and singing the Welsh national anthem louder than the Japanese equivalent."In terms of Wales and Kitakyushu, I really don't have any interest in that," said Jones. "We are just concentrating on ourselves. We have made sure we have used every day of the 20 days we have had together to maximise our ability to take the opportunity against Wales and we are looking forward to that."If the crowd sings the Welsh national anthem loudly, I am sure the pride of our players is going to be even stronger."Wales have lost a record 17 successive internationals in a sequence that stretches back to October wretched run has seen them slip to a record low of 12th in the world rankings, just one place above Japan."It is an unusual situation where you have two teams in almost the same state of development playing against each other," said Jones."We look forward to playing against a Wales side who are in a similar situation to us in having a young team rebuilding." 'Welsh Rugby Union must learn lessons' Wales head coach Matt Sherratt is again working in an interim capacity following Warren Gatland's departure in most recent international experience against Wales was as Australia coach during the 2023 World Cup, when Gatland's side claimed a record 40-6 win against the asked whether he was surprised by Wales' rapid decline since then, Jones said: "The state of rugby at the moment is if you are not continually rebuilding and you allow your team to go the nth degree, then the rebuilding period is tough."Jones said Wales and Japan had the two oldest squads at the 2023 World Cup, although champions South Africa had the highest average age of 30, compared to 29 for Japan and 28 for also suggested the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) needs to take responsibility to avoid a similar scenario in the future."I am sure there will be some learnings for the union about how to manage the situation better and we are going through the same situation here [in Japan]," he added."That responsibility lies with the national unions in having a more strategic approach to development and that's really important."Wales also play in the Six Nations and that is the most unforgiving competition in the world, so it is a difficult period for them."After spending some time at Scarlets earlier this season, Jones believes Welsh rugby can flourish again."Having visited Scarlets this year, I saw a number of good young players coming through," said Jones."I'm sure if Wales can get through this period, they're going to have another period of success further down the track."
