Wales will have another shot at putting an end to their torturous 17-Test losing run when they face Japan at Mikuni World Stadium in Fukuoka on Saturday in the first of two internationals between the sides.
To Win
Japan | Draw | Wales
Handicap
Japan | Wales
The Dragons have come out victors in 13 of the previous 14 matches between the nations, with the anomaly coming back in 2013 when Eddie Jones pulled off a shock 23-8 win in Tokyo. Now in his second stint with the Brave Blossoms, the wily Aussie will be doing all he can to effect a similar result.
The hosts have been dealing with their own poor run of form of late, with just a single victory to show from their last five outings. Currently ranked 13th, just one place off their opponents this week, this current incarnation of Japan may be a far cry from their great side of 2019 but their fast-paced attacking game can still inflict damage on an underperforming Wales defence.
The Europeans meanwhile will have to learn to cope without the presence of talismanic British & Irish Lions duo Jac Morgan and Tomos Williams as they take aim at a potentially rusty Japan, who head into their first hit out of the year.
Cardiff boss Matt Sherratt will continue in his capacity as interim Wales head coach with the side still in search of a first Test win since October 2023. With the team’s world ranking under threat over the next fortnight, Sherratt and his coaching staff, with Leigh Halfpenny in tow, must get the most out of this young and inexperienced group of players as quickly as possible.
The matchday squad will be bolstered by the quality of individuals like Dewi Lake, Nicky Smith, Josh Adams and Blair Murray, who will all have important roles to play in what will very much be something of an experimental lineup in Japan. Jones’ team meanwhile will hope personnel like Michael Leitch, still going strong at 36, Dylan Riley and Toulouse’s Naoto Saitō can come up big for them.
Verdict: Wales on the board
Get on this greenhorn Wales outfit to outdo Japan and finally put some demons to rest in Fukuoka.
