Wales edge past Japan in narrow Nations Championship victory

Summarised from 5 outlets · 7 reports · Updated 7 Nov, 19:22 · Archive

Wales defeated Japan 28-21 in a Nations Championship match at the Principality Stadium, claiming a bonus-point win.

Wales defeated Japan 28-21 in a Nations Championship match at Cardiff's Principality Stadium to secure a bonus-point victory. Josh Adams scored two tries, with prop Archie Griffin and wing Louis Rees-Zammit also crossing the line for the hosts. Sam Costelow kicked three conversions and replacement Dan Edwards added one. Japan replied with tries from flanker Ben Gunter, lock Warner Dearns and replacement Kenta Fukuda, with Naoto Saito kicking two conversions and Shinya Komura adding one.

Wales led 21-14 at half-time after a strong start, with Rees-Zammit producing a 35-metre break in the opening minute that set the tone for the hosts' early dominance. Adams scored again in the second half before Fukuda's try ensured Japan finished with a losing bonus point and created a frantic finale which Wales survived.

The match was played in front of 52,425 supporters, more than 20,000 below capacity. Rows of empty seats reflected ongoing turmoil in Welsh rugby and fan discontent. This was the fourth meeting between the two sides in sixteen months, with Wales having won their previous encounter by a single point with a last-gasp penalty twelve months earlier.

Wales fielded a record twelve players from English clubs, with nine in the starting XV including six forwards. Many of these players have been performing well in the Gallagher Premiership, but their departure from Welsh regions contributes to the broader domestic game crisis.

The win was Wales' fourth under coach Steve Tandy in thirteen games. However, the performance drew significant criticism. The hosts struggled at the set-piece with six lineouts lost, showed worrying indiscipline and wasted attacking opportunities with handling errors. Rees-Zammit was named player of the match, with strong ball-carrying performances also coming from full-back Blair Murray and the back-row duo of Morgan and Wainwright.

Wales' narrow victory represents an improvement on the eighteen-match losing streak that followed the 2023 World Cup, but the unconvincing nature of the display will concern coach Tandy. Wales now face New Zealand and Australia in their next two Nations Championship matches, representing significantly sterner tests than Japan.

How it is being reported

• Sloppy Wales lucky to prevail against spirited JapanSloppy Wales lucky to prevail against spirited JapanThe Telegraph · 7 Nov, 19:06
• Highlights: Wales 28-21 JapanWatch the highlights as Wales beat Japan 28-21 in their opening game of the Nations Championship in Cardiff.BBC Sport · 7 Nov, 19:02
• Wales edge past Japan in stuttering start to autumn campaignWales 28-21 Japan: Josh Adams scored twice in a narrow win watched by a far-from-capacity crowdIndependent Sport · 7 Nov, 18:56
• Louis Rees-Zammit helps edge Wales to unconvincing victory against JapanWales 28-21 Japan Adams scores twice as Wales secure third win in five Tests Josh Adams grabbed two tries and Louis Rees-Zammit rounded off the scoring as Wales claimed a bonus-point 28-21 victory over Japan in the Nations Championship, but there will be much for their coach, Steve Tandy, to ponder after a lacklustre display. It was a third win in five Tests for Wales, an improvement on the harrowing 18-match losing streak that followed the 2023 World Cup, but in a game that lacked quality in general, the home side struggled at the set-piece in particular. Continue reading...The Guardian · 7 Nov, 18:46
• Wales labour to bonus-point win against JapanWales resumed their Nations Championship campaign with an unconvincing bonus-point 28-21 victory against Japan at the Principality Stadium.BBC Sport · 7 Nov, 18:43
• Josh Adams scores two tries as Wales edge past Japan in CardiffArchie Griffin and Louis Rees-Zammit also crossed for the Welsh.Independent Sport · 7 Nov, 18:33
• Wales rugby in death spiral but fans snubbing Principality won’t helpIt’s that time of year again: when Wales try and win a game of rugby while thousands of fans boycott matches at their Principality Stadium. There are thousands and thousands of tickets still available for Wales’ three autumn fixtures in the inaugural Nations Championship finals month. They take on Japan this weekend before matches against [...]City AM · 6 Nov, 15:00

In this story: Wales · Japan · Josh Adams · Archie Griffin · Louis Rees-Zammit · Steve Tandy · Principality Stadium · Cardiff

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