Wales’ horror losing sequence is now at 18 Tests after Matt Sherratt’s side plumbed new depths with a 24-19 defeat by Eddie Jones’ Japan in Kitakyushu.
Welsh rugby has had a truly awful two years but the national side’s latest loss in the Far East was a fresh low.
Wales should have had enough to win what was a low-quality contest.
But they failed to close out the game despite facing a Brave Blossoms side that was at their best mediocre and often incredibly poor. Somehow, Wales still found a way to lose.
Sherratt’s men were in control for two thirds of the match, but failed to score after the break. Their winless run is now at a mammoth 638 days, dating back to October 2023.
Sherratt is the interim Wales head coach, as the Welsh Rugby Union continues to search for a new permanent boss.
Wales were beaten by Japan in Kitakyushu as their winless run extended to 18 Tests
Wales’ disappointed players huddle together at the end of a game played in 30 degree heat
‘To lose the game at the end is obviously very disappointing,’ Sherratt said.
‘It hurts. We’ve got to use that hurt. The great thing about this tour is we have next week. In the first half we pretty much took every chance we had bar one.
‘It’s a young group and when you haven’t had a win for a while, those scars can start to run deep.’
Wales were without Jac Morgan and Tomos Williams after both were selected by the British & Irish Lions. But what is most concerning is that those two fine players apart, this was close to the best side Wales could put out.
And they were beaten once again despite their opposition’s paucity and the fact former England coach Jones fielded eight Japanese debutants.
Wales’ players have simply gotten out of the habit of winning both at domestic and international level. Captain Dewi Lake was crestfallen at the final whistle.
‘A couple of mistakes and ill-discipline cost us dearly in the second half,’ he said.
‘We allowed Japan into the game and they’re tough to stop when they’re playing at speed.
‘Although we felt like we were in control, if you don’t score points, you’re not going to win games. Conditions are going to play a factor but we’re not blaming that.
‘We weren’t clinical enough.’
Wales started well with Ben Thomas scoring, but they failed to pull clear and paid the price
Tom Rogers crossed for one of Wales’ three tries but they failed to score after half time
Wales endured a worrying start, lock Ben Carter seemingly knocked out just 27 seconds into the game.
Carter was taken from the field on a stretcher, but was on his feet by half time. The outstanding veteran No 8 Taulupe Faletau created Wales’ first try, setting up Ben Thomas before Japan hit back with a set-piece move.
Takuro Matsunaga was the scorer. In sweltering temperatures which touched 30 degrees, both teams took regular water breaks.
The first half was played at a slow pace, suiting Wales. Japan’s accuracy was particularly disappointing. They conceded a penalty try for which Ichigo Nakakusu was yellow carded and Tom Rogers grabbed Wales’ third.
The stop-start nature of the game and the heat breaks meant that 90 minutes after kick-off, the match clock hadn’t even hit the hour mark.
The last time Wales played in Japan, they reached the semi-finals of the 2019 World Cup with a team packed full of world-class talent.
Rogers (centre) celebrates his try but it was another day to forget for Wales in the Far East
But now things are very different.
Welsh rugby has been hit by all manner of problems since then.
Sherratt’s side should still have been further clear, but they failed to do so. And on the hour mark, Japan suddenly clicked into gear.
Nakakusu made amends for his sin binning and the boot of Seungsin Lee cut the Welsh advantage to just two. Then, things got even worse.
Wales offered nothing in the final quarter and Halatoa Vailea’s try in the 70th minute won the game for Japan.
Wales will face Japan next Saturday in the second Test in Kobe.
‘We’re gutted. It’s very tough to take. We had moments to win that game and put it to bed,’ Lake said. ‘We’ve got to be better around our accuracy.’
