Wales beat Japan 31-22 to win first game since World Cup and bring 18-match losing run to an end | Rugby Union News

Wales put an end to its record of 18 games with a victory for 31-22 fighters in Japan.

Played under the closed roof of the Noevir stadium, Wales marked three trials in the first half, with Josh Adams opening the scoring and Kieran Hardy passing twice after the penalty of Lee Seung-Sin, but Japan struck the half-time through Shuhei Tauchi.

Although Dan Edwards ‘penalty has extended Wales’ country, they slipped into trouble while two quick succession trials of Warner Dearns and Dylan Riley brought Japan to the game.

However, Edwards crossed five minutes to seal a victory for Wales and take a long losing race to guarantee a first test victory since he beat Georgia during the 2023 World Cup.

Matt Sherratt made four changes from the team beaten by the brave Blossoms last weekend, with Freddie Thomas, Archie Griffin and Aaron Wainwright making the line of Edwards, who was making his first departure.

Wales marked the opening test when Blair Murray tightened by a gap and loaded the land before unloading in Adams to cross. Edwards added the conversion.

Japan had an excellent opportunity when Ichigo Nakakusu released the Welsh Defense and seemed to have played Michael Leitch, but the flanker was brought back while Wales was restored.

An error allowed Wainwright to jump on a loose ball before launching a stored grater kick for Adams. The winger reached the ball on the test line but could not get a firm socket to melt it and it rebounded by play.

Japan obtained its first game points from Lee’s penalty, but visitors extended their advantage shortly after a outing line where the rolling maul reached the edge of the test line and Hardy was able to reach and touch, with Edwards converting.

Faulua Makisi was sent to the Sin Bac and Wales quickly took advantage of their additional man when a big change of game allowed Adams to cut the left and break before passing in Hardy, who plunged, with marking Edwards of the tee.

Japan withdrew a test just before half-time when Takeuchi came up and Lee converted.

Wales suffered an early blow after the break when Nicky Smith was forced by an injury. Gareth Thomas came, and although Japan started well, it was Wales which then struck Edwards while the penalty gave a penalty.

The hosts then appreciated a superb accumulation of phases which led the dear on the line and after a TMO review, the test was held, but Lee’s conversion flew over the messages.

Wales suddenly found itself in difficulty while Riley clung to a sloppy pass and sprout the center of the field to cross under the posts. Lee converted to reduce the two -point gap.

A civil end of the match followed, but the visitors stacked with five minutes to play and a quick movement to the left allowed Edwards to cross before converting his own efforts to fill the victory.

Sky Sports will exclusively show the tour of the British and Irish lions in 2025 in Australia, with the three tests against the Wallabies and six warm -up matches to show exclusively live.