Match Report – Japan 24 – 19 Wales

Wales beaten 24-19 by Japan during the Summer Tour opening test; The defeat extends the sequence of international losses to 18 games; Scotland beats the Maori all blacks; Watch every match of the Lions 2025 tour, including the three tests against Australia, live on Sky Sports

The country’s international losses sequence was extended to 18 games when they were beaten 24-19 by Japan in Kitakyushu

Wales suffered its 18th successive international defeat after abandoning an advance at halftime to lose 24-19 against Japan in Kitakyushu.

The first half’s trials of Ben Thomas and Tom Rogers, as well as a penalty test and a conversion of Sam Costelow, gave Wales at the interval of a first victory since he beat Georgia during the 2023 World Cup 21 months ago.

But Japan overturned 19-7 from Wales to dominate the second half while Takuro Matsunaga’s tests, Ichigo Nakakusu and Halatoa Vailea, as well as nine points of the Lee Seungin boot, stacked more misery for tourists.

This is only the second time that Japan has tasted victory over Wales, the last in 2013, and victory will see them climbing over their 12th adversaries in the next series of test rankings for the first time since their introduction two decades ago.

The two games will meet again during the second test next Saturday in Kobe.

Wales is withered in the land of the rising sun

Brave Blossoms Boss and former head coach of England Eddie Jones had hoped for a hot day to “run the Wales” and oppressive conditions – with temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius as well as high humidity – meant that pauses were held in each half with an extended interval.

A slippery ball produced countless handling errors and there was often little pace in a disturbed competition which took more than two hours.

Taulupe Faletau, Nicky Smith, Ben Thomas and Blair Murray survived the 68-14 Thrashing by England in the Six Nations In March, the acting coach, Matt Sherratt, made 11 modifications.

N ° 8 Faletau – The fifth largest Gallois ran – made its 109th appearance, but it was largely an inexperienced program with six runners with less than 10 caps.

Taulupe Faletau made its 109th international appearance in the defeat of Wales by Japan

There was a disturbing start for the contest while Ben Carter made a hit on the side of the head inside 30 seconds.

Carter collapsed on the ground after trying to make a tackle and there was a long stop before the second row striker was removed on a stretcher.

Wales immediately raised the shoulders of this blow while Falestau used the space taking advantage of a line ploy to send Thomas with a well -timed pass and a converted costelow.

Japan responded and marked its first attack after 16 minutes while winger Kippei Ishida decided in the midfield to install Matsunaga and Lee’s Kick restored parity.

Wales again struck the front with a penalty test after Nakakusu deliberately slapped the ball while Josh Adams closed the Kieran Hardy chip by the test line.

Nakakusu has undergone new punishment with a yellow card, and Wales took advantage of their additional man after Japan has found the kick -off.

Faletau detached from a scrum back and Hardy, Costelow and Johnny Williams moved the ball so that Rogers slipped into the area.

The tide turned in the second half when Amato Fakatava saw his efforts excluded for a shot by Shinobu Fujiwara, but Japan should not be refused after crossing the phases.

Rogers slipped a tackle and Nakakusu plunged with Lee adding the extras to reduce the two -point deficit with a penalty.

Japan put its nose in front for the first time in 71 minutes while the Vailea replacement burst into and the conversion of Lee sparked celebrations which continued until the final whistle.

Scotland Edge Maoris to open a tour with Win

Scotland won a 29-26 victory against Maori All Blacks in his first summer game in Whangarei on Saturday.

Tourists were late in the first minute of the match when Sam Nock crossed, but Harry Paterson quickly put his first points on the set, the half-flies Adam Hastings adding the extras and extending their advantage with a penalty kick.

George Horne scored two of the four Scotland trials in their hard victory disputed against the Maoris All Blacks

Scotland took a 24-12 advance at the break with converted tests marked by George Horne and Arron Reed on each side of the effort of Isaia Walker-Leavere, which was converted by Rivyz Reihana.

A difficult opening to the second half saw Maori all blacks reduced to 13 at one time with two yellow cards shown in fast succession and Horne took the opportunity to win her second trial of the match in the 53rd minute.

The hosts suddenly reduced the gap when Kurt Eklund landed and Reihana added the extras before Gideon crossed, with Kaleb Trask converting, to reduce Scotland’s advance to three thin points in the last 10 minutes.

However, Scotland has retained a promising host attack in the last stages to win the victory and they are back in international action next Saturday with a match against Fiji before concluding their tour with a meeting against the Samoa the following week.

What is the next step: British and Irish Lions Tour in Australia on Sky Sports

Please use Chrome Browser for a more accessible video player

Look at the tour of the British and Irish Lions in Australia live on Sky Sports this summer

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.