Japan hit back to stun Wales in first Test

Summer tour first Test: Japan v Wales

Japan (7) 24

Tries: Matsunaga, Nakakusu, Vailea Cons: Lee 3 Pens: Lee

Wales (19) 19

Tries: Thomas, penalty try, Rogers Cons: Costelow

Japan stunned Wales in Kitakyushu with a first-Test fightback that condemned the visitors to an 18th successive defeat.

The tourists led 19-7 at the break, but wilted in the extremely hot and humid conditions in a match that took two hours to complete.

But Japan scored all the second-half points with Halatoa Vailea crashing over from a close-range line-out in the 71st-minute to claim the win for Eddie Jones' side.

After losing lock Ben Carter to injury after only 24 seconds, took the initiative through tries from from Ben Thomas, Tom Rogers and a penalty try, but faded badly in the searing heat.

Japan, inspired by 36-year-old captain Michael Leitch, claimed victory through tries from Takuro Matsunga, Ichigo Nakakusu and Vailea with nine points from the boot of Seungsin Lee.

It was a second victory for Japan against Wales with head coach Jones also masterminding the first win in 2013

The defeat means Wales have fallen to a new low as they search for a first Test win in 21 months.

Wales have slipped two places to an all-time low of 14th in the world rankings, below Japan and Samoa.

Matt Sherratt's side face Japan again in Kobe on Saturday, 12 July.

The game lasted more than two hours because of the extreme conditions.

With the game kicking off at 14:00 local time and temperatures reaching 34C and a very high humidity reading, the players were given a three-minute water breaks in the middle of each half and the half-time break was extended by five minutes to 20 minutes.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) had enquired about moving the kick-off time until later in the day so conditions would be cooler, but Japan wanted to play at this time.

Home coach Eddie Jones had said whoever deals with the conditions better would win the game and previously commented he hoped for a hot day as the hosts try to "run Wales off their feet".

The water break and extended half-time measures are being taken under World Rugby's updated heat and air quality guidelines, which set out the measures to be taken to support players playing in hot conditions.

The half-time extension was applied because conditions were deemed the second--most severe reading with the next step being to consider "delaying or suspending the game".

That never materialised, but the excruciating conditions played a part in the length and quality of the contest.

Wales had spent three weeks preparing at home and in Japan for the conditions, but wilted badly in the second half.

Kitakyushu had been Wales' training base for the 2019 World Cup with the local population taking Warren Gatland's squad to its heart.

More than 15,000 locals had crammed into the stadium just to watch Wales train before the home supporters launched into a rendition of the nation anthem.

Six years later there was again a capacity crowd this time to watch Wales and Japan play a Test match in what was only the second rugby international to be staged at the venue.

Cardiff coach Sherratt was again in caretaker charge after he had been brought into lead Wales for the final three Six Nations games after Gatland's departure in February.

Sherratt made 11 changes to the side that lost 68-14 to England in Cardiff with flankers Josh Macleod and Alex Mann, lock Teddy Williams scrum-half Kieran Hardy and centre Johnny Williams rewarded for strong domestic form.

Wings Adams and Rogers, fly-half Sam Costelow and Carter returned after being injured.

Carter missed the 2024 autumn internationals and 2025 Six Nations because of injury, but lasted only 24 seconds on his international return after going into a tackle.

After a lengthy stoppage, Carter went off on a stretcher and was replaced by James Ratti with both sides having to regroup.

Wales responded with a well-worked move that allowed Taulupe Faletau to provide a simple try-scoring pass to Thomas with Costelow converting.

Some more incisive attacking saw Adams burst down the left hand side with his inside grubber kick almost finding scrum-half Hardy.

Wales had the early upper hand in the scrum, but their line-out was struggling and Japan capitalised on their first opportunity with a well-worked try for full-back Matsunga.

Scarlets midfield man Williams, who was back in Test rugby after absence of almost two years, formed an eighth different Wales centre partnership in nine games this season.

Williams is more used to playing at inside centre but his defensive inexperience in the wider channel was exposed as Japan produced a fine attacking move, involving new cap Kippei Ishida before Matsunaga crossed.

Lee converted and it was 7-7 at the first water break after 20 minutes where Wales players used ice hats and towels to cool themselves.

Wales rallied and a clever kick from Hardy resulted in replacement wing Ichigo Nakakusu slapping the ball deliberately out of play to deny Adams a try-scoring opportunity and resulted in a penalty try and a yellow card.

Wales took advantage of their extra man after another fine Faletau break released the backs and wing Rogers scored in the corner.

The hosts responded with number eight Amato Fakatava denied by a last-ditch tackle by Ben Thomas.

The 40-minute first half lasted more than an hour with all the stoppages as Wales led by 12 points with both sets of players almost staggering off the field.

Either side of half-time Lake, Nicky Smith and Macleod, who was playing his first Test match in two-and-a-half years, gained valuable turnover penalties.

More to follow.