Wales captain Dewi Lake stated that his side let themselves down despite securing a 28-21 victory over Japan in the Nations Championship in Cardiff.
Performance and Future Challenges
Josh Adams scored two tries alongside efforts from prop Archie Griffin and wing Louis Rees-Zammit to secure a bonus-point win for Wales in front of 52,425 spectators. The result marked the second victory in four competition games and only the fourth win in 13 Tests under head coach Steve Tandy, with two of those victories coming against Japan. Despite the win following a difficult period that included a record 18 consecutive Test defeats, Lake expressed frustration with the overall display. He noted that the squad failed to execute several plans agreed upon prior to the match, though he emphasized that the group is eager to grow and challenge each other.
Lake acknowledged the importance of building confidence and trust through victories, noting that winning has not happened often enough recently. However, he warned that the team’s performance fell short of what will be required when Wales host New Zealand next Saturday, followed by a match against Australia on November 21. Tandy echoed those sentiments, admitting he expected a stronger showing from his team. While highlighting positive aspects such as line breaks and attacking play, Tandy conceded that the side lacked ruthlessness and must improve significantly for the upcoming fixtures.
Japan’s Perspective
Japan head coach Eddie Jones described the result as a missed opportunity to secure a historic first victory in Cardiff against Wales. Jones stated that his young team was not quite clinical enough to capitalize on Welsh mistakes, pointing out that failing to convert three opportunities inside the 22-metre area made the difference in the match. Additionally, Jones questioned the officiating at the contact area by New Zealand referee Paul Williams, specifically highlighting a penalty against his side for not supporting weight at the breakdown. Japan will next travel to face Jones’ former England team at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham.
