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Wales completed a WXV double over Japan with a comfortable 29-5 victory in Kumagaya City. Sean Lynn’s side finished the Global Series with three wins, marking a complete transformation after going nine Tests without a win prior to facing South Africa.
Match Action and First-Half Tries
Wales started strongly in Kumagaya City, taking the lead after co-captain Alex Callender charged up deep into the 22 following a loose goalline drop-out by Japan. After Sisilia Tuipulotu came close, the ball reached wing Nel Metcalfe to finish in the corner, with Lleucu George adding the conversion.
Japan responded during a period of pressure brought on by Welsh indiscipline, securing their first try of the double header when hooker Moe Nagaoka scored from a maul. Wales replied 10 minutes later after George’s kick pressured the defence and Lisa Neumann won a turnover. Hooked Kelsey Jones scored her second try in as many games, and George successfully kicked the conversion.
Despite a disjointed visiting backline, the Welsh maul proved dominant. Seren Lockwood eventually found Amy Williams in space on the wing to score their third try, establishing a 19-5 halftime advantage.
Second-Half Dominance and Defensive Grit
Japan’s disciplinary issues continued after the break when Jennifer Nduka received a yellow card following an accumulation of penalties. This allowed Wales to secure their bonus-point try as Tuipulotu powered over from a metre out.
Wales continued attacking through their forwards, with Callender working tirelessly at number eight. The backs later combined when Callender delivered a wide pass to Neumann, who fed Williams for her second try of the evening.
The closing stages proved testing for Wales after replacements Keira Bevan and Hannah Dallavalle were both shown yellow cards within minutes of each other, leaving the team with 13 players. Bevan was penalized while Wales were on a warning, while Dallavalle received her card for a hair pull during her first appearance in the competition. Japan attacked relentlessly in the final moments, but Callender secured a crucial turnover to keep the hosts scoreless.
Wales co-captain Kate Williams said: “We played some exciting attacking rugby, especially in that first-half to get a few of our tries. I’m really proud of the set piece as well. I think what slowed down our momentum was our discipline and we let Japan back into the game a little bit in that second-half. But really proud of the defensive effort that we showed, especially with those two yellow cards. There was some real grit and determination behind that.”
Match Lineups
Japan fielded Imakugi, Tsunokawa, Langford, Kataoka, Havili Kagawa, Harada, Tsukui, Komaki, Nagaoka, Kitano, Kawamura, Sato, Asari, Jennifer, and Bodman, with Kuge, Mine, Fuji, M Nishimura, Korai, Seo, Ito, and S Nishimura listed as replacements. Nduka received a 44th-minute yellow card.
Wales selected Neumann, N Metcalfe, Cox, Keight, A Williams, George, Lockwood, Pyrs, K Jones, Tuipulotu, B Metcalfe, Crabb, co-captain K Williams, Lewis, and co-captain Callender. Reardon, Davies, E Jones, Aiono, Evans, Dallavalle, Bevan, and De Vera formed the bench, with Bevan and Dallavalle receiving yellow cards in the 68th and 70th minutes respectively.
