Image source, Getty Images

Japan have mostly stuck with the side that ran Scotland close in round two, with just two changes.

Kotomi Taniguchi replaces Asuka Kuge at hooker, with Misaki Matsumura coming in on the wing in place of Rinka Matsuda.

Japan have a dangerous back row, with their powerful ball-carrying number eight Seina Saito scoring four tries in her last two outings, while the skipper Iroha Nagata is also a threat.

It should be an interesting battle between her and Wales' standout player of the year, Alex Callender.

Japan: Sora Nishimura; Misaki Matsumura, Mana Furuta, Haruka Hirotsu, Komachi Imakugi; Ayasa Otsuka, Moe Tsukui; Sachiko Kato, Kotomi Taniguchi, Wako Kitano, Yuna Sato, Otoka Yoshimura, Masami Kawamura, Iroha Nagata (capt), Seina Saito

Replacements: Asuka Kuge, Manami Mine, Nijiho Nagata, Kyoko Hosokawa, Jennifer Nduka, Megumi Abe, Minori Yamamoto, Kanako Kobayashi.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Despite Wales' underwhelming performance in defeat by Italy, Ioan Cunningham has kept faith with the bulk of the players who started that game.

There is good and bad news with Sisilia Tuipulotu making her first start of the tournament but fly-half Lleucu George is out.

Cunningham has made just three starting changes, one enforced with George missing due to a knee injury.

Kayleigh Powell is given an opportunity to show what she can do at fly-half, with the experienced Robyn Wilkins called up to provide cover on the bench.

Tuipulotu, another latecomer to Cape Town, is fresh enough to start in the front row, with Donna Rose dropping to the bench.

Abbie Fleming gets her first start of the campaign at the expense of Georgia Evans.

Wales: Jasmine Joyce; Carys Cox, Hannah Jones (capt), Hannah Bluck, Nel Metcalfe; Kayleigh Powell, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Natalia John, Abbie Fleming, Alisha Butchers, Alex Callender, Bethan Lewis.

Replacements: Molly Reardon, Maisie Davies, Donna Rose, Georgia Evans, Kate Williams, Sian Jones, Robyn Wilkins, Courtney Keight.

Image source, Getty Images

Good afternoon and welcome to our coverage of the third and final round of the WXV2 for Wales, who take on the Asian champions Japan in Cape Town.

So let's not beat around the bush... this is a must-win game for Wales and especially, you feel, for their head coach Ioan Cunningham.

Defeats in this tournament by Australia and Italy mean Wales must beat Japan to avoid relegation to WXV3 for 2026.

No that's not a typo... there is no WXV tournament next year due to the World Cup.

Cunningham is trying to hold on to his job for that tournament but who knows, his chances of doing so could depend on today's result.

I said that last week's meeting with Italy was arguably his most important game as Wales head coach. This time I don't think there's any doubt about it.

So, let's take a look at the teams.