Summary

  • Wales beat Japan to end a 10-game losing streak at home

  • Jarrod Evans kicks an 83rd minute winning penalty

  • Dan Edwards, Louis Rees-Zammit and Nick Tompkins cross for Wales

  • Kippei Ishida and Faulua Makisi score Japan's tries

  • Josh Adams is shown a 20 minute red card for a reckless clearout

  • Victory for Wales ensures crucial world ranking points to remain in the top 12 for the World Cup draw on 3 December.

  1. Wales must learn to win again - Lakepublished at 17:10 GMT

    Wales v Japan (17:40 GMT)

    Captain Dewi Lake says Wales must "learn to win" in Cardiff again.

    Wales have not won a Test in the capital since beating England in August 2023, a run Lake admits has weighed heavily on the squad.

  2. Wales' miserable run in Cardiffpublished at 17:08 GMT

    Wales v Japan (17:40 GMT)

    Wales haven't won at the Principality Stadium since beating England in a warm-up fixture ahead of the 2023 World Cup.

    Could that change today?

    Dewi Lake on a graphic showing Wales' last 10 resultsImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency
  3. Japan tinker with teampublished at 17:04 GMT

    Wales v Japan (17:40 GMT)

    Japan flanker Jack Cornelsen passes the ballImage source, Getty Images

    Japan boss Eddie Jones makes two changes to his XV after the 41-10 defeat to Ireland in Dublin.

    Jack Cornelsen replaces Ben Gunter at blind-side flanker while Keijiro Tamefusa comes in for Shuhei Takeuchi at tight-head prop.

    Japan are without inspirational flanker Michael Leitch as they hunt a statement win on their European tour.

    They lost at home to Australia last month before travelling over to face South African in London and then Ireland, who they pushed hard despite the scoreline.

    After taking on Wales they tackle Georgia next Saturday.

    Japan: Yazaki; Ishida, Riley, Lawrence, Osada; Lee, Saito; Kobayashi, Sato, Tamefusa, Uluiviti, Dearns (capt), Cornelsen, Shimokawa, Makisi.

    Replacements: Hirao, Furuhata, Takeuchi, Hockings, Paul, Fukuda, Komura, Ueda.

  4. Rees-Zammit one of four Welsh changespublished at 17:03 GMT

    Wales v Japan (17:40 GMT)

    Wales wing Louis Rees-ZammitImage source, Getty Images

    Steve Tandy makes four changes to the Wales XV that lost their autumn opener against Argentina.

    Wing Louis Rees-Zammit, number eight Olly Cracknell and props Nicky Smith and Archie Griffin come into the starting line-up after being replacements against the Pumas.

    Rees-Zammit makes his first Wales start since the 2023 World Cup quarter-final defeat to Argentina.

    "He was brilliant last week coming off the bench and was disappointed not to have one or two tries," said Tandy.

    "He can produce something and international rugby you need people who can break the game on something really small.

    "We're fortunate to have someone like 'Zammo' available to us. Him starting on the weekend is not just exciting for us coaches, but the fans as well."

    Wales: Murray; Rees-Zammit, Llewellyn, B Thomas, Adams; Edwards, T Williams; Smith, Lake (capt), Griffin, D Jenkins, Beard, Wainwright, Mann, Cracknell.

    Replacements: Belcher, Carre, Assiratti, F Thomas, Plumtree, Hardy, J Evans, Tompkins.

  5. Welcome to Cardiffpublished at 17:00 GMT

    Wales v Japan (17:40 GMT)

    Principality Stadium ahead of Wales v JapanImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    Welcome to the Principality Stadium, will we see the first win of the Steve Tandy era?

    Wales head into today's game after opening their autumn campaign with a 52-28 defeat to Argentina. They showed glimpses of real promise with ball in hand, scoring four tries, but they conceded seven to the classy Pumas.

    Wales have won just one of their last 20 Tests and have lost their last 10 internationals in Cardiff. That needs to change against Eddie Jones' side in a game that has huge implications for the draw for the 2027 World Cup.

    Japan, who pushed Ireland hard last week despite a 41-10 scoreline, would leapfrog Wales with victory or a draw.

    So that's the setting for today's clash, now let's take a look at the teams.