Rees-Lightning sparks Wales to victory

Wales edged Japan in a tense Nations Championship clash in Cardiff on Saturday.

Steve Tandy’s side recorded a 28-21 bonus-point win over Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms ahead of tougher Tests against the All Blacks and Wallabies.

Wales are eyeing an unlikely first victory over the All Blacks since 1953.

Japan remain on just one success from four fixtures in the tournament.

Replacement scrumhalf Kenta Fukuda’s 75th-minute effort caused Wales a late scare but was only enough to secure a losing bonus point.

Tandy started with physical pair Eddie James and Max Llewellyn in midfield, prioritising power over the playmaking ability of Ben Thomas. Australian Jones made five changes from the defeat to Fiji two weeks ago, including handing flyhalf Riku Kitahara a Test debut.

RASSIE: Boks weren’t perfect

The meeting came 12 months on from Wales ending a two-year wait for a home Test win by edging Japan by a point, and denying the Brave Blossoms a first victory in Cardiff.

A sparse crowd was present at the Millennium Stadium, underlining the negative atmosphere surrounding Welsh rugby due to poor results from the Test team and the threat of losing one of the country’s four professional sides.

Wales took the lead three times during the first half, first through Griffin and then the 31-year-old Adams.

Japan hit back through flank Ben Gunter and lock Warner Dearns, before Wales wing Louis Rees-Zammit stepped over moments ahead of the break for his first Test try in a year.

ALSO: Scots rue ill-discipline, All Blacks satisfied

Winger Josh Adams’ match-winning second try came with 11 minutes to go after a superb break from deep by fullback Blair Murray, and a final pass from influential scrumhalf Tomos Williams, who had also set up Griffin early on.

With seconds left on the clock, Adams showed his defensive ability, claiming a turnover penalty to make sure of the victory for just a fourth win in Tandy’s 13 Tests in charge.

WALES – Tries: Archie Griffin, Josh Adams (2), Louis Rees-Zammit. Conversions: Sam Costelow (3), Dan Edwards.
JAPAN – Tries: Ben Gunter, Warner Dearns, Kenta Fukuda. Conversons: Naoto Saito (2), Shinya Komura.

– AFP

Photo: Michael Steele/Getty Images