Match Report – Japan 24 – 19 Wales

Wales overwhelmed 24-19 by Japan in opening Check of summer season tour; defeat extends worldwide dropping streak to 18 matches; Scotland defeat Maori All Blacks; watch each recreation of 2025 Lions tour, together with all three Checks in opposition to Australia, dwell on Sky Sports activities

Wales’ worldwide dropping streak was prolonged to 18 matches as they had been overwhelmed 24-19 by Japan in Kitakyushu

Wales suffered their 18th successive worldwide defeat after they surrendered a half-time result in lose 24-19 to Japan in Kitakyushu.

First-half tries from Ben Thomas and Tom Rogers, in addition to a penalty attempt to a Sam Costelow conversion, gave Wales hopes on the interval of a primary victory since beating Georgia on the 2023 World Cup 21 months in the past.

However Japan overturned Wales’ 19-7 result in dominate the second half as tries from Takuro Matsunaga, Ichigo Nakakusu and Halatoa Vailea, in addition to 9 factors from the boot of Seungsin Lee, piled on extra distress for the vacationers.

It is just the second time Japan have tasted victory over Wales, the final again in 2013, and the victory will see them climb above their opponents to twelfth within the subsequent set of Check rankings for the primary time since they had been launched 20 years in the past.

The 2 sides will meet once more within the second Check subsequent Saturday in Kobe.

Wales wilt in land of the rising solar

Courageous Blossoms boss and former England head coach Eddie Jones had hoped for a sizzling day to “run Wales off their ft” and the oppressive situations – with temperatures above 30 levels Celsius in addition to excessive humidity – meant water breaks had been held in every half together with an prolonged interval.

A slippery ball produced numerous dealing with errors and there was typically little rhythm to a disrupted contest that took over two hours to finish.

Taulupe Faletau, Nicky Smith, Ben Thomas and Blair Murray survived from the 68-14 thrashing by England within the Six Nations in March as interim head coach Matt Sherratt made 11 modifications.

No 8 Faletau – the fifth-most capped Welshman – made his 109th look however it was largely an inexperienced line-up with six starters having fewer than 10 caps.

Taulupe Faletau made his 109th worldwide look in Wales’ defeat by Japan

There was a worrying begin to the competition as Ben Carter took successful to the facet of the pinnacle inside 30 seconds.

Carter slumped to the bottom after making an attempt to make a deal with and there was a prolonged stoppage earlier than the second-row ahead was taken away on a stretcher.

Wales instantly shrugged off that blow as Faletau exploited house profited from a line-out ploy to ship Thomas over with a well-timed cross and Costelow transformed.

Japan responded and scored from their first assault after 16 minutes as winger Kippei Ishida sliced by midfield to arrange Matsunaga and Lee’s kick restored parity.

Wales hit the entrance once more with a penalty strive after Nakakusu intentionally slapped the ball away as Josh Adams closed on Kieran Hardy’s chip by the strive line.

Nakakusu suffered additional punishment with a yellow card, and Wales took benefit of their additional man after Japan had discovered contact from the kick-off.

Faletau broke away from a scrum going backwards and Hardy, Costelow and Johnny Williams moved the ball on for Rogers to scamper into the nook.

The tide turned within the second half as Amato Fakatava noticed his effort dominated out for a Shinobu Fujiwara knock-on, however Japan had been to not be denied after going by the phases.

Rogers slipped off a deal with and Nakakusu dived over with Lee including the extras to scale back the deficit to 2 factors with a penalty.

Japan obtained their noses in entrance for the primary time on 71 minutes as alternative Vailea barged over and Lee’s conversion sparked celebrations that continued till the ultimate whistle.

Scotland edge Maoris to open tour with win

Scotland earned a 29-26 win in opposition to Maori All Blacks of their opening summer season tour recreation in Whangarei on Saturday.

The vacationers fell behind within the opening minute of the sport when Sam Nock crossed, however Harry Paterson quickly put their first factors on the board, with fly-half Adam Hastings including the extras and increasing their benefit with a penalty kick.

George Horne scored two of Scotland’s 4 tries of their hard-fought win over Maori All Blacks

Scotland took a 24-12 lead going into the break with transformed tries scored by George Horne and Arron Reed both facet of Isaia Walker-Leawere’s effort, which was transformed by Rivez Reihana.

A troublesome opening to the second half noticed Maori All Blacks diminished to 13 at one stage with two yellow playing cards proven in fast succession and Horne took benefit to earn his second strive of the sport within the 53rd minute.

The hosts immediately closed the hole when Kurt Eklund touched down and Reihana added the extras earlier than Gideon Wrampling crossed, with Kaleb Trask changing, to scale back Scotland’s result in a slender three factors going into the final 10 minutes.

Nonetheless, Scotland withheld a promising assault from the hosts within the remaining phases to clinch victory and they’re again in worldwide motion subsequent Saturday with a recreation in opposition to Fiji earlier than concluding their tour with a gathering in opposition to Samoa the next week.

What’s subsequent: British and Irish Lions tour of Australia on Sky Sports activities

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Watch the British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia completely dwell on Sky Sports activities this summer season

Sky Sports activities will completely present the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Checks in opposition to the Wallabies and 6 warm-up matches to be proven completely dwell.