Wales ended a run of 10 consecutive home Test defeats with a dramatic 24-23 victory over Japan in Cardiff, giving new head coach Steve Tandy his first win.
A penalty from Jarrod Evans’ winning kick sealed victory and ensured Wales were seeded in the top 12, bypassing the two strongest nations in their group, when the 2027 Rugby World Cup draw was held on December 3.
Wales had not won a Test on their home soil since defeating World Cup preliminary opponents England in August 2023, and Japan were on the brink of extending their disappointing losing streak.
Jarrod Evans scores the winning penalty, ending Wales’ 10-game losing streak at home.
But Tandy’s side overcame a 20-minute red card for winger Josh Adams just before the interval and, after fly-half Dan Edwards, winger Louis Rees-Zammit and center Nick Tompkins scored tries, all scored by Edwards, Evans came off the bench to break the Japanese’s hearts.
Winger Kippei Ishida and No. 8 Faurua Maxi scored touchdowns for Japan, but it was flyhalf Soon-Shin Lee’s 13 points (three penalties, two conversions) that threatened to make the difference.
Rees-Zammit’s goal was his first start for Wales since returning to rugby from American football, but he has become a consistent attacking threat amidst the team’s often subpar performances.
Louis Rees-Zammit signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in March 2024, but was not selected by the team after the final preseason cuts. He then joined the Jacksonville Jaguars, but announced in July of this year that he would be returning to rugby union.
It was only Wales’ second win in their last 21 Tests and they are still a long way off the pace they will be on when they welcome New Zealand and the world champions to South Africa in the next fortnight.
Japan, coached by Eddie Jones, looked as if they had won their biggest victory since overwhelming South Africa at the 2015 World Cup in Brighton, but in the end Evans was too stubborn to deny them victory.
Wales were on a roll after just six minutes thanks to an impressive finish that saw them beat three of Japan’s top 22 players before Edwards scored a try.
Dan Edwards scored the first try of the match in just six minutes, converting all three of Wales’ tries.
Japan missed a chance to close the gap when Maxi spilled the ball just five meters from Wales’ line, but it was only a temporary reprieve for the home side.
They scored from the next chance, and the fluid movement ended with Ishida’s wide cross and Lee scoring another point. Wales’ defense continued to be tested by Japan’s sharp attacks.
Lock Epinelli Uruiviti was then shown a yellow card for a challenge on Welsh flanker Alex Mann, briefly derailing Japan’s momentum, but things worsened four minutes later when Maxi hit Edwards high and referee Matthew Curley brandished another yellow.
Although this temporarily reduced Japan’s number of players to 13, Wales were unable to capitalize on their advantage and a memorable first half ended 7-7 when winger Josh Adams was sin-binned after hitting Ishida in the head.
Wales desperately needed creativity and pace, but with Adams’ card upgraded to red, they had to play the entire third quarter outnumbered.
Steve Tandy was announced as Wales’ new head coach in July and took over on September 1st.
Rees-Zammit lifted spirits when he collected scrum-half Tomos Williams’ long pass to score Wales’ 15th try and, after Lee had kicked a penalty, Edwards’ conversion made it 14-12.
However, Japan reversed through a Lee penalty for Maxi’s fall, and Lee’s conversion put Wales in deep trouble once again, leaving them six points behind.
They needed an immediate reaction, and Tompkins delivered just that with a touchdown just a minute into the attack. Edwards’ conversion put Wales back in front, but Lee’s third penalty allowed Japan to regain the advantage.
The visitors looked more comfortable and threatening than Wales with the ball in their hands, but there was also a surprising amount of composure as the clock ticked down.
Wales looked increasingly desperate in a frenetic finale and Evans was the hero, scoring a last-gasp penalty after Japan picked up a third yellow card, this time to substitute Harry Hockings.
