(Reuters) -Welsh relief greeted the end of their record losing streak when Saturday’s 31-22 victory over Japan spared them the ignominy of going down as the worst side in test rugby.
Wales held on for a narrow and nervy triumph in Kobe to level the two-test series and finally post a win after a streak of 18 successive defeats.
Again they had a handy halftime lead over their Japanese hosts but, unlike in last week’s first loss in Kitakyushu, this time they managed to hold on and claim success.
"We were braver than last week. Last week we got in front and we probably tried to hold on to a lead,” said Wales interim head coach Matt Sherratt, who was in tears at the end of the encounter.
"When you have not won a game for a period of time, you start to get edgy, so the messaging this week was to be braver.”
Wales captain Dewi Lake added: "It wasn't pretty but it's an important landmark for us today, to get that first win back on the board."
Had Wales lost they would have set a record losing streak for a Tier One side, surpassing the sequence of France between 1911 and 1920.
Saturday’s win was their first test victory in 644 days, since beating Georgia in Nantes in the last of their group matches at the 2023 World Cup in France. The losing run has seen Wales slip to a low of 12th in the World Rugby rankings.
Sherratt thanked long-suffering fans, adding: “Even during the Six Nations, I know it's been a hard time to support Wales.I hope you can enjoy tonight because we are certainly going to enjoy the next 24 hours.
“It’s emotional, there's a reason why I’ve done it again. I’m so pleased for the lads.”
Englishman Sherratt , who is the Cardiff coach, agreed to stay on for the two matches in Japan after taking over on a caretaker basis during the Six Nations when Warren Gatland left.
Wales will now turn to appointing a permanent coach as they look to the November internationals when they host Argentina, Japan, New Zealand, and South Africa at the Principality Stadium in back-to-back matches.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Casablanca; Editing by Clare Fallon)
