KOBE, Japan (Reuters) -Wales brought their record 18-match losing streak to an end with a 31-22 victory over Japan in the second test at Misaki Park Stadium on Saturday, holding on for a win after another nervy performance.
Wales outscored their hosts four tries to three to register their first success in 644 days, since the last World Cup in 2023, and square the two-test series 1-1 after losing 24-19 in Kitakyushu last weekend.
Welsh relief was palpable as they again started the game well but unlike last Saturday held onto their halftime lead, despite being under much pressure in the second half.
Kieran Hardy scored two tries and Josh Adams and Dan Edwards the other two while Edwards kicked over a penalty and three conversions.
Shuhei Takeuchi, Warner Dearns and Dylan Riley were Japan’s try scorers with Lee Seungsin putting over a penalty and two conversions.
Wales went ahead in the ninth minute as they won a turnover in midfield and then spread the ball out wide, with Ben Thomas cutting inside to release Blair Murray, who gained ground before putting Adams over for a try.
The flying winger should have had a second try 13 minutes later asAaron Wainwright hacked the ball forward and Adams outsprinted the defence only for the ball to spill out of his hands as he attempted to go over the try line.
ButHardy did not take long to increase Wales’ lead, darting over in the 27th minute as the visitors hammered away at the Japan line from a lineout maul.
Adams and Hardy then combined as Wales outran the home defence to score a third try before half-time, taking advantage of Japan being down a man after Faulua Makisi was yellow carded.
With Wales also dominating the set pieces, a frustrated Japan coach Eddie Jones changed his entire front row five minutes before half-time and it delivered almost immediate results.
Shuhei Takeuchi came on immediately at tighthead to win a scrum penalty and then power over from close range after a clever line out move to reduce the score to 21-10 at halftime.
Edwards put over a long range penalty to extend the Welsh lead in the second half but a charge down led to Japan’s second try after 58 minutes from giant lock Warner Dearns.
With a nervy Wales making repeated errors, Japan cut the lead to two points in the 62nd minute when a high pass to flyhalf Edwards saw him unable to hold onto the ball, and Japan centre Riley snatched up the chance to run almost a half of the pitch to score between the poles.
But in the last 10 minutes Wales were able to assert themselves again and Edwards finished off an expansive passing move to make sure of victory, greeted with much relief at the final whistle.
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Casablanca; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)
