Further Despair As Wales Feel The Heat In Japan

Summer circuit 2nd Test: Japan v Wales

Venue: Noevir (Misaki Park) Stadium, Kobe Date: Saturday, 12 July Kick-off: 06:50 BST

Coverage: Watch unrecorded connected S4C and BBC iPlayer; perceive unrecorded connected BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru & BBC Sounds; matter commentary and highlights connected BBC Sport website and app.

Wales revealed their devastation astatine wilting successful nan Kitakyushu power to suffer 24-19 to Japan and suffer a grounds 18th successive Test defeat.

First-half tries from Ben Thomas and Tom Rogers, arsenic good arsenic a punishment try, gave Wales a 19-7 half-time lead and hopes of a first triumph since beating Georgia astatine nan 2023 World Cup successful October 2023.

But Japan dominated nan 2nd half arsenic Wales suffered successful nan utmost power and humidity.

Tries from Takuro Matsunaga, Ichigo Nakakusu and Halatoa Vailea, positive 9 points from nan footwear of Seungsin Lee, piled connected much misery for Wales.

Wales skipper Dewi Lake was adjacent to tears aft nan last whistle pinch Wales' 21-month hold for an world triumph continuing.

"I don't want to speak for everyone but we are gutted," said Lake.

"It's very reliable to return because we person worked hard.

"We return thing distant from Japan for nan measurement they played and coming retired connected top, but we had moments to triumph that crippled and put it to bed."

Wales interim caput coach Matt Sherratt says nan full squad had been affected.

"You could spot nan feelings not conscionable from nan squad but nan full unit arsenic well," said Sherratt.

"They are a very passionate group. We had a lead going into half-time truthful to suffer nan crippled astatine nan extremity is very disappointing."

The conclusion intends Wales person again slumped to a caller all-time debased arsenic they are still searching for a first Test triumph successful 21 months.

Wales person slipped 2 places to a lowest spot ever of 14th successful nan world rankings, now beneath Japan and Samoa.

Sherratt says Wales tin not consciousness sorry for themselves pinch nan 2nd Test successful Kobe adjacent Saturday.

"Already we person sewage to quickly usage nan wounded to substance america for adjacent week," said Sherratt.

"The awesome point astir this circuit is we get nan chance to put it right."

Japan caput coach Eddie Jones warned Wales they will look an improved broadside adjacent weekend.

"We're really happy pinch nan win," said Jones.

"We will bask it and get fresh to spell again successful Kobe, wherever we'll request to play overmuch amended than today."

Sherratt confirmed Wales fastener Ben Carter will miss that crippled aft he took a dense deed to nan broadside of nan caput aft conscionable 34 seconds.

Carter slumped to nan crushed aft attempting to make a tackle and location was a lengthy stoppage earlier nan 2nd statement was taken distant connected a stretcher.

The Dragons skipper was up and astir successful nan changing room afterwards but will not beryllium disposable adjacent weekend.

The oppressive conditions - pinch nan somesthesia supra 30 degrees Celsius arsenic good arsenic precocious humidity - meant a three-minute h2o break successful each half and an extended interval of 20 minutes were introduced.

Wales faded severely successful nan 2nd half arsenic Japan scored 19 unanswered points but Sherratt refused to blasted nan power and humidity for nan tourists' demise.

"I would beryllium making excuses if I said that [conditions played a part]," said Sherratt.

"If you look astatine nan game, we took beautiful overmuch each chance we sewage barroom 1 successful their 22.

"Every shot that deed nan level bounced for america and we were connected nan correct broadside of nan punishment count.

"In nan 2nd half location were immoderate large moments. We had a lineout astir 45 minutes to return nan crippled to 3 scores and it was a reliable telephone by nan referee to penalise us.

"We person a young group, we person not had a triumph for a while and those small scars tin commencement to tally deep.

"In nan 2nd half each bounce went for them, we had immoderate cardinal lineout positions we did not make nan astir of and nan punishment decisions went distant from us.

"Maybe nan conditions added to that besides but my small heart is not truthful much."

Lake says Wales will look astatine themselves first.

"Conditions are going to play a facet but we're not blaming that," said Lake.

"We weren't objective capable successful nan 22 and we didn't travel distant pinch points."

Jones was proved correct erstwhile he said earlier nan lucifer nan squad that coped pinch conditions would triumph nan game, but nan Australian besides praised his opposition.

"For Wales to travel from nan bluish hemisphere into those conditions is difficult," said Jones.

"Like each Wales team, they were ever reliable to beat. They're a proud rugby federation and nutrient tough, bully players."

Jones, who masterminded a 2nd occurrence against Wales for Japan pursuing nan triumph successful 2013, praised his side's resilience aft a slow start.

"For a young team's perspective, that's a very bully win," said Jones

"In nan first-half, we were getting beaten successful territory and possession.

"We had a batch of nerves and often gave nan shot backmost early successful nan shape count.

"As a result, we were being beaten adjacent and square. But I sensed astatine half-time nan players knew what to do."

Jones praised nan activity of his skipper Michael Leitch.

"With Mike's activity successful nan 2nd half, I thought they played a bully 40 minutes of rugby and were really tough," said Jones.

"At times, we were capable to break nan Wales defence and our set-piece was perfectly outstanding.

"I can't retrieve nan past clip I saw a front-row play 80 minutes successful a Test match, particularly successful difficult conditions."