Wales edge Japan 28-21 at the Principality Stadium, but the opening match of the Nations Championship offered little reassurance that Steve Tandy’s side are ready to compete with the world’s leading nations. Captain Dewi Lake acknowledged that the team had let themselves down at times, while head coach Tandy admitted he had expected a more polished display against Eddie Jones’ Japan.
Rees-Zammit provides the spark
The most compelling reason for optimism was Louis Rees-Zammit, whose player-of-the-match performance underlined why he remains central to Wales’ attacking plans. Back in his preferred wing role after a spell at full-back last season, the Bristol player made five of Wales’ 16 line-breaks, gained 121 metres and beat 13 defenders. He also crossed for his first international try in eight appearances.
Tandy said Rees-Zammit had returned from his brief American football stint with the NFL faster than most athletes could manage, and that the winger himself wants to be recognised among the best in the world. “He’s gone up a level,” Tandy added, praising a display that broke the game open when Wales were struggling to find holes in Japan’s defence.
Individual efforts mask collective flaws
A victory is a victory for a team that endured an 18-Test losing run between 2023 and 2025, and Tandy noted that reviewing a win is always easier than dissecting a defeat. Beyond Rees-Zammit, there were strong contributions from Aaron Wainwright and Jac Morgan in the back row, full-back Blair Murray in attack, and Josh Adams, who scored two tries. Centre Eddie James showed glimpses of his power in a new midfield pairing with Max Llewellyn.
Defensively, Wales made 227 tackles to Japan’s 115, with Morgan topping the official Nations Championship charts with 24, followed by Dafydd Jenkins on 23 and Wainwright on 20. Wales also forced 10 turnovers, three of them through Alex Mann, and produced crucial interventions from Lake, Adams and prop Nicky Smith when Japan threatened to score.
Line-out problems undermine control
The clearest weakness was the line-out, where six throws went astray. Hookers Lake and Ryan Elias struggled to locate their jumpers as Japan’s towering locks, Harry Hockings and co-captain Warner Dearns, caused persistent disruption. The malfunction not only cost Wales possession but also limited the driving maul that has become their most reliable attacking weapon.
Lake was candid about the issue, saying Wales had to improve but crediting Japan’s defensive work in that area. He pointed out that when the line-out did function, Wales found success, and that the team would have preferred to use the maul far more often.
Slow starts and missed ruthlessness
Wales have developed a habit of beginning campaigns sluggishly, having suffered heavy defeats to Argentina 12 months ago and to England in February’s Six Nations. Tandy suggested the clunkiness was understandable given it was the team’s first outing since the summer, while opponents such as South Africa, New Zealand and Japan had played more matches in the interim.
After threatening to take control, Wales repeatedly let Japan back into the contest through handling errors, indiscipline and lapses in concentration. Tandy noted that when his side moved seven points ahead, a sloppy knock-on or an ill-judged pass from a line break would follow. He stressed the need to be ruthless in Test rugby, and fly-half Sam Costelow had a mixed evening, kicking away attacking ball at times. Neither Costelow nor Dan Edwards has yet made the number 10 shirt his own.
New Zealand loom with attendance questions
Wales remain 10th in the world rankings, and this win came against a nation ranked between ninth and 12th. Tandy’s four international victories have come from a Japan double and home wins over Italy and Fiji, offering little evidence that Wales are closer to breaking into the top eight. New Zealand arrive in Cardiff next Saturday after an impressive win over Scotland, and Wales have not beaten the All Blacks since 1953.
The match was watched by 52,425 spectators, a figure open to interpretation. It was about 2,000 more than the opening match against Argentina last November and larger than the crowd that saw Ireland defeat the Pumas in Dublin on Friday night. Yet it was 9,000 fewer than attended Wales’ win over Japan in November 2025, with empty seats visible in the upper tier of a ground capable of holding more than 72,000. Some observers see that as fans protesting against the Welsh Rugby Union amid ongoing turmoil in the domestic game. Next weekend’s attendance against New Zealand, a fixture watched by 68,388 people 12 months ago, will provide another measure.
