Wales press conference Live as Matt Sherratt names team for first Japan Test
Alex Mann and Josh Macleod are preferred to the experienced back-rowers, as Sherratt opts for a 6-2 split on the bench to deal with the expected heat and humidity on Saturday. There are just four survivors in the starting XV from the one that ended the Six Nations against England - with Nicky Smith, Taulupe Faletau, Ben Thomas and Blair Murray keeping their jerseys.
Wales take on the Brave Blossoms at Mikuni World Stadium this weekend as they look to end a 17-Test losing run.
Defeat to Japan would see Wales slide down to 14th in the rankings, falling behind Saturday's opponents as well as Samoa.
Having named his side, Sherratt will now face the media - with that press conference set to take place at 7am UK time.
You can follow all the updates from that in our live blog below.
Japan: Takuro Matsunaga; Kippei Ishida, Dylan Riley, Shogo Nakano, Malo Tuitama; Seungsin Lee, Shinobu Fujiwara; Yota Kamimori, Mamoru Harada, Shuhei Takeuchi, Epineri Uluiviti, Warner Deans, Michael Leitch (c), Jack Cornelsen, Amato Fakatava.
Replacements: Hayate Era, Sena Kimura, Keijiro Tamefusa, Waisake Raratubua, Ben Gunter, Shuntaro Kitamura, Ichigo Nakakusu, Halatoa Vailea.
Wales: Blair Murray; Tom Rogers, Johnny Williams, Ben Thomas, Josh Adams; Sam Costelow, Kieran Hardy; Nicky Smith, Dewi Lake, Keiron Assiratti, Ben Carter, Teddy Williams, Alex Mann, Josh Macleod, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Liam Belcher, Gareth Thomas, Archie Griffin, James Ratti, Aaron Wainwright, Tommy Reffell, Rhodri Williams, Joe Roberts.
Live updates:
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
Lewis Hamilton ‘hoping and praying' to return to podium at British Grand Prix
Lewis Hamilton said he is 'hoping and praying' to end the worst podiumless streak of his Formula One career at Sunday's British Grand Prix. Hamilton has a remarkable record at his home race, winning a record nine times at Silverstone. He has also finished in the top three in all of his last 11 appearances here. However, the seven-time world champion has not landed a podium in Ferrari colours – a streak of 11 races – the deepest into the season he has ever gone without a top-three finish. Hamilton ended his two-and-a-half-year losing streak with a famous victory at Silverstone last season, and speaking ahead of Sunday's race, Hamilton said: 'I am hoping and praying. 'There is always magic here at Silverstone. It is a very, very special race and I am hoping all sorts of things can help us because we are not as quick as McLaren. If it stays dry they will walk the race. 'I don't look at those (podium) statistics so it is not something that affects me or I think about. But we are here at Silverstone and what better place to change that run so that is what we are working towards. 'I cannot wait for Friday. Driving a Ferrari at Silverstone for the first time will be special and unique in its own way. We have the best fans here, and for a British driver they really do make a difference. I have shown that to you time and time again so I hope this weekend they really make the difference for us.' Hamilton finished fourth, a place behind team-mate Charles Leclerc at the previous round in Austria. During the race, Hamilton aired his frustration with Ferrari after they pulled him in for a tyre change against his wishes. Hamilton continued: 'The team's view is that they wanted to secure third and fourth which is totally fine, but I am not here to start fourth and finish fourth. 'I am racing for every little bit we can gain. They had us on the same strategy. I never want to do the same as my team-mate, ever. 'I said I don't want to get to a point where I am ignoring you. We are working on our conversation. We are still getting to know each other and how we operate so that was all understood.'
BBC News
31 minutes ago
- BBC News
What is Hamilton's record at Silverstone?
Lewis Hamilton has won the British Grand Prix at Silverstone a record nine times - the most victories for a Formula 1 driver at a single circuit or grand seven-time world champion has taken victory at Silverstone in 2008, each year from 2014 to 2017 and 2019 to 2021 and again in also means that Hamilton, as he heads into the 2025 race weekend in Northamptonshire, holds the most wins at a driver's national or home he has a huge following across the world, Silverstone is Hamilton's home race and one where he has excelled and set records over the debut Silverstone win was not straightforward as Hamilton had to battle with heavy rain conditions in a race that several drivers failed to most recent victory at Silverstone came last year, when he made an emotional return to the top of the podium after two and a half years without a win anywhere."I've had so many amazing times [at Silverstone] in the past, but when I came across that line something really released in me that I guess I've been holding on to for a very long time," Hamilton said after his 2024 British Grand Prix win."It was the most emotional end to a win I've ever experienced, I never cry, but it hit me hard, after such a difficult 2021, just trying to continue to come back." Podiums aplenty at Silverstone Hamilton has stood on the podium at Silverstone 15 times since he began his Formula 1 career in 2007 - a record for the most top-three finishes at a single the hybrid engine era began in 2014, Hamilton, no matter the type of season he is having, has consistently finished the British Grand Prix on the podium every year - 11 times, taking victory on eight occasions, P2 once and P3 was also on the podium for the 70th Anniversary Grand Prix at Silverstone in a Covid-hit 2020 season, with that race staged a week after the British Grand his 18 starts at Silverstone for the British Grand Prix, Hamilton has finished outside the top 10 only once, in 2009 where he took 16th spot. Hamilton a 'huge part' of circuit's history Silverstone honoured Hamilton's successes over the years by naming a part of the circuit after the pits straight at the British Grand Prix, where the race start and finish line is, was named the Hamilton Straight in was the first time a part of the Silverstone circuit had been named after an Racing Drivers' Club president and former F1 driver David Coulthard said: "Lewis has become a huge part of [Silverstone's] history and the directors of the club and I felt there was no better way to mark this than to rename the iconic pits straight in recognition of his record-breaking achievements."Hamilton has celebrated many victories at Silverstone's finish line and the straight is where fans celebrate in front of the podium. Hamilton has actively engaged with the fans in celebrations, including crowd article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team. What is Ask Me Anything? Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you team will find out everything you need to know and be able to call upon a network of contacts including our experts and will be answering your questions from the heart of the BBC Sport newsroom, and going behind the scenes at some of the world's biggest sporting coverage will span the BBC Sport website, app, social media and YouTube accounts, plus BBC TV and radio. More questions answered... What is DRS in Formula 1 and what's coming next?What are penalty points in F1 and how do they work?How does Formula 1 points scoring work?
The Independent
32 minutes ago
- The Independent
Lucy Bronze: England will give full support to Portugal after Diogo Jota's death
England defender Lucy Bronze said the Lionesses would lend their full support to the Portuguese team at the Women's European Championship after they were 'shocked' by the death of Liverpool forward Diogo Jota. Portugal play World Cup champions Spain in their tournament opener on Thursday night in Bern, where a minute's silence will be observed in honour of the Portugal international and 28-year-old father of three, who was killed in a car crash alongside his brother in Spain. Bronze, who was born in Berwick-Upon-Tweed to a Portuguese father and an English mother, said the Lionesses were stunned when word travelled through the camp in Zurich, where they are preparing to open their title defence against France on Saturday. 'Yeah it definitely shocked all the squad when we woke up this morning and the news started to spread,' said Bronze, who will be competing in her fourth consecutive Euros and seventh major tournament. 'Obviously we have a lot of Liverpool fans in our team and football fans, but for people in general, everyone is just thinking of them – him and his brother. They were so young as well. We have seen all the messages on social media and stuff so you can tell what a great guy he has been. It's just really sad and we were shocked by the news, really.' A moment of silence will be observed at all of Thursday and Friday's matches in memory of Jota and his brother Andre Silva. Bronze added: 'We'll be watching the games tonight and Portugal play their first game against Spain and I know there will be a minute's silence held before that game. 'I think everyone in an England shirt and everyone in the tournament will be supporting the Portuguese team because they will be a lot closer to this than we are. 'It is just a really sad moment for everyone involved in football, knowing what a great guy he is and what an amazing year he's had – not just in football, but he got married a few weeks ago and he's got some little kids. It's just so sad.' A Lionesses statement read: 'We are devastated at the tragic loss of Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva. It is truly difficult to comprehend. 'The Lionesses send our heartfelt condolences to Diogo's family and friends, and all the players, staff and fans connected to Liverpool FC, his former clubs and the Portugal national teams. 'We stand beside the Portuguese team here in Switzerland and the whole football family in honouring Diogo and Andre's memory.'
