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Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hindustan Times
Rugby-Welsh misery continues as they lose first test in Japan
July 5 - Japan stormed back in the second half to beat Wales 24-19 on Kyushu Island on Saturday in the first of a two-test series, extending the visitors' record losing streak to 18 matches. Rugby-Welsh misery continues as they lose first test in Japan Japan were 19-7 down at the break, but two second-half tries saw them come back to overhaul the deficit. There were three tries for both teams in the clash in hot and humid conditions in an error-strewn clash at the Mikuni World Stadium, where Wales were hoping to end 18 months of misery, having last won a match at the 2023 Rugby World Cup against Georgia in Nantes, France. They looked to be well on course at the break but fell apart in the second half as Japan rallied for the narrow victory. Japan's fullback Takuro Matsunaga scored in the first half, while his replacement Ichigo Nakakusu and fellow substitute Halatoa Vailea went over for two more tries. All were converted by Lee Seungsin, who also kicked over a penalty. The tourists' points came in the first half, with Ben Thomas and Tom Rogers going over, and Wales also awarded a penalty try. Sam Costelow kicked over a single conversion. Welsh rugby is seeking to rebuild after plunging to a new low in a 68-14 defeat to England in their final Six Nations game in March, but the loss in Japan is a further blow as they will now drop to 14th in the world rankings. Thomas gave them an early lead, finishing off a break from the lineout by Taulupe Faletau to go over in the fourth minute. Japan levelled matters with a score from their first attack in the 16th minute with some slick handling in the backline, but Wales were 19-7 ahead at the break after the penalty try and Rogers' score in the corner. Nakakusu reduced the deficit with a 59th-minute try as Japan took control in the second half against a weary and nervy-looking Wales side, with Lee's penalty five minutes later making it a two-point game with 15 minutes to go. Halatoa Vailea then finished off a line-out maul to see Japan go ahead in the 71st minute and claim the victory. The two teams meet again next Saturday in the second test at Misaki Park in Kobe. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
The Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Rugby-Welsh misery continues as they lose first test in Japan
(Reuters) -Japan stormed back in the second half to beat Wales 24-19 on Kyushu Island on Saturday in the first of a two-test series, extending the visitors' record losing streak to 18 matches. Japan were 19-7 down at the break, but two second-half tries saw them come back to overhaul the deficit. There were three tries for both teams in the clash in hot and humid conditions in an error-strewn clash at the Mikuni World Stadium, where Wales were hoping to end 18 months of misery, having last won a match at the 2023 Rugby World Cup against Georgia in Nantes, France. They looked to be well on course at the break but fell apart in the second half as Japan rallied for the narrow victory. Japan's fullback Takuro Matsunaga scored in the first half, while his replacement Ichigo Nakakusu and fellow substitute Halatoa Vailea went over for two more tries. All were converted by Lee Seungsin, who also kicked over a penalty. The tourists' points came in the first half, with Ben Thomas and Tom Rogers going over, and Wales also awarded a penalty try. Sam Costelow kicked over a single conversion. Welsh rugby is seeking to rebuild after plunging to a new low in a 68-14 defeat to England in their final Six Nations game in March, but the loss in Japan is a further blow as they will now drop to 14th in the world rankings. Thomas gave them an early lead, finishing off a break from the lineout by Taulupe Faletau to go over in the fourth minute. Japan levelled matters with a score from their first attack in the 16th minute with some slick handling in the backline, but Wales were 19-7 ahead at the break after the penalty try and Rogers' score in the corner. Nakakusu reduced the deficit with a 59th-minute try as Japan took control in the second half against a weary and nervy-looking Wales side, with Lee's penalty five minutes later making it a two-point game with 15 minutes to go. Halatoa Vailea then finished off a line-out maul to see Japan go ahead in the 71st minute and claim the victory. The two teams meet again next Saturday in the second test at Misaki Park in Kobe. (Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Alison Williams)
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Welsh misery continues as they lose first test in Japan
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Japan stormed back in the second half to beat Wales 24-19 on Kyushu Island on Saturday in the first of a two-test series, extending the visitors' record losing streak to 18 matches. Japan were 19-7 down at the break, but two second-half tries saw them come back to overhaul the deficit. There were three tries for both teams in the clash in hot and humid conditions in an error-strewn clash at the Mikuni World Stadium, where Wales were hoping to end 18 months of misery, having last won a match at the 2023 Rugby World Cup against Georgia in Nantes, France. They looked to be well on course at the break but fell apart in the second half as Japan rallied for the narrow victory. Japan's fullback Takuro Matsunaga scored in the first half, while his replacement Ichigo Nakakusu and fellow substitute Halatoa Vailea went over for two more tries. All were converted by Lee Seungsin, who also kicked over a penalty. The tourists' points came in the first half, with Ben Thomas and Tom Rogers going over, and Wales also awarded a penalty try. Sam Costelow kicked over a single conversion. Welsh rugby is seeking to rebuild after plunging to a new low in a 68-14 defeat to England in their final Six Nations game in March, but the loss in Japan is a further blow as they will now drop to 14th in the world rankings. Thomas gave them an early lead, finishing off a break from the lineout by Taulupe Faletau to go over in the fourth minute. Japan levelled matters with a score from their first attack in the 16th minute with some slick handling in the backline, but Wales were 19-7 ahead at the break after the penalty try and Rogers' score in the corner. Nakakusu reduced the deficit with a 59th-minute try as Japan took control in the second half against a weary and nervy-looking Wales side, with Lee's penalty five minutes later making it a two-point game with 15 minutes to go. Halatoa Vailea then finished off a line-out maul to see Japan go ahead in the 71st minute and claim the victory. The two teams meet again next Saturday in the second test at Misaki Park in Kobe. REUTERS
Wales Online
2 days ago
- Sport
- Wales Online
Japan v Wales Live: Kick-off time, team news and score updates
Wales take on Japan in Kitakyushu today, as they bid to finally end the 17-Test losing run that has stretched over nearly two years. You'd have to go back to October 7 2023, against Georgia in the World Cup pool stages, for Wales' last victory at Test level. That's 637 days ago. Against an inexperienced Brave Blossoms side, this should be the day that Wales end that lengthy wait. However, with the heat and humidity meaning cooling breaks and a 20-minute half-time will be enforced, conditions aren't going to be easy for Matt Sherratt's side. Defeat to Japan would see Wales fall behind their opponents in the rankings for the first time, slipping to 14th. Kick-off is at 6am UK time and you can follow the match 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. Referee: Damian Schneider Live updates below:
