Wales player ratings: A jailbreak win if ever there was one. Wales survived a 20-minute red card, an imploding lineout and a raft of individual errors to squeak home courtesy of Jarrod Evans’ late penalty after Harry Hockings’ reckless high shot.
Japan will feel robbed. Wales will feel relieved.
Here is how the players rated.
15. Blair Murray – 4
A fraught first half littered with handling mistakes and loose moments. Never quite recovered his composure.
14. Louis Rees-Zammit – 6
Electric for Wales’ second try on 50 minutes and a menace when the game broke up, but guilty of overplaying and his tackling was… charitable.
13. Max Llewellyn – 5
Some hard carries but Japan cut through the midfield too easily. Part of the problem rather than the solution.
12. Ben Thomas – 4
Three missed tackles and Japan repeatedly found joy in his channel. After last week’s lucky escape for his near stomp, he’d needed to do better here.
11. Josh Adams – 3.5
Got hung out for Japan’s first but the upgrade to a 20-minute red card was disastrous. A really poor moment from one of Wales’ senior players, who should know better.
10. Dan Edwards – 7
Brilliant early solo try and nailed his conversions. A few aimless kicks to touch but also a superb try-saving tackle. A mixed but brave outing.
9. Tomos Williams – 6.5
Created the first try and sparked the Tompkins score, but discipline issues and inattention to the ref hurt Wales’ tempo. Still, was something of an anchor for a Wales side threatening to be swept out to sea.
1. Nicky Smith – 6
Scrummaged steadily before making way on 48 minutes.
2. Dewi Lake – 4.5
The lineout malfunction was a shared crime scene, but one throw to absolutely nobody stood out. Physical as always but the basics weren’t clean.
3. Archie Griffin – 6
Held up his end of the scrum before being hooked on 48 minutes.
4. Dafydd Jenkins – 6
Got through plenty of work around the park and at least tried to steady the set-piece.
5. Adam Beard – 5.5
Must take his share of the blame for the brainrot in the lineout. Otherwise steady.
6. Aaron Wainwright – 5
A couple of turnovers conceded and some loose moments. Not his tidiest afternoon.
7. Alex Mann – 6
Put in a big early hit and kept carrying post-contact. Took a heavy shot himself from Uluiviti but battled on.
8. Olly Cracknell – 5
Another who fell off tackles. Couldn’t turn his Gallagher PREM form into Test accuracy.
REPLACEMENTS
16. Liam Belcher – 6
A mild improvement in the lineout after coming on at 76 minutes.
17. Rhys Carre – 6
Solid enough contribution off the bench.
18. Keiron Assiratti – 6
Held firm in the final quarter.
19. Freddie Thomas – 5
Came on late without major impact.
20. Taine Plumtree – 5
Some fumbles blotted his cameo.
21. Kieran Hardy – NA
Not used.
22. Jarrod Evans – 8
Ice-cold match-winner, despite being on for just two minutes. Slotted the decisive penalty moments after Japan’s high shot. Composed, controlled, clutch.
23. Nick Tompkins – 7.5
Injected real intent and took his try superbly, springing straight off the pine.
