It was a tough day at the office for Wales despite a late win over Japan
Wales celebrate at the final whistle(Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
A late Jarrod Evans penalty allowed Wales to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat against Japan.
This 24-23 win was a million miles from perfect but Steve Tandy’s side showed huge character to get over the line. Tries from Dan Edwards, Louis Rees-Zammit and Nick Tompkins, along with nine points from the boots of Edwards and Evans sealed victory for Wales.
Here are the player ratings.
15. Blair Murray 4
Dangerous with ball in hand but struggled under the high ball again and fell off a few tackles.
Wales’ back-three failed to click into gear as an attacking unit, while Murray also lost four turnovers.
14. Louis Rees-Zammit 7
Wales’ biggest threat with ball in hand.
Made one 60-metre break from inside his own half and squeezed in at the corner for his first try since returning from American football.
Never stopped trying and will get better.
13. Max Llewellyn 4
Some nice distribution and made some good defensive reads.
But he lacks a point of difference at this level and needs to show more with ball in hand. Only carried the ball three times and that needs to improve moving forward.
12. Ben Thomas 4
The Cardiff man is a nice footballer but the attack struggled to click into gear. Showed some nice touches with ball in hand but the centre partnership of Thomas and Max Llewellyn needs to show a lot more if Wales are to kick on.
11. Josh Adams 3
The Cardiff man was solid enough prior to his red card but lacks the x-factor in attack of his younger days.
Adams’ recklessness in giving away a needless penalty at the stroke of half-time which resulted in a 20-minute red card let his side down.
10. Dan Edwards 7
The Ospreys playmaker is confidently growing into his role as an international outside-half.
Edwards did well to evade two Japanese tacklers to claim his side’s opening try while he made one excellent break during the second-half.
Dan Edwards of Wales scores his team’s first try(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
9. Tomos Williams 6
Williams was one of Wales’ better players and linked well with outside-half Edwards.
Kept his composure throughout and his experience was vital in getting Wales over the line.
8. Olly Cracknell 7
The Leicester Tigers backrower finished the game as Wales’ top carrier with 13, while he also ruled the roost when it came to tackles putting a whooping 24.
Worked tirelessly throughout and was one of Wales’ better players.
7. Alex Mann 8 (Star man)
Arguably Wales’ best player.
It was always going to be mission impossible to step into Jac Morgan’s shoes the the Cardiff backrower made a good fist of it.
Put in 20 tackles and nine carries, while he also won two turnovers and played a pivotal role in the final passage of play which sealed victory.
6. Aaron Wainwright 4
Started well enough with a powerful carry in lead up to Dan Edwards’ opening try but struggled thereafter.
Dropped the ball in contact on a couple of occasions and missed a tackle on Japan full-back Yoshitaka Yazaki.
Replaced by Taine Plumtree on 49 minutes.
5. Adam Beard 4
The Montpellier second-row is the type of player who gets through a mountain of unseen work.
But Wales struggled to impose themselves physically for large periods of the game and has to take some of the blame for the lineout malfunctioning.
This second-row partnership does not carry enough ball.
4. Dafydd Jenkins 6
Jenkins is a work horse.
The Exeter Chiefs second-row put in a huge defensive shift making 21 tackles and five carries.
But he did give away a soft penalty after Nick Tompkins’ try which allowed Japan to go back into the lead.
3. Archie Griffin 5
The Bath prop did ok in the scrum and did put in 14 tackles.
Work rate is never an issue for Griffin but did lose the ball in contact on a couple of occasions.
2. Dewi Lake 5
The Wales skipper put in 18 tackles and carried the ball five times.
One of Wales’ better players around the park but lineout did not function as well as it should have and this is an area that needs to improve.
1. Nicky Smith 5
Put Japan under pressure in the scrum which was the strongest aspect of Wales’ game.
The Leicester Tigers loosehead put in eight tackles and four carries.
Replacements
16. Liam Belcher 6
An extremely late cameo appearance but found his man in the lineout and carried well.
17. Rhys Carré 7
Made a big impact with some very powerful carries to get Wales on the front foot, while he also scrummaged well.
Perhaps his best role is as an impact sub.
18. Keiron Assiratti 8
The Cardiff tighthead made a real positive impact which helped change the game.
Took Japan to the cleaners at the scrum and carried well during the crucial last passage of play.
19. Freddie Thomas 6
A very late replacement but carried well during that final passage of play.
20. Taine Plumtree 6
The Scarlets man made a decent impact with ball in hand and helped give Wales some go forward.
21. Kieran Hardy N/A
Unused replacement
22. Jarrod Evans 8
Showed huge bottle to nail the last minute penalty under enormous pressure.
Only entered the fray as a 79th minute replacement but his late penalty was just what Wales needed.
23. Nick Tompkins 7
There was far more punch in Wales’ midfield when Tompkins took the field.
Did well to claim Wales’ third try and deserves to start against the All Blacks.
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