Berliner Boersenzeitung - Welsh 'scars' deepen after Japan loss extends losing streak to 18

EUR -
AED 4.257577
AFN 80.56431
ALL 97.310431
AMD 444.84663
ANG 2.074527
AOA 1062.938655
ARS 1499.92524
AUD 1.778029
AWG 2.089365
AZN 1.96714
BAM 1.94565
BBD 2.341664
BDT 142.07559
BGN 1.955831
BHD 0.436897
BIF 3410.793553
BMD 1.159148
BND 1.489944
BOB 8.042283
BRL 6.479057
BSD 1.159765
BTN 100.449629
BWP 15.632966
BYN 3.795124
BYR 22719.304548
BZD 2.329477
CAD 1.592379
CDF 3348.779716
CHF 0.931112
CLF 0.028338
CLP 1111.692782
CNY 8.320192
CNH 8.324742
COP 4846.1088
CRC 585.793614
CUC 1.159148
CUP 30.717427
CVE 109.133815
CZK 24.596085
DJF 206.003862
DKK 7.463406
DOP 70.418441
DZD 150.554116
EGP 56.547191
ERN 17.387223
ETB 159.729706
FJD 2.611912
FKP 0.85775
GBP 0.867785
GEL 3.157149
GGP 0.85775
GHS 12.113514
GIP 0.85775
GMD 83.45853
GNF 10033.586936
GTQ 8.9008
GYD 242.621318
HKD 9.098647
HNL 30.543323
HRK 7.536313
HTG 151.717426
HUF 397.466092
IDR 19017.680714
ILS 3.887494
IMP 0.85775
INR 100.595922
IQD 1518.484131
IRR 48814.624979
ISK 142.192872
JEP 0.85775
JMD 186.041104
JOD 0.821822
JPY 172.120714
KES 150.113351
KGS 101.195598
KHR 4659.7754
KMF 492.063281
KPW 1043.233095
KRW 1611.348174
KWD 0.354085
KYD 0.966367
KZT 630.504677
LAK 25002.826227
LBP 103801.720171
LKR 350.103448
LRD 232.988556
LSL 20.760333
LTL 3.422663
LVL 0.701157
LYD 6.271082
MAD 10.498989
MDL 19.540212
MGA 5135.02608
MKD 61.240533
MMK 2433.721301
MNT 4158.736337
MOP 9.376878
MRU 46.157442
MUR 52.613895
MVR 17.845952
MWK 2012.86213
MXN 21.745655
MYR 4.90439
MZN 74.138803
NAD 20.759931
NGN 1773.357747
NIO 42.598843
NOK 11.833622
NPR 160.719804
NZD 1.941037
OMR 0.445699
PAB 1.159641
PEN 4.224513
PGK 4.807572
PHP 66.175853
PKR 328.09665
PLN 4.263058
PYG 8686.685066
QAR 4.220168
RON 5.073473
RSD 117.152784
RUB 94.286819
RWF 1669.173395
SAR 4.348068
SBD 9.603653
SCR 16.396913
SDG 696.068402
SEK 11.145218
SGD 1.490896
SHP 0.910908
SLE 26.660358
SLL 24306.762571
SOS 662.45338
SRD 42.378779
STD 23992.027248
STN 24.811567
SVC 10.148062
SYP 15071.014929
SZL 20.759933
THB 37.648847
TJS 11.045825
TMT 4.06861
TND 3.326434
TOP 2.714845
TRY 46.991879
TTD 7.886282
TWD 34.392857
TZS 2979.010479
UAH 48.506082
UGX 4157.277296
USD 1.159148
UYU 46.480338
UZS 14605.26791
VES 141.337547
VND 30369.68261
VUV 137.472151
WST 3.174889
XAF 652.491296
XAG 0.030372
XAU 0.00035
XCD 3.132656
XCG 2.090044
XDR 0.803765
XOF 647.963793
XPF 119.331742
YER 279.20985
ZAR 20.728465
ZMK 10433.731757
ZMW 27.193562
ZWL 373.245245
  • CMSD

    0.0100

    22.9

    +0.04%

  • CMSC

    0.0150

    22.5

    +0.07%

  • BCC

    -1.4000

    86.74

    -1.61%

  • SCU

    0.0000

    12.72

    0%

  • NGG

    -1.8300

    70.32

    -2.6%

  • BTI

    -0.4700

    51.78

    -0.91%

  • SCS

    0.2700

    10.85

    +2.49%

  • GSK

    -0.5200

    37.45

    -1.39%

  • RBGPF

    0.0000

    75

    0%

  • RIO

    -0.9100

    62.19

    -1.46%

  • BCE

    -0.3700

    23.83

    -1.55%

  • JRI

    -0.0600

    13.03

    -0.46%

  • AZN

    -0.8300

    71.83

    -1.16%

  • RYCEF

    -0.0100

    13.14

    -0.08%

  • BP

    0.4700

    32.67

    +1.44%

  • VOD

    -0.2700

    11.16

    -2.42%

  • RELX

    -0.9600

    51.77

    -1.85%

Welsh 'scars' deepen after Japan loss extends losing streak to 18
Welsh 'scars' deepen after Japan loss extends losing streak to 18 / Photo: STR - JIJI PRESS/AFP

Welsh 'scars' deepen after Japan loss extends losing streak to 18

Wales interim head coach Matt Sherratt said his team's record losing run had left "scars" after a 24-19 defeat to Japan on Saturday extended it to 18 straight losses.

Text size:

Wales held a 19-7 half-time lead but wilted after the break in hot and humid Kitakyushu as Eddie Jones's dynamic Japan came from behind to snatch the win in the first of their two Tests.

Wales's last victory came against Georgia at the World Cup in October 2023 and their losing streak is a record for a Tier One country in the professional era.

Sherratt refused to blame the 31 degree Celsius heat for the loss and pointed the finger instead at the psychological damage left by his team's dismal form.

"In the second half, some really big moments -- I think we had a line-out around 45 minutes to take the game to three scores," he said.

"It was a really tough call from the referee in terms of penalising us.

"When it's a young group and obviously we haven't had a win for a while, those little scars can start to run deep."

Wales lost lock Ben Carter to a head injury in the first minute but tries from Ben Thomas and Tom Rogers and a penalty try sent them into half-time with a comfortable lead.

Japan took control midway through the second half and a try from substitute debutant Halatoa Vailea with nine minutes to go gave them their first win over a Six Nations team since the 2019 World Cup.

Sherratt said Wales would dust themselves down and be ready for next week's second Test in Kobe.

"First half, 19-7 lead, so to lose the game at the end is very disappointing," he said.

"It hurts. Already, we've got to use that hurt to fuel next week because the great thing about this tour is that we get a chance next week to put it right."

Japan reached the World Cup quarter-finals on home soil in 2019, beating Ireland and Scotland along the way, but they have struggled for results since Jones returned for a second spell last year.

The Australian was rewarded for naming two uncapped players in his starting line-up and another six on the bench, after debutant substitutes Vailea and Ichigo Nakukusu scored second-half tries to turn the game in Japan's favour.

- Carter ruled out -

Fly-half Seungsin Lee said Japan's "DNA is to play high-tempo rugby".

"We haven't been able to beat any of the top 10 teams in the world for a few years now so we're happy," said Lee, who kicked a crucial penalty with the tide turning in Japan's favour.

"More than anything, it gives us confidence."

Wales were dealt an immediate blow when Carter went down in the first minute following a heavy head-first collision.

Sherratt said the 24-year-old, who was returning to the team after missing the Six Nations through injury, would not be available for next week's game.

Wales opened the scoring in the fourth minute when Thomas went over after Taulupe Faletau had punched a hole in the Japanese defence from a line-out.

Japan fought their way back into the game and levelled when Takuro Matsunaga finished off a flowing move with a try in the 16th minute.

Nakakusu came off the bench and conceded a penalty try when he swatted the ball away from Josh Adams with the Wales winger in a try-scoring position.

Nakakusu was also sin-binned and Wales took advantage of their temporary numerical advantage when Rogers ran in their third try.

Wales looked in command at the break and captain Dewi Lake said they were "gutted" at how the second half panned out.

"We take nothing away from Japan for the way they played and for coming out on top, but we had moments to win that game and probably put it to bed," said the hooker.

"So it's very, very tough to take."

(T.Renner--BBZ)