Close Menu
Earth & BeyondEarth & Beyond

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    Get the Galaxy Watch 7 for Just $159

    County Championship: Professional Cricketers’ Association calls for cut to schedule to protect players’ wellbeing | Cricket News

    RoboCop: Unfinished Business Review: Mindless Fun

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    Earth & BeyondEarth & Beyond
    YouTube
    Subscribe
    • Home
    • Business
    • Entertainment
    • Gaming
    • Health
    • Lifestyle
    • Sports
    • Technology
    • Trending & Viral News
    Earth & BeyondEarth & Beyond
    Subscribe
    You are at:Home»Sports»Wales beat Japan 31-22 to win first game since World Cup and bring 18-match losing run to an end | Rugby Union News
    Sports

    Wales beat Japan 31-22 to win first game since World Cup and bring 18-match losing run to an end | Rugby Union News

    Earth & BeyondBy Earth & BeyondJuly 12, 2025005 Mins Read
    Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Wales beat Japan 31-22 to win first game since World Cup and bring 18-match losing run to an end | Rugby Union News
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Wales ended their record 18-match losing Test run with a hard-fought 31-22 victory over Japan.

    Played under the closed roof of the Noevir Stadium, Wales scored three first-half tries, with Josh Adams opening the scoring and Kieran Hardy going over twice after Lee Seung-sin’s penalty, but Japan struck on the stroke of half-time through Shuhei Takeuchi.

    Although Dan Edwards’ penalty extended Wales’ lead, they slipped into trouble as two tries in quick succession from Warner Dearns and Dylan Riley brought Japan back into the game.

    However, Edwards crossed with five minutes remaining to seal a much-needed victory for Wales and snap a lengthy losing run to secure a first Test win since beating Georgia at the 2023 World Cup.

    Matt Sherratt made four changes from the side beaten by the Brave Blossoms last weekend, with Freddie Thomas, Archie Griffin and Aaron Wainwright lining up alongside Edwards, who was making his first start.

    Wales scored the opening try when Blair Murray squeezed through a gap and charged down the pitch before offloading to Adams to cross. Edwards added the conversion.

    Wales' Josh Adams is tackled by France's Theo Attissogbe during the Six Nations (AP Photo/Michel Euler).
    Image:
    Josh Adams opened the scoring for Wales

    Japan had a great opportunity when Ichigo Nakakusu eased through the Welsh defence and looked to have played in Michael Leitch, but the flanker was hauled down as Wales recovered.

    A mistake allowed Wainwright to pounce on a loose ball before launching a tidy grubber kick up-field for Adams. The winger reached the ball on the try-line but was unable to get a firm grip to ground it and it bounced out of play.

    Japan earned their first points of the game from Lee’s penalty kick, but the visitors extended their advantage shortly afterwards from a line-out where the rolling maul reached the edge of the try-line and Hardy was able to reach over and touch down, with Edwards converting.

    Faulua Makisi was sent to the sin bin and Wales soon took advantage of their extra man when a great switch in play allowed Adams to cut in from the left and break forward before passing into Hardy, who dived over, with Edwards scoring from the tee.

    Warner Dearns during the Autumn Nations Series 2024 match between France and Japan at the Stade de France (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)
    Image:
    Warner Dearns claimed a try as Japan fought back

    Japan pulled a try back just before half-time when Takeuchi surged over the line and Lee converted.

    Wales suffered an early blow after the break when Nicky Smith was forced off through injury. Gareth Thomas came on, and although Japan started well, it was Wales who struck next as Edwards kicked a penalty.

    The hosts then enjoyed a superb build-up of phases which resulted in Dearns powering over the line and following a TMO review the try stood, but Lee’s conversion flew wide of the posts.

    Wales suddenly found themselves in trouble as Riley latched onto a sloppy pass and sprinted up the centre of the pitch to cross underneath the posts. Lee converted to reduce the gap to two points.

    A cagey end to the game followed, but the visitors piled forward with five minutes to play and a quick move to the left allowed Edwards to cross before converting his own effort to wrap up the win.

    New Zealand overwhelm France

    Ardie Savea scored a try and led the All Blacks superbly Saturday to a 43-17 win over France in the second Test and an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-Test series.

    Savea took over the captaincy from the injured Scott Barrett and under his leadership the All Blacks produced a more intense and physical performance than in the first Test in which they scraped home 31-27.

    The All Blacks dominated through their forwards against a French team that had 10 changes to its starting line-up from the first Test, and still lacked most of its Six Nations stars.

    “This week we talked about our defence and we wanted to bring fire in that area and we did that in most parts of the game,” Savea said. “I’m proud of our boys for just sticking with it and doing a good job tonight.”

    New Zealand's Ardie Savea breaks a tackle as he makes a run . (Kerry Marshall /Photosport via AP)
    Image:
    New Zealand’s Ardie Savea breaks a tackle as he makes a run . (Kerry Marshall /Photosport via AP)

    With greater control of possession, New Zealand was able to set a higher tempo than in the first test and play more often in the French half. With quick ball and an ability to dominate the collision area and offload in tackles, New Zealand scored six tries on two.

    Four of those tries came in the first half and only two in the second in which the All Blacks were less clinical.

    The All Blacks were dangerous around the fringes of breakdowns through Savea and Cam Roigard unstoppable when they got the ball wide to full-back Will Jordan and winger Rieko Ioane who both scored tries.

    The third Test will be played at Hamilton next weekend.

    Sky Sports will exclusively show the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia, with all three Tests against the Wallabies and six warm-up matches to be shown exclusively live.

    Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player


    Lions 2025 Tour

    Watch the British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia exclusively live on Sky Sports this summer

    British and Irish Lions 2025 tour schedule

    DateOpponentVenue
    Friday, June 20Argentina (L 28-24)Dublin
    Saturday, June 28Western Force (W 54-7)Perth
    Wednesday, July 2Queensland Reds (W 52-12)Brisbane
    Saturday, July 5NSW Waratahs (W 21-10)Sydney
    Wednesday, July 9ACT Brumbies (W 36-24)Canberra
    Saturday, July 12Invitational AU-NZAdelaide
    Saturday, July 19AUSTRALIA (first Test)Brisbane
    Wednesday, July 22First Nations & Pasifika XVMelbourne
    Saturday, July 26AUSTRALIA (second Test)Melbourne
    Saturday, August 2AUSTRALIA (third Test)Sydney

    18match beat Bring Cup game Japan losing News Rugby Run Union Wales win World
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleDominant T1 comeback secures Gen.G rematch for MSI 2025 Grand Final
    Next Article How To Survive A Warzone’ Review
    Earth & Beyond
    • Website

    Related Posts

    County Championship: Professional Cricketers’ Association calls for cut to schedule to protect players’ wellbeing | Cricket News

    July 18, 2025

    Football gossip: Wissa, Luiz, Gyokeres, Palhinha, Arias, Gibbs-White, Walker-Peters

    July 17, 2025

    Neymar hails ‘new beginning’ after 1st full match in months

    July 17, 2025
    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Latest Post

    If you do 5 things, you’re more indecisive than most—what to do instead

    UK ministers launch investigation into blaze that shut Heathrow

    The SEC Resets Its Crypto Relationship

    How MLB plans to grow Ohtani, Dodger fandom in Japan into billions for league

    Stay In Touch
    • YouTube
    Latest Reviews

    County Championship: Professional Cricketers’ Association calls for cut to schedule to protect players’ wellbeing | Cricket News

    By Earth & BeyondJuly 18, 2025

    Football gossip: Wissa, Luiz, Gyokeres, Palhinha, Arias, Gibbs-White, Walker-Peters

    By Earth & BeyondJuly 17, 2025

    Neymar hails ‘new beginning’ after 1st full match in months

    By Earth & BeyondJuly 17, 2025

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest tech news from FooBar about tech, design and biz.

    Most Popular

    Bitcoin in the bush – crypto mining brings power to rural areas

    March 25, 202513 Views

    Israeli Police Question Palestinian Director Hamdan Ballal After West Bank Incident

    March 25, 20258 Views

    How to print D&D’s new gold dragon at home

    March 25, 20257 Views
    Our Picks

    Get the Galaxy Watch 7 for Just $159

    County Championship: Professional Cricketers’ Association calls for cut to schedule to protect players’ wellbeing | Cricket News

    RoboCop: Unfinished Business Review: Mindless Fun

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    © 2025 Earth & Beyond.
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Disclaimer

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Newsletter Signup

    Subscribe to our weekly newsletter below and never miss the latest product or an exclusive offer.

    Enter your email address

    Thanks, I’m not interested