Japan Rallies and Defeats Wales in an Exciting Match
In a duel full of unexpected twists, Japan demonstrated their power by coming back in the second half to defeat Wales with a score of 24-19 on the island of Kyushu on Saturday. This victory extends Wales’ losing streak to 18 consecutive test matches.
Wales, who were up 19-7 at halftime, couldn’t hold their lead. Two impressive tries in the second half allowed Japan to turn the score around and secure the victory.
The match, played at the Mikuni World Stadium, was a clash marked by errors, where both teams managed to score three tries. Wales was desperately seeking to end an 18-month drought, as their last victory dates back to the 2023 Rugby World Cup against Georgia.Japan managed a comeback to beat Wales on Saturday.Upon reaching halftime, Wales seemed poised to break their losing streak, but their performance faltered in the second half, allowing Japan to react and secure a narrow victory.
Takuro Matsunaga, Japan’s fullback, scored in the first half, while Ichigo Nakakusu and Halatoa Vailea, both substitutes, added two more tries. Lee Seungsin converted all the tries and also scored a penalty.
Wales’ points were concentrated in the first half, with tries from Ben Thomas and Tom Rogers, as well as a penalty try. Sam Costelow only managed one conversion.
This defeat represents a new setback for Welsh rugby, which is seeking to rebuild after its recent and harsh 68-14 defeat against England in the last match of the Six Nations in March. As a result, Wales will drop to 14th place in the world ranking.
