Japan v Wales: Three talking points as Sean Lynn's side claim Tokyo victory

Wales have got back to winning ways in WXV Global Series with a 17-0 win against the Sakura Fifteen in Tokyo.

It was a low-scoring game as the weather took its toll on proceedings. Sean Lynn’s side had to bide their time at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, with tries from Seren Lockwood and Kelsey Jones proving to be the difference between the two teams.

Jones thought she had opened the scoring in the seventh minute, only for Jorja Aiono’s positioning in the lineout maul to be called into question. It took the better part of half an hour for Lockwood to finally break the deadlock, as a smart interchange at the back of a lineout sent the scrum-half over from short range.

After the break, there was a lengthy delay as Freya Bell received treatment for a serious knee injury. Having emerged as a breakout star for Wales this autumn, Bell’s absence meant Wales had to rally to see the game out.

It was around 30 minutes of match time after Lockwood’s effort that Jones rumbled over the whitewash at the back of a lineout drive.

To put the result beyond doubt, Wales sent Lockwood over again, as a strong scrum allowed the side to spread play wide to the youngster on the wing, who drove through one Japan defender to dot down.

Here are the talking points from Tokyo…

Patience was everything

Let’s be honest, it was not a classic in Tokyo. It took Wales until the 34th minute to open the scoring through Seren Lockwood. It took another 30 minutes for the visitors to get their second. It was a tough watch at times, but Sean Lynn’s side found a way to get the job done.

Much of that came down to patience and innate belief that opportunities would come. Wales allowed Japan to have the ball for much of the first half and saw their influence on the game grow as the clock ticked towards the 80-minute mark.

Wales will play better matches than this. Of course they will. But right now, winning can mean the world to Lynn’s team. Having emerged from a miserable 13-month period, getting another victory over the line is a massive confidence boost.

Japan have made progress

In his first game as head coach, Japan boss Toshizumi Kitagawa watched the Sakura Fifteen lose 15-12 to Fiji in Fukuoka. It was an inauspicious start for the former Brave Blossoms lock, who had led the side to an Asia Rugby Women’s Championship title earlier in the year as interim head coach.

Coming into Saturday’s fixture, Japan were winless in the WXV Global Series. They enjoyed a good 20-minute spell against Italy in Pordenone, as well as similar spells of dominance against Ireland in back-to-back matches.

Whether due in part to the miserable conditions in Tokyo or not, things seemed largely even between Japan and Wales. So much so that only seven points separated the two teams at half-time.

What was most impressive about the Sakura Fifteen was their work rate. A blanket statement, yes, but one that points to what could be a difference-maker for the team in the long term.

By the break, the top four ball-carriers were all wearing white. The hosts enjoyed the vast majority of possession and worked through the phases. The efforts of Hinata Komaki, Masami Kawamura and Sophie Langford deserve special mention.

It was a shame that their grip on the game weakened in the second half. Despite such a positive first-half display, Japan were unable to maintain their momentum, allowing Wales to take control and secure the victory.

Wales must double down on physicality

When Wales opened their WXV Global Series campaign against South Africa, it was their physicality and relentlessness that blew the Springbok Women out of the water. Against the USA Women’s Eagles a week later, fire met fire at Cardiff Arms Park. That day, it was the North Americans who won out.

Deprived of possession for large swathes of the game, it will come as little surprise that Welsh players accounted for the top tacklers in the fixture. Naturally, Alex Callender and Bryonie King were the top tacklers – Callender made a game-high 20, King completed 17.

Even so, that effort lacked the intensity of a month ago, especially in the first half, when individual errors from Japanese players kept the hosts off the scoresheet.

Physicality can be a real point of difference for Wales. They have the personnel to dominate teams. Callender and Kate Williams are top performers in Premiership Women’s Rugby, while the likes of Branwen Metcalfe and Sisilia Tuipulotu pack a punch, too.

Establishing that identity could also unlock the attacking potential Wales demonstrated in Cardiff last month: an attack that ripped opponents to shreds. We did not see that against Japan and, even with a win, Wales must surely be looking for more.