Wales v Japan - Teams and Prediction
PREVIEW: Louis Rees-Zammit will make his first Wales start since the 2023 World Cup in Saturday’s clash with Japan in Cardiff after coach Steve Tandy said he was “ready to return”.
The dashing wing ended his 18-month exile from international rugby by coming off the bench during last week’s 28-52 loss at home to Argentina following a spell in American football that ended without him playing a senior NFL game.
Bristol flyer Rees-Zammit replaces Tom Rogers in one of four personnel changes to the starting 15, with back-row Olly Cracknell – who made his Test debut off the bench against the Los Pumas – replacing injured captain Jac Morgan.
Tandy said on Thursday that he felt Rees-Zammit was now well-placed to feature from the kick-off as the 24-year-old looks to add to his tally of 14 Test tries.
“He played a good few minutes last weekend and we feel he’s ready to return to the starting line-up,” said Tandy.
‘Lots to improve’
“I think we’ve definitely seen lots of how we want to play against Argentina. There was lots to be pleased about – our attack, I thought, was excellent and I saw a lot of physicality – but there’s a lot to improve.”
Tandy has freshened up his front row due to a six-day turnaround with props Nicky Smith and Archie Griffin in the starting team, as Rhys Carre and Keiron Assiratti drop to the bench.
The absence of British and Irish Lions forward Morgan means Ospreys team-mate Dewi Lake captains the side, as the hooker did on the recent tour of Japan.
Openside flanker Morgan’s Autumn Nations Series-ending shoulder injury – suffered while scoring Wales’s third of four tries against Argentina – has led to a revamp of the back-row.
Alex Mann moves to openside flanker, with Aaron Wainwright, who is fit despite limping off against Argentina, now on the blindside.
“We feel he [Mann] has got all the qualities to play six or seven,” said Tandy.
“Some of his attacking ability you’ve seen on the weekend and his defensive energy was outstanding.
“Then bringing Olly Cracknell in at No.8 and moving Aaron Wainwright to six gives us a really good balance in the back row.”
Saturday’s match at the Principality Stadium has extra significance ahead of December’s World Cup draw, with 12th-placed Wales needing to win to stay above Japan in the rankings, and thus remain in the second pot of seeds for the 2027 tournament in Australia.
Tandy is bidding for a first win in charge after Wales ended an 18-Test losing streak with victory over Japan in July under interim boss – and now attack coach – Matt Sherratt.
Japan, thrashed 10-41 by Ireland in Dublin last weekend, have made two changes from the trip to the Irish capital.
Jack Cornelsen comes in for Ben Gunter at openside flanker and Keijiro Tamefusa replaces Shuhei Takeuchi at tight-head prop.
Players to Watch:
For Wales: Back on the wing in the starting XV, all eyes will be on Louis Rees‑Zammit. His return is significant – he brings game-breaking pace, finishing ability, and a counter-attack threat. Flyhalf Dan Edwards is relatively inexperienced, but he offers energy, a solid kicking game, and a chance to inject fresh attacking ideas. Captain Dewi Lake will be crucial in set-pieces, while his leadership will also be a huge factor on and off the field.
For Japan: The young and towering lock Warner Dearns has the important task of leading the team, which will be crucial. He can dominate set-pieces, and his athleticism makes him a real threat in broken play and lineouts. In the backline, Kippei Ishida is a livewire winger – very quick, with excellent footwork and aerial skills. Given his sevens background, he could be dangerous in open space and on counter-attacks.
Prediction:
Rugby365: Wales by 12 points
Teams:
Wales: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Olly Cracknell, 7 Alex Mann, 6 Aaron Wainwright, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Dafydd Jenkins, 3 Archie Griffin, 2 Dewi Lake (captain), 1 Nicky Smith
Replacements: 16 Liam Belcher, 17 Rhys Carre, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 Taine Plumtree, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Nick Tompkins
Japan: 15 Yoshitaka Yazaki; 14 Kippei Ishida, 13 Dylan Riley, 12 Charlie Lawrence, 11 Tomoki Osada; 10 Seungsin Lee, 9 Naoto Saito; 8 Faulua Makisi, 7 Kanji Shimokawa, 6 Jack Cornelsen; 5 Warner Deans (captain), 4 Epineri Uluiviti; 3 Keijiro Tamefusa, 2 Kenji Sato, 1 Kenta Kobayashi
Replacements: 16 Shodai Hirao, 17 Sho Furuhata, 18 Shuhei Takeuchi, 19 Harry Hockings, 20 Tyler Paul, 21 Kenta Fukuda, 22 Shinya Komura, 23 Kazuma Ueda
Date: Saturday, November 15
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 17.40 (17.40 GMT; 02.40 JST, Sunday, November 16)
Expected weather: Light rain and moderate breeze with a high of around 11°C and a low of 7°C
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia), Anthony Woodthorpe (England)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)
