Rugby Live

Finished Cardiff

Wales 72 - Japan 18

Wales

Japan

  1. Wales recover to overpower Japan

    Wales recover to overpower Japan

    Wales got their World Cup campaign back on track by scoring 11 tries in a 72-18 demolition of Japan at the Millennium Stadium to set up a showdown with Fiji in their final group match. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:80'
    • Wales
    • Japan
    • 80' Ref blows for full-time. 72-18 Wales who now must beat Fiji in their final group match for a spot in the quarter-finals, almost certainly against South Africa. Again Wales were better after the interval but will they have enough to trouble the Boks? Thanks for joining us.
    • 79' Penalty Wales and Charvis takes a quick tap, finds Sweeney and Wales almost over. But Japan force turnover and try to break from defence only to concede possession. Wales finally go over through Shane Williams. 72-18.
    • 78' Japan trying to attack but tiring legs making it very difficult for them to find any gaps in Wales defence.
    • 75' Sweeney makes it 67-18.
    • 74' Great pass Sweeney to Martyn Williams who bursts through to score his second try of the evening from 35m out. 65-18. Good try!
    • 73' Shanklin on for Robinson.
    • 72' Game has gone a little flat as Onozawa again intercepts. He almost gets away but good tackle from Shane Williams keeps him out.
    • 70' Japan enjoying a good period of possession but just not able to break down the Wales defence. Replacement scrum-half Kim has given Japan good direction. Ian Evans almost intercepts!
    • 69' Nice kick from Kim forces another lineout for Japan deep in Wales' 22m area.
    • 66' Korean-born Chulwon Kin on for Japan's Yoshida.
    • 65' Japan take short restart and win the ball. Ref penalises Wales for hands in the ruck and Japan kick for the corner. Lineout Japan 15m from Wales try line.
    • 65' Sweeney makes it 60-18.
    • 64' Powerful drive from the Wales pack off a lineout and Cooper makes a little snipe before feeding Martyn Williams for a well-deserved try. 58-18.
    • 61' Sweeney chips over and Hook and Williams' footballing skills let them down as they fail to control their kicks and ball goes into touch!
    • 59' Owen controls ball at base of Wales scrum near Japan line and feeds his scrum-half Cooper on the blind side. Did he get it down before being tackled into touch? Ref goes upstairs and then rules try! 53-18.
    • 58' Japan conversion makes it 48-18.
    • 57' Another superb try from Japan as Onozawa snaps up an interception and goes over from 50m! 48-16. Great effort from the Japan wing, who cuts inside Morgan and outstrips the Wales defence.
    • 54' Cooper on for Phillips and Sweeney on for Jones.
    • 54' Jones adds the two points.48-11.
    • 53' Good hands from Wales keeping the ball alive through a series of attacks before Dafydd James finally crashes over after taking a pass from fly-half Jones. 46-11.
    • 52' Onishi is down and stretchered off with what looks like a rib injury.
    • 52' The giant Ian Evans on for Alun Wyn Jones.
    • 51' Stephen Jones makes a break in midfield but ignores Hook on his shoulder. Popham keeps move alive and Jones kicks for the corner but Wales chasers unable to gather.
    • 49' Phillips chips over Japan defence and gathers his kick before finding Williams out wide and the flying wing scores on his 50th cap! 41-11. Amazing start to the half by Phillips.
    • 45' Japan taking the game to Wales and Robins makes a half break. Japan keep possession and continue to attack down the left, but Wales cover keeps them out. Wales turn over and Phillips again makes ground. The ball is fed to Dafydd James, he finds Popham but the number eight passes forward.
    • 42' Phillips makes another break from Wales lineout and this time his power allows him to crash over. Nice hand-off and nice speed from the scrum-half! 34-11.
    • 41' Japan get the second half underway through Robins, Will James takes a clean catch and Phillips makes an explosive break. The scrum-half finds Hook but he's hauled down just short of the Japan try line. Good start from Wales.
    • 40' Ref blows for half-time. Japan will be disappointed to have conceded the last try as they had possession when the 40 minutes were up and should have just cleared to touch. Wales have scored four tries in the first half for their bonus point but won't be overly pleased with their performance. Too many errors!
    • 40' Japan finishing the half strongly but Wales win a scrum and Phillips puts kick over which Williams almost claims. Wales turnover ball and spread it left and Morgan grabs a try with last move of the half. 29-11.
    • 39' Great tackling by Japan ends a promising Wales attack. Big hit Makiri on Stephens forces Wales backwards.
    • 34' Penalty to Japan and Onishi cuts the defecit to 24-11. Another excellent strike from the centre.
    • 34' Morgan makes a complete hash of Japanese kick up field. Almost knocks on the catch and then does knock on his second effort. Scrum Japan deep in Wales half.
    • 32' Jones slots conversion and it Wales 24-8.
    • 31' Penalty Wales and they kick for the corner. Wales win lineout and after the initial drive hooker Rhys Thomas crashes over for his first international try. 22-8.
    • 29' Quick tap from Phillips and Williams is clear down the right. He kicks ahead but Morgan is beaten to the ball by Onozawa who tries bravely to break from behind his own line. Nice effort from the Japan winger.
    • 27' Great step from Hook and Wales' almost clear again. But Japan turn over ball and, after a very strange kick from Morgan, win a penalty and kick deep into Wales half.
    • 26' Phillips makes some good yards and feeds Williams on the right. Williams kicks ahead but Luamanu comfortably touches down for a 22m drop out.
    • 25' Jones makes it 17-8.
    • 24' Loamanu drives into the Wales midfield from deep but the ball is turned over, moved to the short side and a lovely show and go from Hook sees him clear down the left touch before going over for Wales' second try. 15-8.
    • 22' Wales win penalty on Japan 22m line right in from of the posts for Japan collapsing the scrum. No mistakes from Jones who makes it 10-8 Wales.
    • 20' 20 minutes gone and who would have thought the Japanese would be leading at the Millennium Stadium? It must be said it was a poor Wales call from the earlier 5m scrum!
    • 19' Brilliant stuff from Japan who break the whole length of the field to score through winger Endo. 8-7 Japan. Fabulous handling from Japan and surely the try of the tournament so far. Excellent stuff from the Asians, though Wales will be kicking themselves for allowing Japan to nick the ball at the base of a ruck!
    • 16' Nice break from Robinson and Williams given space on the right, but Onozawa comes around offside and allows Wales to kick for the corner from a penalty. Line-out five metres from Japan line and Wales go for the drive. First wave is held up and Japan turnover the ball. There is a charge down but ref disallows try because the ball hit him earlier in the move.
    • 13' Robins knocks on under rush defence from Wales.
    • 10' Jones makes it 7-3.
    • 9' Wales driving up the middle and Hook makes some ground on the left before setting ball up again for Williams to go for a gap in midfield. Japan defence holds firm. Morgan knocks on but ref plays advantage as Japan kick down field, but Daffyd Jones makes superb break and feeds Alun Wyn Jones to go over for first try! Tad lucky for Wales! 5-3.
    • 7' Stephen Jones almost through and Japan then concede penalty for diving in over the top. Jones kicks for the corner and it's lineout Wales in Japan's 22m area.
    • 6' Good start from Japan.
    • 5' Japan clear restart to their 22m line, Charvis drives off back of lineout but Phillips makes a mess at base of ruck allowing Japan to clear their lines.
    • 4' Onishi on target and it's 3-0 Japan. Good strike!
    • 3' Big hit Miuchi on Shane Williams and he again knocks on. Wales then concede penalty for being offside giving Onishi chance to give Japan the lead.
    • 2' Wales try to spread the ball but Shane Williams, earning his 50th cap, spills the ball and it's scrum down to Japan.
    • 1' Stephen Jones gets the match underway. Can Wales give their public something to cheer about and build some much needed momentum?
    • - Japan bounced back from their thumping at the hands of Australia in their opening game with a spirited performance against Fiji, but still went down 35-31. Wales are likely to prove too strong for the Asian side but another decent showing will give them confidence going into their showdown with Canada, who are also winless.
    • - Wales are in urgent need of a convincing victory tonight following their weekend loss to pool favourites Australia. A victory for the home side will leave them needing to beat Fiji in their final pool game to secure a quarter-final spot, most likely against South Africa. Coach Gareth Jenkins is without his skipper Gareth Thomas so Stephen Jones captains the side from fly-half. James Hook starts at inside centre while Kevin Morgan is recalled at full-back. Flanker Colin Charvis wins his 92nd cap, equalling the all-time appearance record of Gareth Llewellyn.
    • - Welcome to Eurosport's live online coverage of the World Cup Group B clash between Wales and Japan from the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

  • Summary

    Wales versus Japan
    Jones 11’, Hook 24’, Thomas 32’, Morgan 40’, Phillips 42’, Williams 49’, 80’, James 54’, Cooper 59’, Williams 64’, 74’ Tries Endo 18’, Onozawa 57’
    Jones 11’, 25’, 32’, 43’, 54’, Sweeney 64’, 74’ Conversions Robins 57’
    Jones 23’ Penalties Onishi 3’, 37’
      Drops  

Live Team Line-Up

  • Referee: Joel Jutge

  • Wales

    Manager: Gareth Jenkins

    On the Field

    • Jones
    • Thomas Try Substitution Out (70′)
    • Horsman Substitution Out (65′)
    • James
    • Jones Try
    • Charvis
    • Williams Tries×2
    • Popham Substitution Out (57′)
    • Phillips Try Substitution Out (55′)
    • Jones Substitution Out (55′)
    • Williams Tries×2
    • Hook Try
    • Robinson Substitution Out (76′)
    • James Try
    • Morgan Try

    Subs

    • Cooper Substitution In (55′) Try
    • Evans Substitution In (55′)
    • Sweeney Substitution In (55′)
    • Owen Substitution In (57′)
    • Shanklin Substitution In (76′)
    • Jenkins Substitution In (65′)
    • Bennett Substitution In (70′)

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Japan

    Manager: John Kirwan

    On the Field

    • Nishiura Substitution Out (66′)
    • Matsubara Substitution Out (75′)
    • Tomokazu
    • Ono
    • Thomson Substitution Out (66′)
    • Makiri Substitution Out (56′)
    • O'Reilly
    • Miuchi
    • Yoshida Substitution Out (66′)
    • Robins
    • Onozawa Try
    • Onishi Substitution Out (52′)
    • Imamura Substitution Out (51′)
    • Endo Try
    • Loamanu

    Subs

    • Watanabe
    • Yamamura Substitution In (66′)
    • Kumagai
    • Inokushi Substitution In (75′)
    • Taira Substitution In (51′)
    • Kusumi Substitution In (52′)
    • Chul-Won

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None