Late Evans penalty gives Wales win against Japan

Autumn Nations Series

Wales (7) 24

Tries: Edwards, Rees-Zammit, Tompkins Cons: Edwards (3) Pens: Evans

Japan (7) 23

Tries: Ishida, Makisi Cons: Lee 2 Pens: Lee 3

Replacement fly-half Jarrod Evans secured a last-gasp victory for Wales against Japan with the last kick of the game.

After only being on the field for four minutes, Evans slotted over the penalty to complete a second half in which the lead changed hands six times.

The successful kick ended a 10-match losing home streak for Wales that had lasted more than two years and gave new head coach Steve Tandy his first win in charge.

Wales overcame wing Josh Adams being shown a 20-minute red card for a dangerous clearout on Kippei Ishida just before half-time.

Wales' tries came from wing Louis Rees-Zammit, centre Nick Tompkins and Dan Edwards, who finished with 11 points.

Ishida and number eight Faulua Makisi scored tries for Japan with 13 points from the of boot of fly-half Seungsin Lee.

The win ensures Wales will stay in the top 12 in the world rankings before next month's draw for the 2027 World Cup.

More to follow.

It had been 833 days since Wales previously won a Test match at the Principality Stadium, when Warren Gatland's side defeated England in a World Cup warm-up game in August 2023.

Wales' list of defeats in Cardiff came against South Africa (twice), Scotland, France, Italy, Fiji, Australia, Ireland, England and Argentina, with Eddie Jones remarking pre-match, Japan needed to ensure it was a burden for their hosts. It almost was.

For Japan and Jones it was a famous day that got away. Jones led the Brave Blossoms' only victories over Wales - in 2013 and 2025 - both at home.

However, Japan had never won in Wales, losing each of their previous five visits by an average margin of 51 points.

Their only previous away victory against a top nation in the professional era was the famous shock win over South Africa in Brighton at the 2015 World Cup, again masterminded by Jones.

Japan had lost against Australia, South Africa and Ireland in the November programme, but were encouraged by the exposure to playing against top international sides. But they could not quite get over the line in Cardiff.

More to follow.

Rees-Zammit starting berth

Wales and Japan had played out a 1-1 series draw in the summer with Jones' side winning in Kitakyushu before the tourists ended a record 18-match international losing streak by winning in Cardiff.

In the 2025 unofficial decider, Rees-Zammit was given his first start in 25 months as he replaced Tom Rogers, while props Nicky Smith and Archie Griffin also came into the side.

Wales were without injured inspirational skipper Jac Morgan who dislocated his shoulder against Argentina. This forced a back-row reshuffle with Leicester number eight Olly Cracknell starting and producing a player-of-the-match performance with Aaron Wainwright switching to blind-side flanker.

Alex Mann was in the unfamiliar open-side role and was prominent in the opening exchanges with crunching tackles and turnovers.

Wales opened the scoring with an opportunistic effort by Edwards who capitalised on some weak Japan tackling,

Ishida then crossed after Japan won an aerial battle and strong carrying from centre Dylan Riley and hooker Kenji Sato.

The visitors were playing the more expansive attacking rugby with full-back Yoshitaka Yazaki making a scything break only for Japan to knock on.

Ill-discipline then affected them, Lock Epineri Uluiviti was shown a yellow card for an off-the-ball tackle on Mann before a thunderous legal tackle from Makisi on Aaron Wainwright.

Makisi was then punished for an illegal high challenge on Edwards as Japan were reduced to 13 men for five minutes.

Wales could not capitalise despite Rees-Zammit producing an scintillating break before failing to pass to the supporting Tomos Williams.

More to follow.

Wales: Murray; Rees-Zammit, Llewellyn, B Thomas, Adams; Edwards, T Williams; Smith, Lake (capt), Griffin, D Jenkins, Beard, Wainwright, Mann, Cracknell.

Replacements: Belcher, Carre, Assiratti, F Thomas, Plumtree, Hardy, J Evans, Tompkins.

Red card (20 minutes): Adams 40

Japan: Yazaki; Ishida, Riley, Lawrence, Osadal; Lee, Saito; Kobayashi, Sato, Tamefusa, Uluiviti, Dearns (capt), Cornelsen, Shimokawa, Makisi.

Replacements: Hirao, Furuhata, Takeuchi, Hockings, Paul, Fukuda, Komura, Ueda.

Sin-bin: Uluiviti 25, Makisi 30.

Referee: Matthew Carley (England)

Assistant referees: Anthony Woodthorpe (England), Nic Berry (Australia)

TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)

FRPO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa).