Wales aim to salvage pride in final WXV2 outing

WXV2: Wales v Japan

Venue: Athlone Sports Stadium, Cape Town Date: Friday, 11 October Kick-off: 15:00 BST

Coverage: Watch live on BBC iPlayer, live text on BBC Sport website & app

Wales' WXV2 game against Japan is a must-win if Ioan Cunningham’s side are to salvage some pride in their final outing of 2024.

Wales have registered only three wins in 10 internationals this year, with pressure mounting on the coaches going into a Rugby World Cup year.

Japan find themselves in a similar position.

Their Sakura Fifteens side are on their longest winless run in their 33-year history, having failed to win in their last six Tests.

But they can be encouraged by their WXV2 performances in South Africa, having picked up three bonus points compared to Wales' one.

Friday's game also represents a full circle moment in Cunningham’s Wales coaching career, with Japan the opposition in his first game in charge three years ago.

Wales ran out 23-5 winners that night in Cardiff, signalling an end to a tumultuous few years on and off the pitch.

"I remember the first game I was involved in, ironically it was Japan," said Cunningham.

"The team had not won a game in two and a half years, so to win that night was pretty special."

He will be hoping history repeats itself in Cape Town on Friday, as two sides go head to head to avoid potential relegation to WXV3 in 2026.

Despite an underwhelming performance in defeat by Italy, Cunningham has kept faith with the bulk of his side.

He has made just three starting changes, one enforced with Lleucu George ruled out by a knee injury.

Kayleigh Powell is given an opportunity to show what she can do at fly-half, with the experienced Robyn Wilkins called up to provide cover on the bench.

Sisilia Tuipulotu, another latecomer to Cape Town, is fresh enough to start in the front row, with Donna Rose dropping to the bench.

Abbie Fleming gets her first start of the campaign at the expense of Georgia Evans.

Japan have mostly stuck with the side that ran Scotland close in round two, with just two changes.

Kotomi Taniguchi replaces Asuka Kuge at hooker, with Misaki Matsumura coming in on the wing in place of Rinka Matsuda.

They have a dangerous back row, with their powerful ball-carrying number eight Seina Saito scoring four tries in her last two outings, while the skipper Iroha Nagata is also a threat.

It should be an interesting battle between her and Wales' standout player of the year, Alex Callender.

Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham said: "Japan will pose a very different challenge, but it’s one the players are aware of, and we have been impressed how they have performed so far in WXV2.

"The team know that we need finish WXV2 with a big performance for the supporters back home in Wales.

“It’s a game both sides know they need to win to finish on a high and promises to be an exciting Test match.”

Wales captain Hannah Jones said: "I think it's fine to be disappointed and angry with ourselves [after the Italy defeat], but we've got to park it and move on, because again, it's a short turnaround with Japan on Friday.

"We can't dwell on that because Japan will certainly not care how we're feeling.

"Japan play a very fast game, they're quick, they're fit, they've got a really good kicking game as well, so we've worked on that and hopefully we can deal with that quite comfortably.

"It's huge for us, we've stuck tight together all week, we've worked hard.

"I want to go out there play rugby, enjoy it and when you look after the performance the result will look after itself."

Wales: Jasmine Joyce; Carys Cox, Hannah Jones (capt), Hannah Bluck, Nel Metcalfe; Kayleigh Powell, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Carys Phillips, Sisilia Tuipulotu, Natalia John, Abbie Fleming, Alisha Butchers, Alex Callender, Bethan Lewis.

Replacements: Molly Reardon, Maisie Davies, Donna Rose, Georgia Evans, Kate Williams, Sian Jones, Robyn Wilkins, Courtney Keight.

Japan: Sora Nishimura; Misaki Matsumura, Mana Furuta, Haruka Hirotsu, Komachi Imakugi; Ayasa Otsuka, Moe Tsukui; Sachiko Kato, Kotomi Taniguchi, Wako Kitano, Yuna Sato, Otoka Yoshimura, Masami Kawamura, Iroha Nagata (capt), Seina Saito

Replacements: Asuka Kuge, Manami Mine, Nijiho Nagata, Kyoko Hosokawa, Jennifer Nduka, Megumi Abe, Minori Yamamoto, Kanako Kobayashi.

Referee: Ella Goldsmith (RA)

Assistants: Zoe Naude (SARU), Aneka Fick (SARU)

TMO: Chris Assmus (RC)

FPRO: Estelle Whaiapu (NZR)