Wales grind out frustrating WXV win against Japan
Wales beat Japan in difficult conditions in Tokyo to secure their second win of the WXV campaign. The scrappy performance was short on fluency, but showed Sean Lynn’s side could find a way to win when the weather and the match made attacking rugby difficult.
Seren Lockwood scored the opening try in the 35th minute, giving Wales a 7-0 half-time lead. Kelsey Jones added a try from a lineout, and Lockwood scored again at the end; Wales also lost centre Freya Bell to a serious-looking knee injury. The teams meet again in Kumagaya City next Saturday.
In short
- Wales beat Japan for their second WXV campaign win.
- Lockwood scored twice in challenging Tokyo conditions.
- The teams meet again next Saturday.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Wales can point to a valuable win in conditions that made fluent attacking rugby difficult: they defended their lead, scored from a lineout and found a late try to secure a second campaign victory. The result suggests the side can adapt and earn points even when a match becomes scrappy, while the injury to Freya Bell is a significant concern.
The case against
A win can still expose shortcomings: Wales were short on fluency and relied on a low-scoring, scrappy performance rather than sustained attacking play. Against a team they face again next week, those difficulties may raise questions about whether Wales can impose their game more consistently, especially if conditions improve.
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