Wales began their Japan tour with a disappointing defeat, leaving head coach Matt Sherratt eager to spark a response. He’s expected to focus on discipline, sharper decision-making, and improved physicality in training. Sherratt remains confident in his squad’s potential, highlighting the need for quick adjustments and mental resilience ahead of the next test. A stronger, more composed performance is now the clear target.
00:00Well, it was yet another defeat for the Wales men's national rugby team, this time to Japan.
00:09Things not looking good at all. Their losing streak in international rugby just goes on and just gets worse for everyone involved with the Welsh set-up in international rugby.
00:18For such a proud rugby nation, this is perhaps one of the darkest times in their history.
00:23The amount of losses they've had in a row now is quite unbelievable for a nation who prides themselves on absolutely loving rugby and being one of their national sports.
00:33So where do they go from here? I think that's the question that everyone, supporters, players, fans, obviously supporters as well, executives, chiefs, coaches.
00:43That's what they're all asking when it comes to the Welsh national men's rugby team in terms of just how they stop the rot and also how they not only stop the rot,
00:53but then progress and actually start to get better once again because it's not just about making things mediocre and just getting the odd wins.
01:00It's about making them and establishing them as a dominant force in world rugby once again,
01:05something they've not been for far too long now for a country, as I say, who loves rugby so much.
01:10So let's go now to our Wales sport correspondent, Charles Higg-Jones.
01:14Charles, just firstly, what's the feeling after that Japan loss?
01:18Secondly, where do the Wales go from here after yet another defeat?
01:21And thirdly, what can it be done to stop the rot and not only stop the rot, but create progress from this point onwards?
01:30Yeah, obviously not the start at all that they'd have wanted with their 18th consecutive test defeat now against Japan,
01:39losing 24-19 after Serenia, 19-7, a half-time lead as well.
01:45Their world ranking has dropped to 14th, the lowest it's ever been.
01:49And so for Welsh rugby, it's not somewhere you really want to be.
01:52And I mean, it's sort of contrasting to Welsh football as of that, which we've obviously covered loads of,
01:57the Wales women making their tournament debut and a major Wales men are looking fantastic under Craig Bellamy.
02:04It's now suddenly the sort of rugby side of things in Wales that has been suffering as of late.
02:09And it's been this whirlwind, this, you know, from top to bottom, we've mentioned before the problems with the WRU and where that sort of lies as well.
02:19And that sort of stems right from off the pitch.
02:22And then it sort of, you know, comes through onto the pitch as well.
02:25And, you know, Matt Sherratt has come in and, you know, he's emphasised that a victory in the second test could be the start of something.
02:31And he's sort of really, really, you've got to give Sherratt credit because he constantly is looking at the positives.
02:36He's looking at where they can build and the stuff they maybe got right throughout that game.
02:42And, you know, despite it being a crushing loss, another, you know, 18th now, it stems, you know, way, way further than a year.
02:50This record back, it's something they need to get right.
02:54And in terms of improving the areas, the stuff they need to maybe work on in terms of that second game.
02:59I mean, Japan's second half dominance exposed Wales' stamina issues that they've had, especially under the hot and humid conditions that they knew they were going to have to play in.
03:09You know, they have to take action.
03:11They have to rotate wisely.
03:13They have to condition the players in the heat chambers in preparation.
03:16You know, there's certainly going to be no time off now for this Welsh group.
03:20They're going to go in.
03:21Obviously, the British and Irish Lions tour suffered in terms of only two Welsh players selected.
03:26That sort of shows where Welsh rugby is at the moment.
03:30So they have taken an incredibly strong side on this tour.
03:35See the crucial penalties at key moments, you know, on the 10-metre line.
03:39It just shifts momentum.
03:40It really plays into Japan's favour, obviously, the home side as well.
03:44They need to tighten defensively disciplined situations and cut out that sort of unnecessary breakdown of penalties as well.
03:52And then, you know, set pieces as well.
03:55You know, the scrums and line-outs are vital to disrupt Japan's possession flow because, you know, Japan are a side that really play with that flowing ball forward situation.
04:05You know, they maybe need to look at experiencing, you know, pushing forward experienced players like Talupe Faletau at number eight and Josh McCloid as well to stabilise physical exchanges.
04:18But I think, you know, overall handling the conditions a bit better, really making sure that that squad's full of youth and experience as well, getting that balance right.
04:29And hopefully Wales can turn it around and end this torrid run because it's really starting to affect a lot of things in terms of Welsh rugby and, you know, reflect the deeper issues with the organisation at the moment.
