Wales vs Japan Preview & Prediction | 2025 End-Of Year Internationals
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Vital world ranking points are at stake in Cardiff on Saturday as Eddie Jones takes his battling Japan side to take on Wales.
Start date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / US – Peacock
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / US – Peacock Premium
Wales team news
Squad: 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
Japan team news
Squad: 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
Wales vs Japan prediction
The Steve Tandy era began with a chastening 52-28 defeat at the hands of Argentina in Cardiff, with some enterprising attacking play overshadowed by weak defending, with the Pumas running in seven tries at the Principality Stadium.
They now take on a Japan side they faced as recently as July, with the second of those contests ending their record 18-match losing streak.
Eddie Jones' Japan battled bravely in a 41-10 defeat to Ireland last weekend, and only a flurry of late Irish tries made the scoreline look more convincing than it was.
With the draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup looming in early December, this match takes on an extra significance as 13th-placed Japan are just one place behind Wales in the world rankings and would leapfrog them with a win. Remaining in the top 12 is vital for seeding purposes.
Expect an edgy affair in Cardiff, but with a new man in charge and with Louis Rees-Zammit making his first international start since American Football stint, we think Wales just about have what it takes to end their ten-match losing run in the capital.
Wales vs Japan tip: Wales to win
