Wales end 18-match losing streak with ‘brave’ victory over Japan – ‘It's been a hard time to support Wales’
Published 12/07/2025 at 10:49 GMT+1
Interim head coach Matt Sherratt thanked the Wales fanbase after their "brave" side ended their losing streak against Japan. Wales had not recorded a win in 644 days. Their last victory was against Georgia at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Wales sealed their long-awaited win thanks to tries from experienced winger Josh Adams, fly-half Dan Edwards and a Kieran Hardy double.
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Wales interim head coach Matt Sherratt admits that it has been a tough time to support Wales after his side ended an 18-game losing streak with a 31-22 win against Japan.
Tries from Josh Adams, Dan Edwards and a Kieran Hardy double helped Sherratt's side record their first win since their triumph over Georgia at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Japan beat Wales 24-19 last weekend, but scores from Shuhei Takeuchi, Warner Dearns and Dylan Riley were not enough to get The Cherry Blossoms over the line this time around.
Sherratt thanked the Wales fanbase for sticking by the side during their 644-day wait for a win.
"Thanks so much for your support. Even during the Six Nations, I know it's been a hard time to support Wales," he said.
"I hope you can enjoy tonight because we are certainly going to enjoy the next 24 hours.
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"Thank you so much to all the Japanese fans as well."
Wales took a 19-7 lead with 20 minutes left on the clock in last week's encounter, but could not convert it into a win.
Sherratt believes that his side were braver this week than they were in their previous match with Japan.
"We were braver than last week," he added. Last week we got in front and we probably tried to hold on to a lead.
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"When you have not won a game for a period of time, you start to get edgy, so the messaging this week was to be braver.
"I think the last try showed that - we have thrown to the back of a lineout and Taine Plumtree has done a reverse pass.
"All credit to the players and the staff."
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