Wales emerged victorious but Steve Tandy should be worried ahead of sterner tests
Alex Mann has been a rare positive for Wales this autumn (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency Ltd)
Wales finally ended a dismal losing streak of 10 Test matches at the Principality Stadium but needed a last-gasp penalty from Jarrod Evans to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
Steve Tandy’s side showed character to claim a 24-23 victory after looking dead and buried with five minutes left on the clock. Winning is the most important thing but this was an abject performance and if Wales put in a similar performance over the next fortnight against New Zealand and South Africa the final score will be beyond embarrassing.
Here are your winners and losers.
WinnersJarrod Evans
The Harlequins playmaker was called into action in the 79th minute with Wales staring down the barrel of a shocking defeat in Cardiff.
But after working their way down field they won a penalty out wide.
Up stepped Evans to slot over the match-winning kick. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.
That was not an easy kick by any stretch of the imagination and the 29-year-old was under huge pressure to smash the ball between the posts.
But he did as Evans saved Wales from the ignominy of a first-ever home defeat to Japan.
Olly Cracknell
At 31 the Leicester Tigers back rower probably thought his chances of playing Test rugby had passed him by.
But after making his international bow as a replacement in the home defeat to Argentina Cracknell was handed a first Wales start against Japan.
While there wasn’t much to choose from, the powerful No 8 was one of Wales’ better players.
Cracknell was Wales’ top carrier with 13 and also finished at the top of the tackle charts with 24.
The former Ospreys backrower fought until the bitter end and should be an asset for Wales moving forward.
Alex Mann
The Cardiff backrower was WalesOnline’s player of the match and put in an excellent individual performance.
Stepping into Jac Morgan’s shoes was never going to be easy but the 23-year-old made a good fist of it.
Mann got under the skin of the Japan forwards, putting in a big shift with nine carries and 20 tackles.
He also won two turnovers and played a pivotal role during the closing stages of the game as Wales launched a brave fightback.
There were question marks surrounding his size but he has dispelled those concerns over the past couple of weeks.
Wales have many shortcomings but Mann has been a rare positive so far this autumn.
Dan Edwards
The 22-year-old has been another plus point for Wales over the opening two fixtures of the Tandy era.
Edwards beat two Japanese defenders to claim Wales’ opening try while he also made a clean line break in the second half to spark his side back into life.
The Ospreys playmaker put in a vitally important tackle on dangerous Japan full-back Yoshitaka Yazaki during the first 40 minutes after he had sliced open the Wales defence. Join WalesOnline Rugby’s WhatsApp Channel here to get the breaking news sent straight to your phone for free
Edwards’ game management is also improving and Wales needs to persevere with the Ospreys star who looks like the long-term successor to Dan Biggar’s number 10 shirt.
LosersJosh Adams
Adams’ reckless charge into a Japan ruck which made contact with the head of Kippei Ishida was completely and utterly needless.
The Wales wing was initially shown a yellow card which got upgraded to a 20-minute red card.
Adams’ actions put Wales under a whole heap of extra pressure and the worst thing is it was completely unavoidable.
A player of his experience should have known a lot better.
Ben Thomas and Max Llewellyn
The Wales midfield is not functioning as well as it arguably should.
Both Thomas and Llewellyn are excellent club players but have flattered to deceive at Test level.
Having a second playmaker at 12 is a big part of Matt Sherratt’s attack and he is a big fan of Thomas who is integral to Wales’ game.
But he has not been at his best this autumn and Scarlets centre Joe Hawkins must be breathing down his neck.
Llewellyn has been playing well for Gloucester but hasn’t transferred his club form into the international arena.
At this level having a solid, steady game isn’t enough and currently he has no real point of difference.
A guy of his size should be carrying the ball more than three times in a Test match and putting Wales onto the front foot.
There is an argument that combinations need time to bed in but equally a Joe Hawkins and Nick Tompkins centre partnership should be given serious consideration against the All Blacks.
Blair Murray
What to do with the 23-year-old is a real conundrum.
The Scarlets star is a very potent attacking weapon.
Murray has wicked feet, plenty of pace, is a very good finisher and can create opportunities for others.
But you can’t hide away from the fact he has been exposed for two weeks running under the high ball, while he also fell off a few tackles. Get the latest breaking Welsh rugby news stories sent straight to your inbox with our FREE daily newsletter. Sign up here.
The aerial contest is such a big part of the modern day game and this is an area Wales simply have to tidy up.
Might Murray be better suited to the wing?
Harry Hockings
Japan were on the verge of claiming a famous win in Cardiff before replacement second-row Harry Hockings had a rush of blood to the head.
Wales were on the attack down the blindside in the final minute of this Test match when Hockings got yellow carded for a reckless tackle to the head of Alex Mann.
Japan were so close to victory but one moment of ill-discipline from Hockings gave Wales an easy entry into the visitors’ 22.
From there on Japan coughed up yet another penalty to give Evans an opportunity to nail a vitally important penalty for the hosts.
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