Wales secured their second victory of the WXV campaign with a gritty, low-scoring win over Japan in Tokyo, navigating treacherous conditions that favored physicality over flair. Swirling winds, rain, and high humidity created a chaotic atmosphere for the two teams ranked 11th and 12th in the world, resulting in a scrappy first half that threatened to end scoreless. The deadlock was finally broken in the 35th minute when scrum-half Seren Lockwood found range with a precise penalty, giving the visitors a 7-0 advantage at the break.
Seren Lockwood’s late heroics secure a scrappy victory for Sean Lynn’s resurgent side
Although Wales suffered a significant blow when centre Freya Bell was forced off with a serious-looking knee injury, the impact of the bench proved decisive in the second half. Kelsey Jones drove over from lineout ball to extend the lead, showcasing the team’s resilience despite the loss of a key player. The match concluded with another moment of individual brilliance from Lockwood, who finished a rare instance of class at the death to seal the result.
While the performance was far from impressive for Sean Lynn’s resurgent squad, the result confirms their ability to win ugly—a crucial trait for their ongoing WXV campaign. The victory provides a vital confidence boost following previous results, proving that Wales can secure points even when the game plan is disrupted by external factors. The two sides are set to meet again in Kumagaya City on Saturday, 31 October, where Wales will look to build on this hard-fought triumph.
Source: Yahoo Sports
