Wales 24-23 Japan: Jarrod Evans kicks late winning penalty against Eddie Jones’ sidee

Autumn Nations Series

Wales (7) 24

Tries: Edwards, Rees-Zammit, Tompkins Cons: Edwards (3) Pens: Evans

Japan (7) 23

Tries: Ishida, Makisi Cons: Lee 2 Pens: Lee 3

Replacement fly-half Jarrod Evans secured a last-gasp victory for Wales against Japan with the final kick of the game in Cardiff.

After only being on the Principality Stadium field for four minutes, Evans slotted over the penalty to complete a second half in which the lead changed hands six times.

The successful kick ended a 10-match losing home streak for Wales that had lasted more than two years and gave new head coach Steve Tandy his first win in charge.

Wales overcame wing Josh Adams being shown a 20-minute red card for a dangerous clearout on Kippei Ishida just before half-time.

Wales’ tries came from wing Louis Rees-Zammit, centre Nick Tompkins and Dan Edwards, who finished with 11 points.

Ishida and number eight Faulua Makisi scored tries for Japan with 13 points from the boot of fly-half Seungsin Lee.

The win ensures Wales will stay in the top 12 in the world rankings before next month’s draw for the 2027 World Cup.

It had been 833 days since Wales previously won a Test match at Principality Stadium, when Warren Gatland’s side defeated England in a World Cup warm-up game in August 2023.

Wales’ list of defeats in Cardiff came against South Africa (twice), Scotland, France, Italy, Fiji, Australia, Ireland, England and Argentina, with Eddie Jones remarking pre-match that Japan needed to ensure it was a burden for their hosts. It almost was.

For Japan and Jones it was a famous day that got away. Jones led the Brave Blossoms’ only victories over Wales – in 2013 and 2025 – both at home.

However, Japan had never won in Wales, losing each of their previous five visits by an average margin of 51 points.

Their only previous away victory against a top nation in the professional era was the famous shock win over South Africa in Brighton at the 2015 World Cup, again masterminded by Jones.

Japan had lost against Australia, South Africa and Ireland in the November programme, but were encouraged by the exposure to playing against top international sides. But they could not quite get over the line in Cardiff.

Wales and Japan had played out a 1-1 series draw in the summer with Jones’ side winning in Kitakyushu before the tourists ended a record 18-match international losing streak by winning in Cardiff.

In the 2025 unofficial decider, Rees-Zammit was given his first start in 25 months as he replaced Tom Rogers, while props Nicky Smith and Archie Griffin also came into the side.

Wales were without injured inspirational skipper Jac Morgan who dislocated his shoulder against Argentina. This forced a back-row reshuffle with Leicester number eight Olly Cracknell starting and producing a player-of-the-match performance with Aaron Wainwright switching to blind-side flanker.

Alex Mann was in the unfamiliar open-side role and was prominent in the opening exchanges with crunching tackles and turnovers.

Wales opened the scoring with an opportunistic effort by Edwards who capitalised on some weak Japan tackling,

Ishida then crossed after Japan won an aerial battle and strong carrying from centre Dylan Riley and hooker Kenji Sato.

The visitors were playing the more expansive attacking rugby with full-back Yoshitaka Yazaki making a scything break only for Japan to knock on.

Ill-discipline then affected them, Lock Epineri Uluiviti was shown a yellow card for an off-the-ball tackle on Mann before a thunderous legal tackle from Makisi on Aaron Wainwright.

Makisi was then punished for an illegal high challenge on Edwards as Japan were reduced to 13 men for five minutes.

Wales could not capitalise despite Rees-Zammit producing a scintillating break before failing to pass to the supporting Tomos Williams.

The insipid Wales attack could not exploit the extra men before Adams was shown a yellow card for a dangerous clearout on Ishida.

That was upgraded to red at half-time with a high degree of danger cited and Adams’ arm not wrapped.

Lee missed two first-half penalties, but succeeded early in the second half to give Japan the lead.

Despite being down to 14 men, Wales responded with a well-worked try as Rees-Zammit dived over for his 15th try in his 34th game.

Centre Ben Thomas was penalised for not rolling away with Lee reducing the deficit to one point with his second penalty.

More Wales ill-discipline allowed Makisi to dive over just before the hosts were restored to 15 men.

Tompkins was the player introduced and the centre made an immediate impression by scoring with his second touch with Edwards converting.

Lee restored the lead with a penalty before the frantic finale. Japan replacement lock Harry Hockings was given a yellow card on his debut for a dangerous tackle on Mann.

Wales initially decided the penalty was too far out to kick at goal and went for the try.

When Japan were penalised again, Evans stepped up and slotted over the kick to leave the majority of the 61,234 going home ecstatic.

A long-overdue rare home win is not enough to lift Welsh rugby out of its ongoing crisis.

For long periods, Wales were poor and Japan were the better side while the tourists missed two penalties and had three yellow cards.

The fact the Japan game was identified as the crucial contest this autumn in the battle to stay in the world’s top 12 demonstrates how far the Welsh game has sunk.

Wales still have lost 19 out of their past 21 matches with the only two victories coming against Japan and no win against a major nation since the 2023 World Cup.

They still have to face New Zealand next Saturday before a game against South Africa that has been organised on 29 November outside the international window. by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

Wales will be without their non-Welsh based players against the Springboks – more than half the squad selected against Japan – and taking place on the same weekend the four Welsh professional sides play league fixtures in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

Off the field, uncertainty remains. The number of sides will become three after the WRU decided to cut one of the men’s professional teams, though no realistic timetable or strategy has been outlined about how and when that will occur.

Players, coaches and fans still do not know which teams they will turn out for or have the option to support next season.

So when the euphoria dies down, there are still plenty of tough times ahead. Beating Japan merely provides a glimmer of hope. That is all.

Wales: 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.

Red card (20 minutes): Adams 40

Japan: 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.

Sin-bin: Uluiviti 25, Makisi 30, Hockings 80

Referee: Matthew Carley (England)

Assistant referees: Anthony Woodthorpe (England), Nic Berry (Australia)

TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)

FRPO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa).