Wales announce team for Japan match

Head coach Steve Tandy has named the Wales team to play Japan on Saturday 15 November in their second Quilter Nations Series match this November at Principality Stadium (KO 5.40pm GMT. Live on TNT Sports, discovery+ and S4C).

Dewi Lake starts at hooker and will captain the side, having previously done so for the two-Test series against Japan in July.

Joining Lake in the Wales front row are Nicky Smith, who is named at loosehead prop and Archie Griffin who is tighthead prop. The same trio that started the second Test in Kobe this summer.

Dafydd Jenkins and Adam Beard continue their partnership in the second row.

In the back row Aaron Wainwright starts at blindside flanker with Alex Mann at openside flanker and Olly Cracknell, who became the 1,216th Wales men’s international last weekend, is selected at No. 8.

There is one change to the Wales back line. Louis Rees-Zammit starts on the wing, having made his first Wales appearance since Rugby World Cup 2023 last Sunday.

Among the Wales replacements Liam Belcher, Rhys Carré, Keiron Assiratti, Freddie Thomas and Taine Plumtree are the forward cover for this match. Kieran Hardy, Jarrod Evans and Nick Tompkins are the back-line cover.

Tandy said: “The props started the game really well and played 45 minutes. We were always planning to rotate those round after the six-day turnaround. Then there’s a reshuffle in the back row: Alex Mann goes to seven. We feel he’s got all the qualities to play six or seven. Some of his attacking ability you’ve seen on the weekend and his defensive energy was outstanding. Then bringing Olly Cracknell in at No. 8 and moving Aaron Wainwright to six gives us a really good balance in the back row.

“Louis Rees-Zammit comes in on the wing. He played a good few minutes last weekend and we feel he’s ready to return to the starting line-up.

“I think we’ve definitely seen lots of how we want to play against Argentina. There was lots to be pleased about – our attack I thought was excellent and I saw a lot of physicality – but there’s lots to improve. So that’s what we’ve been focusing on. We’re looking to build on the first performance into this weekend.

On Dewi being appointed captain, Tandy added: “When you see him in and around camp, he’s brilliant. He’s helping individuals. He drives the team. He sets standards of how we want to train and also off the field. He’s an outstanding leader and I think he’ll do an amazing job.”

Wales team v Japan – Quilter Nations Series

15. Blair Murray (Scarlets – 11 caps)
14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears – 33 caps)
13. Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby – 9 caps)
12. Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby – 15 caps)
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 64 caps)
10. Dan Edwards (Ospreys – 4 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby – 65 caps)
1. Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers – 57 caps)
2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 23 caps) captain
3. Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby – 9 caps)
4. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 24 caps)
5. Adam Beard (Montpellier – 59 caps)
6. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 60 caps)
7. Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby – 8 caps)
8. Olly Cracknell (Leicester Tigers – 1 cap)

Replacements

16. Liam Belcher (Cardiff Rugby – 3 caps)
17. Rhys Carré (Saracens – 21 caps)
18. Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby – 16 caps)
19. Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby – 5 caps)
20. Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 8 caps)
21. Kieran Hardy (Ospreys – 26 caps)
22. Jarrod Evans (Harlequins – 12 caps)
23. Nick Tompkins (Saracens – 41 caps)