Wales complete WXV double over Japan with 29-5 win
Wales beat Japan 29-5 in Kumagaya on Saturday, completing a double over their opponents in the WXV Global Series, World Rugby's women's competition. Wales had also won the opening meeting 17-0.
The match kicked off at 16:00 local time at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo. Wales led 19-5 at half-time, and BBC Sport reported the full-time score as Japan 5, Wales 29.
Wales's tries came from Nel Metcalfe, Kelsey Jones, Amy Williams, who scored twice, and Sisilia Tuipulotu. Metcalfe plays on the wing, the player on the outside edge of the back line who often finishes a move. Lleucu George kicked two conversions, the goal-kicks that follow a try and add two points each.
Japan's try was scored by Moe Nagaoka, a hooker. Hookers are front-row forwards who strike the ball back in the scrum and throw the ball in at the lineout, the way play restarts after it has gone into touch.
The game also had a moment of discipline trouble for Wales. Replacements Keira Bevan and Hannah Dallavalle were both shown yellow cards, which send a player off the pitch for a set period. That left Wales with 13 players on the field for that spell. The Wales team was in charge of head coach Sean Lynn, who has been running the squad through the series.
Wales finished the Global Series with three wins and one defeat. Their only loss came against the United States. Before their match against South Africa, Wales had gone nine Tests, which are full international matches, without a win, so the run of results in Japan will be welcome.
Japan lost all four of their matches in the series. They were beaten in every game, though Saturday's scoreline shows they were able to find a try against a side that had won the earlier fixture comfortably.
For Wales, the result closes a series that began with a win and ended with a wider margin over Japan than the first meeting. For Japan, it is a tough finish to a tournament they will want to learn from.
