Wales beat Japan 28-21 in Cardiff to stay fifth in the north

Wales beat Japan 28-21 at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, holding on in the second half of a Nations Championship match. The win keeps them fifth in the northern hemisphere table, and it gives head coach Steve Tandy his fourth victory in 13 internationals in charge.

Wales led 21-14 at half-time, with four tries in all. Archie Griffin, Josh Adams (two) and Louis Rees-Zammit crossed for the home side. Japan replied with three of their own, from Ben Gunter, Warner Dearns and Kenta Fukuda, and they kept coming at the Welsh line until the final whistle.

Wales made changes before kick-off. Sam Costelow started at flyhalf, the player who calls the plays and kicks for position, ahead of Dan Edwards. Tandy also named a new midfield, the pair of centres who run the channels between the forwards and the wings.

The crowd was 52,425, and the atmosphere in Cardiff was loud from the anthem onwards. That helped a Welsh side that needed to keep possession and avoid giving away penalties, because a penalty hands the other team a free kick and the chance to move up the pitch.

The Nations Championship is the annual competition between the leading northern and southern hemisphere nations, and its finals weekend is set for 28 to 30 November at Twickenham. Wales will still have plenty to do before then, with the table being built one match at a time.

For Japan, the defeat is another close contest against a side they have pushed hard in recent years. Three tries and a fightback in the second half will give them plenty to build on.