Japan vs Wales: Rugby Showdown in Scorching Kitakyushu

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Image caption: Eddie Jones is in his second stint as Japan coach and masterminded the Brave Blossoms' only victory against Wales, in 2013

Gareth Griffiths

BBC Sport Wales

Published: 30 minutes ago

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Summer tour first Test: Japan v Wales

Venue: Mikuni World Stadium, Kitakyushu

Date: Saturday, 5 July

Kick-off: 06:00 BST

Coverage: Watch live on BBC One Wales and BBC iPlayer; listen live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru & BBC Sounds; text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app.

Japan coach Eddie Jones says the side who cope best with gruelling conditions in Kitakyushu will win Saturday's first Test against Wales.

Searing heat and humidity are expected for a match kicking off at 14:00 local time. Temperatures in the scorching mid-afternoon sun are predicted to reach more than 30C. There will also be a high degree of humidity, meaning players must cope with a greasy ball. New World Rugby heat guidelines will determine on the day whether there will be water breaks or an extended half-time period.

While the tourists have been preparing for the occasion with intense fitness sessions in Wales and Japan, Jones' side have been training in Miyazaki, south of Kitakyushu.

"We know Kitakyushu is going to be difficult conditions for both teams and the team that handles the conditions the best will win the game," said Jones.

"We have had good preparation in the heat to play against Wales in those conditions and we could not have asked for more. It has been 32C every time we have trained. The ball is like a cake of soap and we have wet the field, so it has made the conditions difficult for the players. We can't do any more heat acclimatisation than we have done, so we are ready to go."

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'Loud Wales anthem can inspire Japan'

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Media caption: Japan v Wales: Japanese children sing Welsh national anthem to visiting players

Wales have been based in Kitakyushu for more than a week as they rekindle their love affair with a city which was their World Cup base in 2019. Kitakyushu has again taken Wales to its heart, with suggestions local fans will be cheering for the tourists and singing the Welsh national anthem louder than the Japanese equivalent.

"In terms of Wales and Kitakyushu, I really don't have any interest in that," said Jones. "We are just concentrating on ourselves. We have made sure we have used every day of the 20 days we have had together to maximise our ability to take the opportunity against Wales and we are looking forward to that. If the crowd sings the Welsh national anthem loudly, I am sure the pride of our players is going to be even stronger."

Wales have lost a record 17 successive internationals in a sequence that stretches back to October 2023. Wales' wretched run has seen them slip to a record low of 12th in the world rankings, just one place above Japan.

"It is an unusual situation where you have two teams in almost the same state of development playing against each other," said Jones. "We look forward to playing against a Wales side who are in a similar situation to us in having a young team rebuilding."

'Welsh Rugby Union must learn lessons'

Wales head coach Matt Sherratt is again working in an interim capacity following Warren Gatland's departure in February. Jones' most recent international experience against Wales was as Australia coach during the 2023 World Cup, when Gatland's side claimed a record 40-6 win against the Wallabies.

When asked whether he was surprised by Wales' rapid decline since then, Jones said: "The state of rugby at the moment is if you are not continually rebuilding and you allow your team to go the nth degree, then the rebuilding period is tough."

Jones said Wales and Japan had the two oldest squads at the 2023 World Cup, although champions South Africa had the highest average age of 30, compared to 29 for Japan and 28 for Wales. Jones also suggested the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) needs to take responsibility to avoid a similar scenario in the future.

"I am sure there will be some learnings for the union about how to manage the situation better and we are going through the same situation here [in Japan]," he added. "That responsibility lies with the national unions in having a more strategic approach to development and that's really important. Wales also play in the Six Nations and that is the most unforgiving competition in the world, so it is a difficult period for them."

After spending some time at Scarlets earlier this season, Jones believes Welsh rugby can flourish again.

"Having visited Scarlets this year, I saw a number of good young players coming through," said Jones. "I'm sure if Wales can get through this period, they're going to have another period of success further down the track."