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You are here: Home / News / Sport / Wales Team for 2nd Test Against Japan

Wales Team for 2nd Test Against Japan

10 July 2025 by Guest

Senior men’s head coach Matt Sherratt has named the Wales team to play Japan in the second and final Test at Noevir Stadium, Kobe on Saturday 12 July (KO 06.50h BST, live on S4C, Clic & iPlayer).

There are four changes to the starting XV from last weekend.

Dan Edwards is named at fly-half to win his third cap and make his first start for Wales.

Freddie Thomas comes in at lock, following Ben Carter’s injury, and partners Teddy Williams in the second row.

Archie Griffin starts at tighthead prop, with captain Dewi Lake at hooker and loosehead prop Nicky Smith completing the front row.

In the back row Aaron Wainwright starts at No. 8, alongside Alex Mann at blindside flanker and Josh Macleod at openside flanker.

There is again a six-two split among the Wales replacements.

Tighthead prop Christian Coleman, scrum-half Reuben Morgan-Williams and wing Keelan Giles could each make their Wales senior international debut with an appearance from the bench.

Hooker Liam Belcher, who won his first cap last weekend, provides cover at hooker and Gareth Thomas is the cover at loosehead prop.

James Ratti, Taine Plumtree and Tommy Reffell provide the remaining forward cover.

Sherratt said: “I want to have a little bit of a freshen up. So, Dan Edwards comes in at ten. Dan’s trained brilliantly over the three weeks. He was great in the Six Nations so we want to have a look at him.

“Unfortunately, Ben Carter has gone home so Freddie Thomas comes in. Keiron Assiratti has not been able to train as much as we’d like this week. So, it was more sensible to start Archie [Griffin] and that gives Chris Coleman a chance to make his debut off the bench.

“Toby had like a little bit heat stress related cramping [following the game]. We decided it was best Aaron Wainwright starts at No 8.

“We’ve made a couple of other changes on the bench as well, so delighted for Keelan and Reuben. They thoroughly deserve a chance.”

Looking ahead to Saturday Sherratt added: “I think our biggest challenge this week is going to be repeating some of the good and then in that last 20 minutes it’s making our lineout launch more effective so we can get our game on the field. Perhaps being a little bit braver with the ball as well.

“I think atmospherically it’s going to be a great experience for the players and obviously there’s no getting away from the heat.

“The roof’s closed. From experience of the roof being closed in Principality Stadium, the ball can be a little bit greasy.

“It’s going to be hot, maybe a little bit wet, but there’ll be there’ll be some atmosphere because the fans over here love their rugby.”

Wales team v Japan – 2nd Test

15. Blair Murray (Scarlets – 9 caps)
14. Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 10 caps)
13. Johnny Williams (Scarlets – 8 caps)
12. Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby – 13 caps)
11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 62 caps) – vice captain
10. Dan Edwards (Ospreys – 2 caps)
9. Kieran Hardy (Ospreys – 24 caps)
1. Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers – 55 caps)
2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys – 21 caps) – captain | capten
3. Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby – 7 caps)
4. Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby – 3 caps)
5. Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 7 caps)
6. Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby – 6 caps)
7. Josh Macleod (Scarlets – 3 caps)
8. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons – 58 caps)

Replacements:

16. Liam Belcher (Cardiff Rugby – 1 cap)
17. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys – 41 caps)
18. Christian Coleman (Dragons – uncapped)
19. James Ratti (Ospreys – 2 caps)
20. Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 7 caps)
21. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 28 caps)
22. Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys – uncapped)
23. Keelan Giles (Ospreys – uncapped)

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Category: SportTag: Rugby

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Comments

  1. trixiephany

    10 July 2025 at 8:27 pm

    West Indies opener Chris Gayle is the only batsman to smash a six off the first ball of a test match.

  2. Tan Stallion

    10 July 2025 at 8:23 pm

    A freak accident ended the life of a promising young batsman from India in 2015. Ankit Keshri was captain of the Bengal U-19 team. Keshri collided at full-force with teammate Sourav Mondal when they both ran to catch the ball. Although he was hospitalized after the incident, he later died of a heart attack during treatment.

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