“He’s going to be a blow”- 5 talking points: Matt Sherratt previews second Test against Japan

Thursday, 10 July 2025 at 07:48

0fab81ce12e48a0794275e1d82449fb1 1059641554 webp

byHarry Tovey

Wales will be aiming to put an end to their 18 consecutive Test match defeats when they face Japan and will be looking to put an end to a torrid season at Noevir (Misaki Park) Stadium, Kobe.

There is also pressure on Sherratt’s side to record a Test match victory as if they are to lose again they’ll become the first tier one nation in history to lose 19 Test matches in a row.

Join the RUCK’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.

That 24-19 defeat last weekend against Japan meant that Wales dropped to 14th in the world rankings with their hosts and Samoa overtaking them.

Eddie Jones’ side will be aiming to win their first Test series against Wales and will look to create even more history by beating Wales consecutively.

Sherratt broke down the crucial clash in the Far East in the pre-match press conference. Here are the five talking points from his immediate reaction.

1- Faletau injury huge blow for Wales

Taulupe Faletau’s injury is huge for Sherratt and his side as during this poor form from the international side he’s been consistently strong throughout. Albeit last weekend Sherratt stated that the 34-year-old replacement was a “tactical one”, it was clear that he left the field in some discomfort.

He wasn’t involved in training on Tuesday and it’s been revealed that the Cardiff Rugby player has been ruled out due to a heat stress-related cramping following the encounter in Kitakyushu.

“He was brilliant for 40 minutes, he was obviously going to be a blow,” said Sherratt.

“As you know I coach him at club and he’s not someone who’s going to stand at the front and give Churchiling speeches. But he’s so experienced, so calm he gives other players the confidence.

“Listen he’s a loss but Aaron Wainwright is very experienced. I thought Alex Mann and Josh Macleod were excellent at the weekend as well and Taine Plumtree has trained to a high standard, last week in particular.

“You could see there was a little bit of hurt in his training because his club form for the Scarlets was so good and so it brings Taine onto the bench and I’ve gotta feeling he’ll make a huge impact off the bench.

2- “He’s got some X-Factor”- Sherratt on Edwards’ first international start

Fly-half Dan Edwards who made two appearances in the 2025 Guinness Six Nations off the bench against both France and Italy comes into the starting XV in replacement of Scarlets’ Sam Costelow.

On Edwards starting for the first time Sherratt said: “It’s been a really close contest between Sam and Dan, both trained well.

“I was really impressed with Dan during the Six Nations, he’s a young ten with a great head on his shoulders and has got a lot of ability.

“Wanted to get him some experience that was a part of this tour as well as making sure a young half back gets out on his first start for Wales.

“He has got some X-Factor Dan, I’m learning about the players it’s only my second campaign. It’s my second time coaching Dan, what has caught my eye are two things.

“One and it’s the most important one as a fly-half, he’s got a very good head on his shoulders in terms of he’s got a great attitude, very decisive which is huge leads the team well.

“The second thing he is a triple threat, what I mean by that he can run, pass and kick. I didn’t realise how quick he was really until this camp, but over the last couple of weeks if he seen a gap he’s got good pace to take it.”

3- Sherratt taking advice off Andy Farrell

It has been 21 months since Wales last tasted a Test match victory, and this came against Georgia at the 2023 Rugby World Cup since then they’ve been on a torrid run of form. You could see after the final whistle at the Mikuni World Stadium how much that loss had taken on players, as the dejection was clear to see.

Adam Jones earlier in the week revealed that Wales’ football manager Craig Bellamy had talked to the players about confidence at their training base in the Vale of Glamorgan.

In Thursday’s press conference Sherratt revealed he has had discussions with British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell about lifting players up after another defeat.

“I learned from the Six Nations. Actually, I met Andy Farrell after the Scotland game and he asked what we’d done that week.

“He said sometimes when a player have had an emotional run, they need time to grieve. So we gave them two days off and left them. It was a tough changing room so I didn’t want to reopen the wounds.

“We showed them the score at 60 minutes. It was 19-7 to us. We didn’t get enough set-piece. We were just factual saying if we did that, we had a good chance of winning.

“Genuinely, if you come in and watch training, you wouldn’t know if it’s a team who’s won or lost 10 on the trot. They’re in a good place.”

4- Sherratt confirms the roof will be shut at Noevir Stadium

Conditions are expected to be extremely humid in Kobe for the second Test with Noevir Stadium having a retractable roof, the ball is expected to be a lot more greasier than usual.

“In Wales we’ve got the same, we’ve got the roof closed,” added Sherratt.

“Probably not as warm in Wales but the players will be used to the atmosphere, one thing the humidity with the roof being closed it can make the ball a bit more greasier but we’ve prepared well for that.”

Earlier in the day however, Eddie Jones revealed at Japan’s pre-match that he has not yet decided whether the roof will open or closed for Saturday’s clash.

“It’s quite ironic when you talk about roofs with Wales. I think I’ll leave it there,” said Jones.

“When we go up to northern hemisphere nobody turns the heaters on. I probably know as much as you about the roof.”

5- Three potential debutants off the bench

Dragons RFC Christian Coleman and Ospreys duo of Reuben Morgan-Williams and Keelan Giles could all make their Wales international debuts with an appearance from the bench.

“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.

“Reuben has got a point of difference, if there’s a gap he spots it, I said from the start that club form is important.

“He’s worked really hard at the Ospreys, I was there with him six or seven years ago when he was just coming through as a nineteen, twenty year old. It’s a brave option for Reuben to come on and add something to the game.

“I would also like to make a special mention to Keelan, I took him to Samoa and I think it was 2017 he didn’t get a cap, he was on the bench against Japan in 2016 and didn’t get on. He was picked in the last summer squad but he got injured before they went away.

“So if there’s anyone the same as Liam Belcher last week that deserves a cap it’s Keelan Giles. He’ll get his first chance to get that this week.”