Japan 23 Wales 8: Davies believes Wales rookies will learn from historic defeat to Japan

Wales captain Bradley Davies believes the tour to Japan will prove an important stepping stone for his young squad.
England's Marlan Yarde is tackled by Argentina's Martin Bustos MoyanoEngland's Marlan Yarde is tackled by Argentina's Martin Bustos Moyano
England's Marlan Yarde is tackled by Argentina's Martin Bustos Moyano

Japan levelled the series in Tokyo with an historic victory at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium, their first success over a team ranked in the world’s top 10.

However it was an embarrassing climax to a season that had seen Wales clinch the Six Nations title for a second year in a row.

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That success saw 15 Welshmen as well as seven members of the backroom staff travel to Australia with the British and Irish Lions, including head coach Warren Gatland.

Tour coach Robin McBryde also had to contend with several withdrawals through injury as well as the decision to rest some senior players, such as Ryan Jones, James Hook and Matthew Rees.

As a result, Wales visited the Far East with 10 uncapped players, while a further 10 members of the group had made fewer than five international appearances. Davies believes the new internationals will learn from the loss.

He said: “We have just got to take it on the chin and we will learn from this. The biggest positive from the tour is that we brought 27 boys away who were very inexperienced and now they have got the experience of Test rugby.

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“Hopefully, when they are given their chance again in the future, they will know what it’s about, what to expect and perform better.”

Inexperience combined with temperatures of 32 degrees in both Osaka and Tokyo left a youthful Wales side struggling to contend with an ambitious and well-organised Japan team who outscored their visitors two tries to one in both games.

Davies said: “I am every impressed with Japan and they are going to have more big victories soon. They play an entertaining style of rugby to watch, though not so much to play against.

“I didn’t think it was possible after the first game in Osaka but it felt even hotter in Tokyo.”