Wales team to play Japan confirmed: Louis Rees-Zammit starts

The 24-year-old, who claimed his 33rd cap for Wales in their 52-28 defeat against Argentina last Sunday, will wear the 14 jersey for the first time since the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The magnitude of the clash against Japan at Principality Stadium is huge for Wales on Saturday (KO: 17:40), as the 2027 World Cup draw is set to take place later this year.

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Wales, ranked 12th, take on Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms, who are only 0.32 points lower in the standings, sitting in 13th. A result is very much needed for Tandy’s side if they want a more favourable draw Down Under in 2027.

With that said, Tandy has made four personnel changes from his first starting XV, including Rees-Zammit. The other sees Cardiff Rugby’s Alex Mann move across from blindside to openside as he replaces injured Jac Morgan.

A position for Mann, where he’s only started there on a handful of occasions. Elsewhere in the back row, Aaron Wainwright, who left the encounter against Los Pumas due to cramp, has overcome the issue and is joined by the resilient Olly Cracknell, who will make his first Test start at eight, whilst Wainwright wears the six jersey.

This comes after the 31-year-old made his international debut last time out after replacing injured Morgan before the hour mark.

There are two changes in the front row as props Rhys Carre and Keiron Assiratti are replaced by Nicky Smith and Archie Griffin. They are alongside new captain Dewi Lake, who skippered Wales back to winning ways in Kobe over the summer, and this is the same front three that played in July.

The second row pairing of Adam Beard and Dafydd Jenkins remains the same. Beard, who now plays for Top 14 side Montpellier, will make his 60th appearance for Wales after playing his first international game of 2025 last Sunday.

The only change in the backline sees Tom Rogers replaced by Rees-Zammit, with both Blair Murray and Josh Adams remaining in what looks to be a rather intriguing back three.

After a reckless yellow card, Ben Thomas remains at inside centre and is joined by Max Llewellyn, who wears the 13 jersey.

Then, after his first Wales start in Cardiff, Ospreys’ Dan Edwards begins at 10 and is joined by Tomos Williams to complete the halfback pairing.

"Louis Rees-Zammit comes in on the wing. He played a good few minutes last weekend and we feel he's ready to return to the starting line-up," said Wales head coach Tandy.

"Then there’s a reshuffle in the back row: Alex Mann goes to seven. We feel he's got all the qualities to play six or seven. Some of his attacking ability you've seen on the weekend and his defensive energy was outstanding.

"Then bringing Olly Cracknell in at No. 8 and moving Aaron Wainwright to six gives us a really good balance in the back row.

"We're looking to build on the first performance into this weekend."

15. Blair Murray (Scarlets, 11 caps)

14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears, 33 caps)

13. Max Llewellyn (Gloucester Rugby, 9 caps)

12. Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby, 15 caps)

11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby, 64 caps)

10. Dan Edwards (Ospreys, 5 caps)

9. Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby, 65 caps)

1. Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers, 57 caps)

2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys, 23 caps)

3. Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby, 9 caps)

4. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs, 24 caps)

5. Adam Beard (Montpellier, 59 caps)

6. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons RFC, 60 caps)

7. Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby, 8 caps)

8. Olly Cracknell (Leicester Tigers, 1 cap)

16. Liam Belcher (Cardiff Rugby, 3 caps)

17. Rhys Carre (Saracens, 21 caps)

18. Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby, 16 caps)

19. Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby, 5 caps)

20. Taine Plumtree (Scarlets, 8 caps)

21. Kieran Hardy (Ospreys, 26 caps)

22. Jarrod Evans (Harlequins, 12 caps)

23. Nick Tompkins (Saracens, 41 caps)