When 17 nearly became zero but so brutally grew to 18 instead: Wales hit a horrendous new low

Saturday saw Wales instead of resetting the chart back to zero they increased it to 18 Test match defeats in a row. For a large part of the encounter Wales looked like they were going to win but were so brutally defeated in the end.

Something of which you see so often in boxing. You can be comfortably winning but right at the death something unimaginable happens.

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Something you’ve worked so hard for over a long period of time, gone in a heartbeat. This is exactly what happened to Wales on Saturday. Japan had that ‘punchers chance’, and took it.

19-7 Wales led at halftime against Japan in the sweltering heat and what followed was a frustrating final 40. Matt Sherratt’s side simply fell apart.

Winning becomes harder the longer the streak continues, and it will continue for an extra seven days or further if Wales can’t win in Kobe next Saturday.

All week Kitakyushu was called Wales’ home away from home, but they were unable to find their home comforts at Mikuni World Stadium as the Brave Blossoms came from behind to claim just their second-ever victory over Wales.

To put it simply, Wales cannot win a Test match. This brutal defeat out of 18 was the most painful one yet. What could’ve been a start of a new beginning turned into something more painful than expected.

It was an inexperienced Japanese side which included eight debutants in the match day 23 where for Wales they were almost at full strength compared to past tours of the Far East where they would be without experienced players.

Wales have gone from being the laughing stock of World rugby with losing streaks growing to now to being pitied on a more regular basis. Welsh Rugby is officially at rock bottom.

Still having an interim head coach in Sherratt, players playing not knowing when they land back home if they’ll have a region to return to. Is this really what a nation which prides itself on rugby looks like?

It wasn’t a classic Test match, but Wales for large parts of the encounter looked in control. Not making it look brilliant but was doing enough.

It was no shock that Eddie Jones and Japan would not budge from wanting the match being played at 14:00- the hottest time of the day.

Wales knew what was coming, largely their training camp was evolved around combating the conditions. They used heat chambers in their Vale Resort training base where some players admitted to losing three to five kilograms.

Japan’s head coach Jones said come Saturday he is “hoping it’s a nice hot day, the sun comes out and we can really run Wales off their feet”- which in the second half his words came into existence. The heat and humidity played its part.

There was a lot of stop and starting, where players would huddle up around the subs bench to hide away from the blazing sun as they looked to cool down and take on more fluids.

Head coach Sherratt would’ve been happy going in at halftime with a deficit of 12 points, but from there on out it became a hard watch as Japan slowly but surely stamped their authority on the game and ultimately were more accurate with their work.

In the post-match press conference you could see the despair on captain’s Dewi Lake’s face with coach Sherratt tapping him to see if he was alright.

“ added Lake.

I don’t want to speak for everyone but we are gutted,” Lake said.

You could see the disappointment on all the faces of the players, but as much as their efforts should be scrutinised and critiqued however, the real scrutiny should come at the top echelon of the game in Wales.

“Judge me on results”, is what WRU chief executive Abi Tierney has said after taking charge in January 2024- in her tenure so far Wales haven’t won a Test.

Albeit Tierney hasn’t started all this mess, she’s inherited it. But it’s the continuation of defeats and decision making which is denting everyone involved.

There’s still been no confirmation about the future of the game in Wales which by all means has created more uncertainty for players, coaches and supporters about the game.

One thing is for sure next week in Kobe, Wales’ aim yet again will be to win, but after this weekend it’ll have a different feel about it. It could provide a feel good factor back into the game in Wales. A feeling of which has become a long distant memory.

Whatever happens next week in the Far East, will not end Welsh Rugby’s unrest but may give players and supporters some hope moving forward.

Yes, it’s been a uneasy and a brutal season for the national side and club sides, as players land back in the UK after the final Test match, they’ll head straight into pre-season, all with one hope to change the narrative. Only time will tell.