Brave Blossoms Fall to Wales in Second Test
The Brave Blossoms have fallen to Wales in the second of their two-test, Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2025 series, going down 22-31 in Kobe over the weekend. Coming into the match off the back of a winning performance in their first test in Kitakyushu, Japan fell short of claiming their first ever back-to-back win over a tier-one opponent.
Played in hot and humid conditions and with the roof closed in Kobe’s Noevir Stadium, Japan once again let Wales run out to an early 10-21 first half lead. A major factor in their slow start were issues at scrum time which allowed the Welsh to establish set piece dominance. Looking to rectify the situation, Head Coach Eddie Jones replaced the entire front row on the 37th minute. The tactical switch bore immediate results with Japan scoring their first try of the match moments later.
Following the break, the Brave Blossoms worked hard to repeat the second half comeback they delivered in the first test. Despite outscoring their visitors 12 points to 10, they didn’t have enough in the tank to peg back Wales’ first half dominance. At the final whistle, the Welsh players showed their delight at having ended an unprecedented 18-match losing streak.
Commenting after the match, Brave Blossoms Head Coach Eddie Jones said:
“Firstly, congratulations to Wales. They’ve had a tough time, but you can hear it now in their dressing room, they’re a happy group of players. They stuck at it during the tour and they approached the game really well. For us, the contest was taken out of the scrum today which was disappointing. Rugby is a game of contests and we had one contest that we had an advantage in that was taken out of the game. We weren’t good enough to win the aerial contests and at the lineout. Wales won both of those contests and therefore we lost the game – simple as that.
“We talked all week about how we wanted to start the game at a higher intensity, yet we weren’t able to do that. I need to have a look at how we prepared the team. For some of our young guys today, they need to learn how to reset. Playing in their second test, they struggled emotionally. This is one of the skills experienced players have. Whatever happened in the previous game, they get right for the next one.”
The Brave Blossoms will convene again ahead of their Pacific Nations Cup 2025 Pool B match against Canada in the northern Japanese city of Sendai on Saturday 30 August. They will then head to the USA for their remaining PNC matches across September, before returning to Japan to face Australia on Saturday 25 October in Tokyo.
Japan v Wales Historic Match Results
16 matches, 2 wins and 14 losses
12 July 2025: 22-31 (L) Kobe
5 July 2025: 24-19 (W) Kitakyushu
19 November 2016: 33-30 (L) Cardiff, Wales
15 June 2013: 23-8 (W) Tokyo
8 June 2013: 18-22 (L) Osaka
20 September 2007: 72-18 (L) Cardiff, Wales
26 November 2004: 98-0 (L) Cardiff, Wales
17 June 2001: 30-53 (L) Tokyo
10 June 2001: 10-64 (L) Osaka
9 October 1999: 64-15 (L) Cardiff, Wales (RWC)
27 May 1995: 10-57 (L) Bloemfontein, South Africa (RWC)
16 Oct 1993: 55-5 (L) Cardiff, Wales
22 Oct 1983: 29-24 (L) Cardiff, Wales
24 September 1975: 6-82 (L) Tokyo
21 September 1975: 12-56 (L) Osaka
6 October 1973: 62-14 (L) Cardiff, Wales
Brave Blossoms 2025 Match Schedule
Saturday 5 July
Japan vs Wales
Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2025
Mikuni World Stadium, Kitakyushu
Saturday 12 July
Japan vs Wales
Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2025
Noevir Stadium, Kobe
Saturday 30 August
Japan vs Canada
Pacific Nations Cup 2025 (Pool B)
Yurtec Stadium, Sendai
Saturday 6 September
USA vs Japan
Pacific Nations Cup 2025 (Pool B)
Heart Health Park, Sacramento
Saturday 25 October
Japan vs Australia
Lipovitan D Challenge Cup 2025
National Stadium, Tokyo
Lipovitan D Tour 2025.
Saturday 8 November
Ireland vs Japan
Autumn Nations Series
Dublin
Saturday 15 November
Wales vs Japan
Autumn Nations Series
Cardiff
Saturday 22 November
Georgia vs Japan
Venue TBC