Wales started their autumn campaign in fine fashion at Cardiff Arms Park.
Captain and No 8 Siwan Lillicrap opened the scoring against Japan before Jasmine Joyce scored two trademark second-half tries.
Elinor Snowsill kicked a conversion and two penalties for a deserved Welsh success.
Next up is an entirely different challenge with South Africa coming to the Welsh capital.
ICYMI All the tries as #WalesWomen got their autumn campaign off to a positive start against Japan on Sunday.
Wales return to Cardiff Arms Park for their next challenge – South Africa on Saturday 12.15.
Tickets available now https://t.co/4xhFPOMCI6#SistersInArms pic.twitter.com/iboQhHhcAO— Welsh Rugby Union 🏉 (@WelshRugbyUnion) November 8, 2021
“It’s very positive. Firstly, we’re really happy with the performance we put in. We executed what we set out to do which is pleasing and it shows we can build on the performance,” said Cunningham on the Japan win.
“But we have to move on quickly. We reviewed the Japan game on Monday, but we’ve parked that now and all our focus is on South Africa and what we need to take into that game.
“We need to make sure we freshen up because Japan was a tough match.
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“We need to make sure we perform on Saturday. It’s about finetuning. We don’t need to change too much and don’t need to cloud the minds.
“We just need to freshen up and go again.
“It’s going to be exciting. It’s an early kick-off on Saturday so it’s going to be a different preparation, but it’s about getting excited to build on what we’ve done.
“The girls deserved the win against Japan because they’ve put a lot of hard work in. Hopefully we can get across the line on Saturday too.”
Jasmine Joyce searches for a gap against Japan
We reviewed the Japan game on Monday, but we’ve parked that now and all our focus is on South Africa and what we need to take into that game
Wales’ victory came in Cunningham’s first game as head coach and followed the Welsh Rugby Union confirming the first contracts are set to be offered to female players as part of a major investment in the women’s performance programme.
Cunningham added: “South Africa is going to be a good challenge mentally more so than physically.
“It’s about being able to park Japan. We were on a high from Sunday night straight away, but we’ve got to focus and move on quickly.
“Discipline and trying not to concede piggyback penalties is one area for us to improve on. Our breakdown needs finetuning as well so we can make the most of the opportunities we created.
“South Africa are a different team to Japan and kick the ball a lot more so our backfield will have to be aware of that, but it gives us more counterattack opportunities.
“They’re a set-piece team too so they will challenge us up front which we’re looking forward to.
“We will give opportunities. A lot of girls have put their hands up in training as well as in the Japan match.”
South Africa are a different team to Japan and kick the ball a lot more so our backfield will have to be aware of that, but it gives us more counterattack opportunities
