Hear from senior men's head coach Matt Sherratt as he sat down to discuss team selection for the first Test against Japan, which takes place at a sold-out Mikuni World Stadium, Kitakyushu on Saturday 5 July (KO 06.00h BST, live on BBC One Wales and BBC iPlayer). Matt you've selected team for the first Test against Japan. Tell us the rationale behind the 23. “We’ve had a very good build-up in terms of three weeks before we had to select the team. So, the team is based on that really. “We tried to give everyone a fair chance of selection. People have performed over the three weeks, obviously trying to get some combinations together. “One of the key messages was it's going to be a 23-man job. So, we've tried to spread the experience out in terms of getting some experience coming off the bench. “Having the likes of Gareth Thomas coming off the bench, Aaron Wainwright, Rhodri [Williams], Tommy Reffell is going to be massively important for us. Josh Macleod returns for Wales for the first time since the Autumn Nations Series 2022 and Liam Belcher is in line to make his debut. What would you like to say about them? “Something we made a big point of in the first team meeting. There's a number of players who've worked their way back into the squad. “Josh Macleod is an obvious one. He’s struggled with some injuries, had a real rollercoaster over the last three or four years, so him coming back in is massive. “I think you could tell from the players’ reaction when Liam Belcher was selected how much he deserves it. “He's been in the regional game for 10 years. He's changed clubs. He's gone back to university to do an electrician’s degree and then he's managed to work his way into the national squad. So yeah, delighted for Liam. What are you looking to see from the 23 on Saturday? “We've had a really good three weeks training. The physicality and the edge was probably the best I've seen from Six Nations and in this camp. “I think the challenge then, as always, in international rugby is over a short period of time, trying to find some cohesion. “I think an 80-minute performance, that physical edge and making sure that we transfer training into the game is going to be the biggest thing for us. What are you expecting from Japan and what do you think it's going to be like at Mikuni World Stadium on Saturday? “We've seen from just being around Kitakyushu this last week, there seems to be a real affinity between some of the Japanese locals and the Welsh team. Hopefully it will be fantastic on Saturday. “It's going to be humid. It's going to be hot. Japan traditionally play quite a fast brand of rugby, so I think us getting up to speed with that is going to be key. “I think coming away from home in a Test match, you've got to put up with the conditions. “We've prepared really well. Hopefully we'll get good support and get up to speed with the conditions as quickly as possible.”

Shw'mae!

Latest

Newyddion cymraeg diweddaraf

Latest From The Community

Videos

Get to know .. Wales U20