Jarrod Evans’ last-gasp penalty rescues Wales from loss to Japan

A Wales crowd came away with the pride of a win at home for the first time in more than two years as the hosts beat Japan, but the overriding feeling was of relief. The Wales performance was miles off of what is expected. Sloppy attack, squandered opportunities and a 20-minute red card for Josh Adams almost gifted the win but that will not be remembered in years to come, what will be is Jarrod Evans.

It was his last-play-of-the-game penalty that won the game and the roar that followed has to be up there with one of the loudest this stadium has heard. It was the replacement’s first kick of the game and he had nerves of steel to seal the victory.

It was not just the losing record in Cardiff that caused heightened scrutiny, if Wales had lost the visitors would leapfrog them in the world rankings. That would have put Wales on the more difficult side of the Rugby World Cup draw, on 3 December, as they would have dropped to 13th. So this game was a must-win but they had to do it with their captain, Jac Morgan, who was ruled out with a dislocated shoulder.

Wales were bolstered by Louis Rees-Zammit, who made his first start and scored his first international try since returning to rugby. As the teams were read out his name got the loudest cheers and to no surprise after his appearance off the bench against Argentina added a ferocious spark to the attack.

The hope of Wales finally winning at home was palpable before kick-off. The lights went down, but a red undertone remained with a pyrotechnics show making the Principality feel like a cauldron. Last weekend the feeling had not been this palpable.

A cacophony of noise flooded the stadium as Dan Edwards darted over, but thanks to the skill of Japan’s Faulua Makisi it was the visitors next putting pressure on. The No 8 was instrumental in two dangerous attacks that led to a try by Kippei Ishida. The visitors were the better side in the first half, but things took a turn as they were shown two cards.

Epineri Uluiviti was sent to the sin-bin for an off-the-ball tackle on Alex Mann and a bunker-reviewed yellow was shown to Makisi for a dangerous tackle on Edwards. Despite being depleted, Japan did not concede and then Wales had their own card to deal with as Josh Adams’s illegal clear-out was upgraded to a red card after a bunker review.

The back and forth nature of the encounter was nail-biting, with the lead switching every few minutes. But it was Evans’ penalty that sealed the result.

Wales hold on to 12th in the world and will look to start a winning home run. But with two huge challenges coming against New Zealand and South Africa, the wait for another victory may be a long one.