It's a must win game for Wales as they have to overcome Japan and the heat

WHILE the Britsh and Irish Lions are naturally dominating the rugby headlines, from a Welsh perspective there is an even more important occasion this weekend in Kitakyushu, Japan.

- Graham PRICE

It involves 17 games' worth of getting the show back on the road again, after 17 consecutive defeats stretching back to 2023.

This is a must-win game. How many times have we said that over the past couple of years?

The result of this game is even more significant because Japan are just one position behind us in the World Rugby rankings.

The heat and humidity in Kitakyushu and Kobe will give Japan an advantage over Wales. We have been preparing for the brutal conditions with intense fitness sessions in a heat chamber at their training base in the Vale hotel.

However, nothing will replicate the actual conditions.

We should not get involved in a frantic end-to-end rugby contest. Keeping the ball in play for long periods of time is asking for trouble in weather conditions that they are used to and we aren't.

Japan will be using the heat and humidity as a tactical weapon.

They, no doubt, hope that we will run ourselves ragged in the unfamiliar weather conditions.

After 80 minutes the tiredness could cause us to lose our discipline and composure and, consequently, result in us losing control of the game, thus presenting them with match-winning opportunities.

We should aim to control the play. We have good enough players who, if suitably motivated and pointed in the right direction, can control the game.

It may involve kicking the ball off the park rather more often than they normally would but it will give them an opportunity for gain valuable recovery time.

They have to win this game.