Sherratt concerned by 'greasy ball' more than Japanese heat

MATT SHERRATT says he is more concerned by the prospect of a greasy match ball than the sweltering conditions facing Wales in Japan.

- By PHIL BLANCHE

The temperature is expected to be around 30 degrees Celsius when Wales kick off at 2pm local time in Kitakyushu tomorrow morning attempting to end a run of 17 consecutive Test defeats.

It will feel a lot more when high humidity is factored in and the Wales squad, who used a heat chamber at home ahead of the two-Test series, have turned to ice baths, ice towels and cold flannel hats since arriving in Japan.

"I didn’t go in the heat chamber - it was too hot," said interim head coach Sherratt, who has made made 11 changes from the side hammered by England in the Six Nations three months ago.

"But we've done everything we can to prepare the players for this. Players weren't hugely excited about the heat chamber in Cardiff, but they worked really hard.