Who are the winners & losers from Wales' victory against Japan?

WALES finally ended a dismal losing streak of 10 Test matches at the Principality Stadium but needed a last-gasp penalty from Jarrod Evans to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.

- By STEFFAN THOMAS

Steve Tandy’s side showed character to claim a 24-23 victory after looking dead and buried with five minutes left on the clock.

Winning is the most important thing but this was an abject performance and if Wales put in a similar performance over the next fortnight against New Zealand and South Africa the final score will be beyond embarrassing.

Here are the winners and losers from the weekend’s game.

JARROD EVANS. The Harlequins playmaker was called into action in the 79th minute with Wales staring down the barrel of a shocking defeat in Cardiff.

But after working their way down field they won a penalty out wide.

Up stepped Evans to slot over the match-winning kick. Sign up to Inside Welsh rugby on Substack to get exclusive news stories and insight from behind the scenes in Welsh rugby.

‘That was not an easy kick by any stretch of the imagination and the 29-year-old was under huge pressure to smash the ball between the posts.

But he did as Evans saved Wales from the ignominy of a first-ever home defeat to Japan.

OLLY CRACKNELL. At 31 the Leicester Tigers back rower probably thought his chances of playing Test rugby had passed him by.

But after making his international bow as a replacement in the home defeat to Argentina Cracknell was handed a first Wales start against Japan. While there wasn’t much to choose from, the powerful No 8 was one of Wales’ better players.

Cracknell was Wales’ top carrier with 13 and also finished at the top of the tackle charts with 24.