Time to put faith in Sam in the fight for No.10

MY very first tour with Wales was to Japan back in September 1974, where we spent a week before in Hong Kong getting used to the climate and removing jet lag.

- Graham Price

But it seems this time around they are manufacturing the circumstances from home.

Back in those days, the amateur advice we were given was to do any exercise in our bathrooms with every opening shut and our hot taps on, so it was like a sauna.

Hopefully, the advice the new generation are getting is much better as high-level professionals.

They have certainly been put through their paces by the look of things.

This tour will be all about fitness as Eddie Jones’ Japan side will be able to get around the pitch and be looking to play fast and expansive in the heat to tire and test the Welsh.

Jones (circled, above) will also be wanting revenge as the last time a Welsh side played one of his sides he was out of a job not long after. That was in the World Cup, where Wales demolished Australia in the World Cup pool stages.

Looking at the squad that has been announced, 20 players have not yet hit double digits in a Wales jersey. That is an interesting decision by interim head coach Matt Sherratt considering they are facing a team just one place behind them in the global rankings and are only on a two-match tour.