2001 Wales rugby union tour of Japan

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2001 Wales rugby union tour of Japan
ManagerSam Simon
Coach(es)Lynn Howells
Tour captain(s)Andy Moore
Summary
P W D L
Total
05 03 00 02
Test match
02 02 00 00
Opponent
P W D L
 Japan
2 2 0 0

The 2001 Wales rugby union tour of Japan was a series of matches played in June 2001 in Japan by the Wales national rugby union team. With their best players involved in the 2001 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia, the squad featured a blend of youth and experience.[1] Although they won just one of their non-test matches on tour, Wales won both tests against the Japan national team.

Squad

Name Position Club Notes
Kevin Morgan
Full-back
Swansea
Rhys Williams
Full-back
Cardiff
Mark Jones
Wing
Llanelli
Craig Morgan
Wing
Cardiff Withdrew due to knee injury[2]
Gareth Thomas
Wing
Cardiff
Shane Williams
Wing
Neath
Gareth Wyatt
Wing
Pontypridd Injury replacement for Craig Morgan[2]
Allan Bateman
Centre
Northampton Withdrew due to ankle injury
Adrian Durston
Centre
Bridgend
Stephen Jones
Centre
Llanelli
Jason Jones-Hughes
Centre
Newport Withdrew due to knee injury[3]
Jamie Robinson
Centre
Cardiff
Tom Shanklin
Centre
Saracens
Gavin Henson
Fly-half
Swansea
Lee Jarvis
Fly-half
Pontypridd
Gareth Cooper
Scrum-half
Bath
Dwayne Peel
Scrum-half
Llanelli
Ryan Powell
Scrum-half
Cardiff
Chris Anthony
Prop
Newport
Phil Booth
Prop
Llanelli
Ben Evans
Prop
Swansea
Ceri Jones
Prop
Newport
Duncan Jones
Prop
Neath
Iestyn Thomas
Prop
Ebbw Vale
Steve Jones
Hooker
Neath
Andrew Lewis
Hooker
Cardiff
Saul Nelson
Hooker
Bristol
Ian Gough
Lock
Newport Withdrew due to shoulder injury
Adam Jones
Lock
Cardiff
Deiniol Jones
Lock
Ebbw Vale Withdrew due to shoulder injury[4]
Andy Moore (captain)
Lock
Swansea
Craig Quinnell
Lock
Cardiff
Chris Stephens
Lock
Bridgend
Nathan Budgett
Back row
Ebbw Vale
Geraint Lewis
Back row
Swansea
Andy Lloyd
Back row
Bath
Michael Owen
Back row
Pontypridd
Alix Popham
Back row
Newport
Robin Sowden-Taylor
Back row
Cardiff
Gavin Thomas
Back row
Bath

Results

Scores and results list Wales' points tally first.

Opponent For Against Date Venue Status
Barbarians 38 40 20 May 2001 Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Pre-tour match
Suntory 41 45 3 June 2001 Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo Tour match
Japan Select XV
32 22 6 June 2001 Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Osaka Tour match
Japan 64 10 10 June 2001 Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Osaka Test match
Pacific Barbarians 16 36 13 June 2001 Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo Tour match[5]
Japan 53 30 17 June 2001 Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo Test match

Wales v Barbarians

Before embarking on their tour, Wales played an uncapped match against the Barbarians, the first match of three for the Barbarians on their own tour of Great Britain.[6] Much of the discussion regarding Wales' team selection for the match centred around fly-half Gavin Henson, who at 19 years and 108 days, would be the youngest Wales player to appear at the position since Llewellyn Lloyd in 1896.[7] Henson ultimately started the game on the bench, as coach Graham Henry preferred Neil Jenkins, one of eight Wales players in the team who were due to join the British & Irish Lions on their tour to Australia later in the summer.[8] Shortly before the game, the Welsh Rugby Union decided to downgrade it from fully-capped to uncapped.[9]

The Barbarians held a 14–7 lead at half-time, thanks to tries from Dan Luger and Joeli Vidiri, either side of one from Jenkins. Wales thought Shane Williams had levelled the scores with a try under the posts just before the break, but it was ruled out for a forward pass in the build-up. After the interval, Kevin Morgan scored a pair of tries for the home side, one converted by Jenkins and the other by Stephen Jones, to put them 21–14 up. Substitute winger Friedrich Lombard responded for the Barbarians, but Braam van Straaten missed the conversion to leave them two points behind. Williams did score a try shortly afterwards, with Jones converting to put Wales 28–19 up. The Barbarians' replacement hooker Naka Drotské cut the deficit to two points again with a converted try, but Craig Quinnell restored Wales' nine-point margin soon after. As the game entered the final minutes, Percy Montgomery scored a try for the Barbarians, again converted by Van Straaten, only for Stephen Jones to kick a penalty moments later, putting Wales five points up shortly before the 80-minute mark; however, in the third minute of injury time, Lombard scored his second try of the game to level the scores, and Van Straaten kicked the conversion to give the Barbarians a 40–38 win.[10]

FB 15 Kevin Morgan
RW 14 Mark Jones
OC 13 Mark Taylor downward-facing red arrow
IC 12 Stephen Jones
LW 11 Shane Williams
FH 10 Neil Jenkins downward-facing red arrow
SH 9 Rob Howley downward-facing red arrow
N8 8 Geraint Lewis
OF 7 Martyn Williams downward-facing red arrow
BF 6 Colin Charvis downward-facing red arrow
RL 5 Andy Moore
LL 4 Craig Quinnell
TP 3 Dai Young (c) downward-facing red arrow
HK 2 Robin McBryde downward-facing red arrow
LP 1 Iestyn Thomas
Replacements:
HK Andrew Lewis upward-facing green arrow
PR Darren Morris upward-facing green arrow
FL Nathan Budgett upward-facing green arrow
FL Gavin Thomas upward-facing green arrow
SH Gareth Cooper upward-facing green arrow
FH Gavin Henson upward-facing green arrow
CE Gareth Thomas upward-facing green arrow
Coach:
New Zealand Graham Henry
FB 15 South Africa Percy Montgomery
RW 14 England Dan Luger
OC 13 Australia Jason Little downward-facing red arrow
IC 12 Ireland Kevin Maggs
LW 11 New Zealand Joeli Vidiri downward-facing red arrow
FH 10 South Africa Braam van Straaten
SH 9 South Africa Joost van der Westhuizen downward-facing red arrow
N8 8 South Africa Gary Teichmann (c)
OF 7 New Zealand Josh Kronfeld
BF 6 England Ben Clarke
RL 5 New Zealand Ian Jones downward-facing red arrow
LL 4 Australia Tom Bowman
TP 3 New Zealand Craig Dowd
HK 2 Samoa Trevor Leota downward-facing red arrow
LP 1 South Africa Garry Pagel
Replacements:
HK South Africa Naka Drotské upward-facing green arrow
PR South Africa Adrian Garvey
LK New Zealand Robin Brooke upward-facing green arrow
N8 Samoa Pat Lam
SH England Andy Gomarsall upward-facing green arrow
CE Australia Tim Horan upward-facing green arrow
WG South Africa Friederick Lombard upward-facing green arrow
Coach:
Australia Bob Dwyer

Suntory v Wales

Wales' opening tour match was against Japanese league champions Suntory, the first time a Japanese club side had faced a touring international team.[11] Taking over as coach from Graham Henry, who was coaching the British & Irish Lions in Australia, Lynn Howells named nine full internationals in the Wales team, including Stephen Jones, who was playing out of position at inside centre to accommodate Henson at fly-half. Jones captained the team in the absence of tour captain Andy Moore, who was rested. Cardiff flanker Robin Sowden-Taylor was picked to start despite not having played a senior match at club level;[12] meanwhile, lock Craig Quinnell was picked to start the match, but he pulled out due to injury and was replaced by Adam Jones.[13] Despite wing Craig Morgan suffering a knee injury in the 17th minute that ultimately ruled him out of the rest of the tour,[2] Wales held a 21–10 lead at half-time; however, four second-half tries from Suntory, including a last-minute winner, saw them come from behind to claim a 45–41 victory.[14] Howells put the defeat down to fatigue brought about by the high temperatures, and a lack of control once they took a big lead.[15] Centre Jamie Robinson also suffered an injury during the match, but it was deemed minor and he remained on tour.[2]

3 June 2001
14:00
Suntory45–41 Wales
Try: Sawaki (2)
Kurihara
Uluinayau
Onozawa
Hojo
Con: Kurihara (6)
Pen: Kurihara
ReportTry: A. Jones
Stephen Jones (2)
J. Robinson (2)
Con: Stephen Jones (5)
Pen: Stephen Jones (2)
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo
Attendance: 13,000
Referee: Shinsuke Shimoi (Japan)

Japan Select XV v Wales

Lynn Howells changed all 15 players in his starting line-up for the match against the Japan Select XV at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, and hailed the experience brought by the additions of centre Allan Bateman and lock Andy Moore for a match against a side including several foreign players;[16] however, Bateman suffered an early ankle injury and although he was able to continue until half-time, he was taken off during the break and ultimately ruled out of the rest of the tour.[17] The Japan Select XV scored the first try of the game, Jun Akune putting them 7–0 up after the conversion by Tanaka. Wales equalised through Adrian Durston's try, converted by Lee Jarvis, but a penalty from Tanaka put the Japan Select XV back in front. Jarvis put Wales 13–10 up as the interval approached, thanks to a pair of penalties, but a try from Tomokazu Yamauchi on the stroke of half-time put the home side 15–13 up at the change of ends. Within two minutes of the restart, Shane Williams gave Wales the lead again, his try again converted by Jarvis, who added a penalty shortly after. Williams then scored his second try of the match, just over 10 minutes into the second half, and Jarvis extended the margin to 15 points with the conversion. He scored a fourth penalty as the match entered the final 10 minutes to make the score 33–15, but the Japan Select XV scored a consolation try – a second for Yamauchi – to make the final score 33–22.[18][19]

6 June 2001
Japan Select XV22–33 Wales
Try: Akune
Yamauchi (2)
Con: Tanaka
Tachikawa
Pen: Tanaka
ReportTry: Durston
S. Williams (2)
Con: Jarvis (3)
Pen: Jarvis (4)
Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Osaka

First test: Japan v Wales

Wales' first test against Japan was their 500th international match. Coach Lyn Howells selected a young team with an average age of 24, giving debuts to centre

Japan Rugby Union and some of their clubs.[21] Gareth Thomas scored the opening try for Wales after just four minutes, and Mark Jones crossed soon after. Kevin Morgan added another try, followed by scores from Lloyd and Shane Williams (2) before Morgan had his second of the game, and Durston scored Wales' eighth of the game before the end of the first half. Japan scored two tries in the second half, but they proved mere consolation as Williams added to his first-half double with two more, equalling the national record for the most tries by an individual in a single game.[22][23] Captain Andy Moore came off with a strained groin before the end of the first half, but he praised the team's performance, particularly in the first half.[24]

10 June 2001
Japan 10–64 Wales
Try: Vatuvei 53' m
Ito 62' m
ReportTry: Gar. Thomas 4' c
M. Jones 7' c
Morgan (2) 13' c, 22' m
Lloyd 15' c
S. Williams (4) 17' m, 37' c, 48' c, 66' m
Durston 40' c
Con: Stephen Jones (7)
Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Osaka
Attendance: 23,000
Referee: Rob Dickson (Scotland)
FB 15 Tsutomu Matsuda downward-facing red arrow 15'
RW 14 Toru Kurihara
OC 13 Yukio Motoki
IC 12 Nataniela Oto
LW 11 Patiliai Tuidraki downward-facing red arrow 80+3'
FH 10 Shotaro Onishi downward-facing red arrow 67'
SH 9 Wataru Murata downward-facing red arrow 67'
N8 8 Yuya Saito
OF 7 Hiroshi Sugawara downward-facing red arrow 63'
BF 6 Takeomi Ito downward-facing red arrow 80+3'
RL 5 Hiroyuki Tanuma
LL 4 Luatangi Vatuvei
TP 3 Masahiko Toyoyama
HK 2 Masaaki Sakata
LP 1 Shin Hasegawa
Replacements:
PR 16 Ryō Yamamura
PR 17 Akihito Kato upward-facing green arrow 80+3'
FL 18 Koichi Kubo upward-facing green arrow 80+3'
FL 19 Eiji Yamamoto upward-facing green arrow 63'
SH 20 Yuji Sonoda upward-facing green arrow 67'
FH 21 Kensuke Iwabuchi upward-facing green arrow 15'
CE 22 Hideki Nanba upward-facing green arrow 67'
Coach:
Japan Shogo Mukai
FB 15 Kevin Morgan downward-facing red arrow 60'
RW 14 Mark Jones
OC 13 Gareth Thomas downward-facing red arrow 75'
IC 12 Adrian Durston
LW 11 Shane Williams
FH 10 Stephen Jones
SH 9 Gareth Cooper
N8 8 Geraint Lewis
OF 7 Gavin Thomas
BF 6 Andy Lloyd downward-facing red arrow 40'
RL 5 Andy Moore downward-facing red arrow 39'
LL 4 Craig Quinnell
TP 3 Chris Anthony downward-facing red arrow 68'
HK 2 Andrew Lewis downward-facing red arrow 67'
LP 1 Iestyn Thomas
Replacements:
HK 16 Steve Jones upward-facing green arrow 67'
PR 17 Ben Evans upward-facing green arrow 68'
FL 18 Nathan Budgett upward-facing green arrow 39'
FL 19 Jamie Ringer upward-facing green arrow 40'
SH 20 Dwayne Peel
FH 21 Gavin Henson upward-facing green arrow 60'
CE 22 Jamie Robinson upward-facing green arrow 75'
Coach:
Wales Lynn Howells

Assistant referees:
Kelvin Deaker (

New Zealand
)
Andrew Cole (Australia)
Reserve officials:
Hideomi Miyahara (Japan)
Taizo Hirabayashi (Japan)

Pacific Barbarians v Wales

Wales made 14 changes from the team that beat Japan three days earlier; Mark Jones was the only survivor, switching from the right wing to the left. The inexperienced side conceded two tries in the first seven minutes, but a try from Mark Jones helped them recover to trail 17–16 at half-time; however, Wales were kept scoreless in the second half. Captain Chris Stephens was sin-binned for throwing a punch, and the Pacific Barbarians scored two more tries, as well as three more penalties, giving them a 36–16 win.[25] Towards the end of the game, Mark Jones was stretchered off with knee ligament damage, putting an end to his tour.[26] Stephens was criticised after the game for picking up a yellow card for punching; his selection as captain had already come under scrutiny before the game, having been fined £2,000 for punching Cross Keys player Ioan Bebb in the first game of the previous season, causing an eye injury that ended Bebb's career.[27]

13 June 2001
Pacific Barbarians36–16 Wales
Try: Washington
Little
Mafileo
Byers
Con: Cashmore (2)
Pen: Cashmore (4)
ReportTry: M. Jones
Con: Jarvis
Pen: Jarvis
Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo
Referee: Andrew Jones (Australia)

Second test: Japan v Wales

Despite his yellow card in the midweek match against the Pacific Barbarians, Chris Stephens was named on the bench for the second test against Japan. In the starting line-up, Wales made two changes from the first test; Tom Shanklin was named on the wing to make his test debut in place of the injured Mark Jones, while Nathan Budgett was named in the back row in place of Andy Lloyd.[28] Wales held a 19–3 lead after half an hour, thanks to a try from Gavin Thomas and two from Gareth Thomas, but two quick tries and a penalty for Japan put the home side 20–19 up at half-time. After the break, Wales scored four tries in the first 20 minutes; Gavin Thomas opened the scoring with his second try of the game, before Shane Williams scored his seventh try of the tour, followed by two in two minutes from debutant Shanklin. Scrum-half Dwayne Peel came on to make his test debut in the 73rd minute, shortly before Gareth Thomas completed his hat-trick. Following a consolation score from Hirotoki Onozawa, fellow substitute Jamie Robinson scored another try with the final play of the game, giving Wales a 53–30 win and a 2–0 victory in the test series.[29]

17 June 2001
Japan 30–53 Wales
Try: Kubo 33' c
Masuho 36' c
Onozawa 79' c
Con: Kurihara (2/2)
Iwabuchi
Pen: Kurihara (3) 6', 40+4', 47'
ReportTry: Gav. Thomas (2) 16' m, 44' m
Gar. Thomas (3) 22' c, 26' c, 76' c
S. Williams 56' c
Shanklin (2) 57' m, 59' m
J. Robinson 80+3' m
Con: Stephen Jones (3/8)
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo
Attendance: 23,000
Referee: Kelvin Deaker (New Zealand)
FB 15 Hirotoki Onozawa
RW 14 Toru Kurihara
OC 13 Hideki Nanba
IC 12 Yukio Motoki
LW 11 Terunori Masuho downward-facing red arrow 61'
FH 10 Kensuke Iwabuchi
SH 9 Wataru Murata
N8 8 Yuya Saito downward-facing red arrow 61'
OF 7 Kazuya Koizumi
BF 6 Koichi Kubo
RL 5 Hiroyuki Tanuma downward-facing red arrow 79'
LL 4 Luatangi Vatuvei
TP 3 Masahiko Toyoyama red cross icon 62' to 69'
HK 2 Masaaki Sakata (c)
LP 1 Shin Hasegawa
Replacements:
PR 16 Kenichi Takayanagi
PR 17 Ryō Yamamura upward-facing green arrow 62' downward-facing red arrow 69'
LK 18 Jun Akune upward-facing green arrow 79'
FL 19 Takeomi Ito upward-facing green arrow 61'
SH 20 Sinichi Tsukida
WG 21 Nataniela Oto
WG 22 Patiliai Tuidraki upward-facing green arrow 61'
Coach:
Japan Shogo Mukai
FB 15 Kevin Morgan
RW 14 Tom Shanklin downward-facing red arrow 70'
OC 13 Gareth Thomas
IC 12 Adrian Durston
LW 11 Shane Williams
FH 10 Stephen Jones
SH 9 Gareth Cooper downward-facing red arrow 73'
N8 8 Geraint Lewis
OF 7 Gavin Thomas
BF 6 Nathan Budgett downward-facing red arrow 64'
RL 5 Andy Moore (c)
LL 4 Craig Quinnell downward-facing red arrow 73'
TP 3 Chris Anthony
HK 2 Andrew Lewis
LP 1 Iestyn Thomas
Replacements:
HK 16 Steve Jones
PR 17 Ben Evans
LK 18 Chris Stephens upward-facing green arrow 73'
FL 19 Jamie Ringer upward-facing green arrow 64'
SH 20 Dwayne Peel upward-facing green arrow 73'
FH 21 Gavin Henson
CE 22 Jamie Robinson upward-facing green arrow 70'
Coach:
Wales Lynn Howells

Assistant referees:
Rob Dickson (Scotland)
Andrew Cole (

Australia
)
Reserve officials:
Hideomi Miyahara (Japan)
Taizo Hirabayashi (Japan)

References

  1. ^ "Gibbs out of Wales touring squad". The Telegraph. 2 May 2001. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d "Morgan pulls out of tour". BBC Sport. 5 June 2001. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  3. ^ "Jones-Hughes out of Wales tour". South Wales Argus. 7 September 2001. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  4. ^ "Warlow and Jones shoulder to shoulder". South Wales Echo. 26 October 2001. Retrieved 1 March 2023 – via The Free Library.
  5. ^ "Wales left battered and bruised". BBC Sport. 13 June 2001. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  6. ^ "Lomu lines up for Baa-Baas". BBC Sport. 9 May 2001. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  7. ^ "Teenager Henson to make history". BBC Sport. 15 May 2001. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  8. ^ "Lions start for Wales". BBC Sport. 17 May 2001. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  9. ^ "Fly-halves take centre stage". BBC Sport. 20 May 2001. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Baa-Baas win thriller". BBC Sport. 20 May 2001. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
  11. ^ "Japan warning to Wales". BBC Sport. 1 June 2001. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Jones to captain Wales". BBC Sport. 30 May 2001. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  13. ^ "Quinnell suffers injury setback". BBC Sport. 1 June 2001. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  14. ^ "Red-faced Wales slump to tour defeat". BBC Sport. 3 June 2001. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  15. ^ "Howells searches for answers". BBC Sport. 3 June 2001. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  16. ^ "Howells expects tough test". BBC Sport. 5 June 2001. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  17. ^ "Injury ends Bateman's tour". BBC Sport. 6 June 2001. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  18. ^ "Williams double lifts Wales". ESPN. ESPN Enterprises. 6 June 2001. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  19. ^ "Williams restores Welsh pride". BBC Sport. 6 June 2001. Retrieved 22 May 2023.
  20. ^ "Trio claim first Welsh caps". BBC Sport. 9 June 2001. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  21. ^ "Moore anxious ahead of first Test". BBC Sport. 8 June 2001. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  22. ^ "Wales inspired by Williams". BBC Sport. 10 June 2001. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  23. ^ "Test Match No. 171: Wales' second visit to Japan, game 3". ADEAC. 10 June 2001. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  24. ^ "Moore the merrier". BBC Sport. 10 June 2001. Retrieved 3 August 2023.
  25. ^ "Wales left battered and bruised". BBC Sport. 13 June 2001. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  26. ^ "Howells upbeat despite defeat". BBC Sport. 13 June 2001. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  27. ^ "Hall criticises sin-binned Stephens". BBC Sport. 13 June 2001. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  28. ^ "Stephens in for second Test". BBC Sport. 15 June 2001. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
  29. ^ "Test Match No. 172: Wales' second visit to Japan, game 5". ADEAC. 17 June 2001. Retrieved 2 September 2023.