Japan caught offside in midfield and Wales have an early decision to make.

They turn down the shot at goal - a routine one from a central position - in favour of going for the corner.

Early attacking chance for Wales after a kick over the top forces Japan full-back Yoshitaka Yazaki to clear to just outside the 22... but then Wales dummy at the line-out and waste the opportunity.

Frustrating start.

English referee Matthew Carley blows his whistle and Wales fly-half Dan Edwards get us under way.

Well it would seem that the majority of your are predicting a Japan win this evening.

We'll find out soon enough, kick-off on the way.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Blair Murray was one of Wales' bright sparks in a horrendous 2024-25 but the full-back endured a tough afternoon against Argentina.

The Pumas comprehensively won the aerial battle and that has led to questions about whether the Scarlets man is big enough to be a 15 given that he is 5ft 8ins.

Wales have stuck with Murray, who scored the fourth try on Sunday, against Japan.

"A few months ago people were talking about him as a potential British and Irish Lions full-back," said attack coach Matt Sherratt.

"He is so dangerous in broken field and is an instinctive player, so when he is back to winning the air he will show what he has got with his running game."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales toured Japan last summer and the series ended up 1-1.

The hosts enjoyed a 24-19 comeback win in Kitakyushu before Matt Sherratt's side ended an 18-Test losing streak by winning 31-22 in Kobe.

Can Wales repeat the trick on home soil? Conditions will certainly be more favourable after the heat and humidity of July.

Japan have never won in Wales, losing each of their previous five visits by an average margin of 51 points.

Tests between Wales and Japan

• Wales 55-5 Japan, Cardiff, 16 October 1993
• Wales 57-10 Japan, Bloemfontein, 27 May 1995
• Wales 64-15 Japan, Cardiff, 9 October 1999
• Japan 10-64 Wales, Osaka, 10 June 2001
• Japan 30-53 Wales, Tokyo, 17 June 2001
• Wales 98-0 Japan, Cardiff, 26 November 2004
• Wales 72-18 Japan, Cardiff, 20 September 2007
• Japan 18-22 Wales, Osaka, 8 June 2013
• Japan 23-8 Wales, Tokyo, 15 June 2013
• Wales 33-30 Japan, Cardiff, 19 November 2016
• Japan 24-19 Wales, Kitakyushu, 5 July 2025
• Japan 22-31 Wales, Kobe, 12 July 2025.

James Hook
Former Wales fly-half on BBC Radio Wales

I think in order for Louis Rees-Zammit to get the ball in the right areas today the centres need to step-up.

He wants the ball in space and we need to put him in positions to be able to do that and he can play his best game.

Louis Rees-Zammit came off the bench against Argentina and is brought into the XV this evening at the expense of Tom Rogers.

The wing made his international return against the Pumas to win his 33rd cap after his American football experience following the 2023 World Cup.

"It was a great experience," he said. "I did really miss being able to play at the Principality Stadium in front of our fans.

"It was incredible. You don't really know you've left until you go back. When I came on and heard the crowd - all the support I had, it meant so much to me."

Rees-Zammit will hope to score his 15th Test try this evening - his last was against Georgia at the 2023 World Cup.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales have been forced into a back-row rejig this evening after the loss of captain Jac Morgan.

Aaron Wainwright moves to blind-side flanker, Olly Cracknell comes in at number eight and Alex Mann shifts across to open-side.

The Cardiff forward started there twice in the United Rugby Championship last season but it is his first Test appearance with 7 on his back.

"It's just a number, whatever the coaches ask of me I make sure I give 100% so it doesn't matter to me," said the 23-year-old from Aberdare.

Image source, Getty Images

Wales are fuelled by the desire to win their first game under new head coach Steve Tandy, but as we mentioned there is extra motivation courtesy of the 2027 World Cup draw.

On 3 December, 24 teams will be drawn into six pools of four for the group stage of the tournament in Australia.

The top six sides in the world rankings will be placed in band one for the draw and would therefore avoid playing each other in the pool stage.

The next six sides from seventh to 12th will be drawn in the second band of teams.

It is, therefore, imperative for Wales to stay in the top 12 if they want a more favourable draw.

Wales are currently ranked 12th in the world with Japan just one place below them in 13th, so victory is crucial this weekend for the hosts.

A draw for Japan would see them overtake Tandy's side in the pecking order.

The Cherry Blossoms will also have a further chance to cement a spot in the top dozen when they face 11th-placed Georgia on 22 November.

Wales will be playing the best two sides in the world in the final two weekends when the All Blacks and the Springboks arrive in Cardiff.

Image source, Getty Images

It has been more than six years since Wales' men's rugby and football teams played on the same day.

You've got to go back to 3 October 2019 when Warren Gatland's men secured a 35-13 victory against Uruguay at the 2019 World Cup before Gareth Bale's equaliser earned Ryan Giggs' side a 1-1 draw with Croatia in a Euro 2020 qualifier.

There was a lot riding on those games and the stakes are just as high today:

• A Wales win against Japan will guarantee Tandy's men a top-12 ranking for the World Cup draw on 3 December and end a 10-match losing streak at home.
• A win against Liechtenstein today and North Macedonia on Tuesday would secure Bellamy's side a home semi-final in the World Cup play-off semi-finals next March.

Wales' football side kicked off at 17:00 and you can follow their progress here.

How do you see this one going today?

Thumbs up for a Wales win, thumbs down for a Japan win.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales will badly miss inspirational flanker Jac Morgan after he dislocated his left shoulder against Argentina but they do still have a captain that will lead from the front.

Morgan's Ospreys team-mate Dewi Lake gets the nod as skipper, a job that he carried out in Japan last summer.

“When you see him in and around camp, he’s brilliant," head coach Steve Tandy said about the hooker.

"He’s helping individuals. He drives the team. He sets standards of how we want to train and also off the field.

"He’s an outstanding leader and I think he’ll do an amazing job.”

Eddie Jones has plenty of experience of visiting the Principality Stadium as an opposing head coach with Australia and England.

Today he brings a Japan side who have never won on Welsh soil.

Captain Dewi Lake says Wales must "learn to win" in Cardiff again.

Wales have not won a Test in the capital since beating England in August 2023, a run Lake admits has weighed heavily on the squad.

Wales haven't won at the Principality Stadium since beating England in a warm-up fixture ahead of the 2023 World Cup.

Could that change today?

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Image source, Getty Images

Japan boss Eddie Jones makes two changes to his XV after the 41-10 defeat to Ireland in Dublin.

Jack Cornelsen replaces Ben Gunter at blind-side flanker while Keijiro Tamefusa comes in for Shuhei Takeuchi at tight-head prop.

Japan are without inspirational flanker Michael Leitch as they hunt a statement win on their European tour.

They lost at home to Australia last month before travelling over to face South African in London and then Ireland, who they pushed hard despite the scoreline.

After taking on Wales they tackle Georgia next Saturday.

Japan: Yazaki; Ishida, Riley, Lawrence, Osada; Lee, Saito; Kobayashi, Sato, Tamefusa, Uluiviti, Dearns (capt), Cornelsen, Shimokawa, Makisi.

Replacements: Hirao, Furuhata, Takeuchi, Hockings, Paul, Fukuda, Komura, Ueda.

Image source, Getty Images

Steve Tandy makes four changes to the Wales XV that lost their autumn opener against Argentina.

Wing Louis Rees-Zammit, number eight Olly Cracknell and props Nicky Smith and Archie Griffin come into the starting line-up after being replacements against the Pumas.

Rees-Zammit makes his first Wales start since the 2023 World Cup quarter-final defeat to Argentina.

"He was brilliant last week coming off the bench and was disappointed not to have one or two tries," said Tandy.

"He can produce something and international rugby you need people who can break the game on something really small.

"We're fortunate to have someone like 'Zammo' available to us. Him starting on the weekend is not just exciting for us coaches, but the fans as well."

Wales: Murray; Rees-Zammit, Llewellyn, B Thomas, Adams; Edwards, T Williams; Smith, Lake (capt), Griffin, D Jenkins, Beard, Wainwright, Mann, Cracknell.

Replacements: Belcher, Carre, Assiratti, F Thomas, Plumtree, Hardy, J Evans, Tompkins.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Welcome to the Principality Stadium, will we see the first win of the Steve Tandy era?

Wales head into today's game after opening their autumn campaign with a 52-28 defeat to Argentina. They showed glimpses of real promise with ball in hand, scoring four tries, but they conceded seven to the classy Pumas.

Wales have won just one of their last 20 Tests and have lost their last 10 internationals in Cardiff. That needs to change against Eddie Jones' side in a game that has huge implications for the draw for the 2027 World Cup.

Japan, who pushed Ireland hard last week despite a 41-10 scoreline, would leapfrog Wales with victory or a draw.

So that's the setting for today's clash, now let's take a look at the teams.