Luke Charteris expects stiff challenge from Japan

Wales lock Luke Charteris expects a tough challenge from Japan when the two teams meet each other at Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

Japan have made considerable progress in the last one-year which has seen them climb to the 11th spot in the World Rugby rankings. Since August 2015, they have played 16 games and won 12 out of it including the famous 34-32 win over South Africa in the 2015 World Cup.

After starting the November Test campaign with a defeat to Argentina, Japan bounced back with a 28-22 win over Georgia in Tbilisi and are lined up to take on Wales next.

The last times these two teams met was in June 2013, where the Brave Blossoms registered their maiden victory over Wales with a 23-8 triumph in Tokyo, although the visitors were weakened considerably due to the British and Irish Lions tour.

"You have got to say they (Japan) have gone on again from two or three years ago," Charteris said. "The boys know the challenge that awaits - it will be a tough game again.

"As a squad, we watched their victory over South Africa in the team room, cheering them on.

"The beauty of the World Cup is that you face teams you do not meet very often.

"Probably Scotland were quite lucky to get Japan on a short turnaround (at the World Cup), otherwise that game would have been more interesting.

"We know it will be tough on Saturday, even though they have changed since the World Cup with a new coaching team and the next generation of players. They like to play a high-tempo game and will be different to sides we are used to facing.

"Japan, Romania, Georgia, these are the teams who are as a whole certainly closing the gap between tier two and tier one nations. It is definitely getting a lot smaller."

The Northern Hemisphere teams have got the results in their favour so far with Ireland defeating New Zealand, England beating Springboks and Wales emerging victorious over Argentina.

In the next week, Ireland are lined up for a rematch against the All Blacks apart from Scotland hosting Argentina and Australia taking on France. The 33-year-old believes the gap between the teams are closing on with more exposure.

"Every time you play these teams, I don't think you can say the gap between south and north is any particular thing. It depends on who is playing who.

"There are big gaps in the southern hemisphere between Australia, South Africa and New Zealand - New Zealand are significantly ahead of those two teams - so I think it is the rest of the world trying to catch up to them.

"Ireland have shown it is very do-able, putting a superb performance in, and England have done it now against Australia (in June) and South Africa, and we've had a good win against Argentina.

"It's very hard because you are all at different stages and different points of the season, which does have a bearing on it, but certainly the more you play these teams and the more you play these games, then hopefully the more confident you get and the better you get at it."