Wales v Japan - Match Preview
Liam Williams will be hoping to impress at full-back
©PA
Let us take a look on the few of the key points ahead of Wales' home clash against Japan in Cardiff on Saturday.
WILL TEENAGE SENSATION KEELAN GILES BLAST OUT OF THE BLOCKS?
Giles is not 19 until January, but he has already been compared with Wales' record international try scorer Shane Williams in terms of the searing pace and dazzling footwork that he possesses. The uncapped Ospreys wing, who has scored eight tries in five games this season, should be given a run at some point off the Wales replacements' bench against Japan, and if he gets the ball in space, then expect fireworks. Talk emanating from Wales' training pitch this week has been about a special talent excelling in the environment. He is under starter's orders.
LIAM WILLIAMS' APPEARANCE AT FULL-BACK FOR WALES SHOULD INTEREST BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS OBSERVERS
Full-back is in-form Williams' preferred position, and he has swapped roles with Leigh Halfpenny this weekend as the latter starts on the wing for the first time in Wales colours since the 2011 World Cup. Williams was superb against Argentina last weekend, and if he continues to display game-breaking prowess throughout this season that has become his trademark, then he will surely be a major full-back contender for next summer's Lions Test series against world champions New Zealand.
HISTORY SUGGESTS A COMPREHENSIVE WALES VICTORY
Japan have played Wales on four previous occasions in Cardiff - and conceded an average of 72 points a time. They were magnificent at last year's World Cup, famously beating South Africa in Brighton during the Eddie Jones coaching era. Jones is now doing big things with England, and Japan are in the hands of former New Zealand international back-row forward Jamie Joseph. They were comprehensively beaten at home by Argentina a fortnight ago, but responded strongly to defeat Georgia in Tbilisi last weekend. This is a rebuilding phase for Japan at Test level, and if Wales hit their straps, it could be another sizeable home win.
