Taine Plumtree has been added to the Wales match-day squad for Saturday’s second and final Test against Japan at Noevir Stadium, Kobe (KO 06.50h BST, live on S4C, Clic & iPlayer).
Head coach Matt Sherratt has made four changes to the starting XV from last weekend’s loss to the Brave Blossoms, with the Scarlets quartet of Blair Murray, Tom Rogers, Johnny Williams and Josh Macleod retaining their place.
Plumtree comes onto the bench to add back-row cover and will be looking to add to his seven Wales caps.
Looking ahead to Saturday Sherratt added: “I think our biggest challenge this week is going to be repeating some of the good and then in that last 20 minutes it’s making our line-out launch more effective so we can get our game on the field. Perhaps being a little bit braver with the ball as well.
“I think atmospherically it’s going to be a great experience for the players and obviously there’s no getting away from the heat.
“The roof’s closed. From experience of the roof being closed in Principality Stadium, the ball can be a little bit greasy.
“It’s going to be hot, maybe a little bit wet, but there’ll be there’ll be some atmosphere because the fans over here love their rugby.”
Wales team v Japan – 2nd Test | Tîm Cymru v Japan
15. Blair Murray (Scarlets – 9 caps); 14. Tom Rogers (Scarlets – 10 caps), 13. Johnny Williams (Scarlets – 8 caps), 12. Ben Thomas (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 13 caps), 11. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 62 caps) – vice captain; 10. Dan Edwards (Ospreys | Gweilch – 2 caps), 9. Kieran Hardy (Ospreys | Gweilch – 24 caps); 1. Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers | Caerlŷr – 55 caps), 2. Dewi Lake (Ospreys | Gweilch – 21 caps) – captain | capten; 3. Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby| Caerfaddon – 7 caps), 4. Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby / Caerloyw – 3 caps), 5. Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 7 caps), 6. Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 6 caps), 7. Josh Macleod (Scarlets – 3 caps), 8. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons | Dreigiau – 58 caps)
Replacements | Eilyddion
16. Liam Belcher (Cardiff Rugby | Caerdydd – 1 cap), 17. Gareth Thomas (Ospreys | Gweilch – 41 caps), 18. Christian Coleman (Dragons | Dreigiau – uncapped | heb gap), 19. James Ratti (Ospreys | Gweilch – 2 caps), 20. Taine Plumtree (Scarlets – 7 caps), 21. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers / Caerlŷr – 28 caps), 22. Reuben Morgan-Williams (Ospreys | Gweilch – uncapped | heb gap), 23. Keelan Giles (Ospreys | Gweilch – uncapped | heb gap)