Wales need to attack from the outset

LONDON – Wales need to attack from the outset in their World Cup Pool B match against Japan tonight after faltering first-half performances in their opening two games.

Against Canada, Wales trailed 12-9 at the interval before surging to a 42-17 victory. It was a similar story against Australia on Saturday, when they succumbed 32-20 despite dominating the second 40 minutes.The Welsh should overcome Japan and Fiji on the way to a likely quarter-final against South Africa.But if they are to beat the Springboks they must trust their attacking instincts.Wales coach Gareth Jenkins has made 10 changes for the Japan match, with James Hook included in the centres, for a match which should not pose any problems.Wales have won each of their 10 encounters, the last one a 98-0 drubbing in November 2004.Duncan Jones, Rhys Thomas and Chris Horsman form a new front row, lock Will James will make his World Cup debut and Alix Popham starts at number eight.Wing Shane Williams, who will earn his 50th cap, will lead the team on to the field.”It’s been an extra bonus to get my 50th cap at home,” he said.”Japan certainly is a game which suits me.Both sides play an open style of game.”Japan go into the match on the back of their thrilling clash with Fiji last week where they picked up a bonus point for losing by less than seven points and held the lead several times in the 35-31 defeat.With a vocal 70,000 home crowd expected in Cardiff, the Cherry Blossoms have added an extra element to their training over recent days, playing loud Welsh chanting while they practise.”It’s a tactic I used in Italy,” said Japan coach John Kirwan.”A few of the boys are having trouble communicating with the noise of the crowd, so we are trying to get them used to it.”Tomorrow we will have crowd noises and Welsh chanting playing really loud,” he said before one training session.Lineups: Wales: Kevin Morgan, Dafydd James, Jamie Robinson, James Hook, Shane Williams, Stephen Jones (captain), Michael Phillips; Duncan Jones, Rhys Thomas, Chris Horsman, Will James, Alun-Wyn Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Colin Charvis, Alix Popham.Replacements: Huw Bennett, Gethin Jenkins, Ian Evans, Martyn Williams, Gareth Cooper, Ceri Sweeney, Tom Shanklin.Japan: Christian Loamanu, Kosuke Endo, Yuta Imamura, Shotaro Onishi, Hirotoki Onozawa, Bryce Robins, Tomoki Yoshida; Tatsukichi Nishiura, Yuji Matsubara, Tomokazu Soma, Hitoshi Ono, Luke Thompson, Hare Makiri, Philip O’Reilly, Takuro Miuchi (captain).Replacements: Taku Inokuchi, Ryo Yamamura, Takanori Kumagae, Yasunori Watanabe, Chulwon Kim, Koji Taira, Tatsuya Kusumi.Nampa-ReutersIt was a similar story against Australia on Saturday, when they succumbed 32-20 despite dominating the second 40 minutes.The Welsh should overcome Japan and Fiji on the way to a likely quarter-final against South Africa.But if they are to beat the Springboks they must trust their attacking instincts.Wales coach Gareth Jenkins has made 10 changes for the Japan match, with James Hook included in the centres, for a match which should not pose any problems.Wales have won each of their 10 encounters, the last one a 98-0 drubbing in November 2004.Duncan Jones, Rhys Thomas and Chris Horsman form a new front row, lock Will James will make his World Cup debut and Alix Popham starts at number eight.Wing Shane Williams, who will earn his 50th cap, will lead the team on to the field.”It’s been an extra bonus to get my 50th cap at home,” he said.”Japan certainly is a game which suits me.Both sides play an open style of game.”Japan go into the match on the back of their thrilling clash with Fiji last week where they picked up a bonus point for losing by less than seven points and held the lead several times in the 35-31 defeat.With a vocal 70,000 home crowd expected in Cardiff, the Cherry Blossoms have added an extra element to their training over recent days, playing loud Welsh chanting while they practise.”It’s a tactic I used in Italy,” said Japan coach John Kirwan.”A few of the boys are having trouble communicating with the noise of the crowd, so we are trying to get them used to it.”Tomorrow we will have crowd noises and Welsh chanting playing really loud,” he said before one training session.Lineups: Wales: Kevin Morgan, Dafydd James, Jamie Robinson, James Hook, Shane Williams, Stephen Jones (captain), Michael Phillips; Duncan Jones, Rhys Thomas, Chris Horsman, Will James, Alun-Wyn Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Colin Charvis, Alix Popham.Replacements: Huw Bennett, Gethin Jenkins, Ian Evans, Martyn Williams, Gareth Cooper, Ceri Sweeney, Tom Shanklin.Japan: Christian Loamanu, Kosuke Endo, Yuta Imamura, Shotaro Onishi, Hirotoki Onozawa, Bryce Robins, Tomoki Yoshida; Tatsukichi Nishiura, Yuji Matsubara, Tomokazu Soma, Hitoshi Ono, Luke Thompson, Hare Makiri, Philip O’Reilly, Takuro Miuchi (captain).Replacements: Taku Inokuchi, Ryo Yamamura, Takanori Kumagae, Yasunori Watanabe, Chulwon Kim, Koji Taira, Tatsuya Kusumi.Nampa-Reuters