Wales 98 Japan 0: Wales recorded the biggest win in their illustrious international history last night as they ran hapless Japan ragged. Captain Colin Charvis led the way, scoring four of his team's 14 tries - a record for a Welsh forward - to help his team end their four-Test autumn series in scintillating style.
Centre Gavin Henson kicked all 14 conversions, another Welsh Test record, with Wales eclipsing their 91-point winning margin against Portugal in a World Cup qualifier 10 years ago, when they triumphed 102-11 in Lisbon.
For Japan, crushed 100-8 by Scotland in Perth earlier this month and defeated away to Romania six days ago, it proved another horribly harsh learning experience.
Wales toyed with their opponents throughout the game. Charvis apart, there was a hat-trick for centre Tom Shanklin, while wing Shane Williams (2), full back Rhys Williams (2), hooker Mefin Davies, scrumhalf Gareth Cooper and prop Gethin Jenkins also touched down.
Henson's 28-point haul helped give Wales an effortless send-off into their next game - an enticing Six Nations Championship opener against England in Cardiff on February 5th.
Amazingly, a crowd of 56,000 witnessed the no-contest, taking Wales' total attendance over four November Tests against Japan, New Zealand, South Africa and Romania to more than 220,000.
The crowd statistics, more than anything, underlined excitement levels surrounding new coach Mike Ruddock's team. England, though, will provide the acid test of any Welsh revival.
Ruddock made several changes following the agonising 26-25 defeat at New Zealand's hands last Saturday. French-based trio Gareth Thomas, Stephen Jones and Gareth Llewellyn all returned to their clubs, but a highly-experienced core to the Welsh side remained.
Ruddock, though, was not prepared for a last-minute switch which saw lock Brent Cockbain suffer a side strain during the warm-up. Cockbain was replaced by Michael Owen, who moved from the back row, and Ryan Jones started at number eight.
SCORERS - Wales Tries: Charvis 4, R Williams 2, Davies, Shanklin 3, Jenkins, Cooper, S Williams 2. Cons: Henson 14.
WALES: R Williams, Luscombe, Henson, Shanklin, S Williams, Sweeney, Cooper, R Jones, Owen, Charvis, D Jones, J Thomas, Jenkins, Davies, D Jones. Replacements: Morgan for Luscombe (59), Phillips for Cooper (71), Popham for R Jones (70), M Williams for D. Jones (59), S Jones for Davies (56), A Jones for D Jones (27). Not Used: Peel.
JAPAN: Japan: Miki, Kubota, Mukoyama, Motoki, Daimon, Yoshida, Ikeda, M. Yamamoto, Yamoaka, Yamamura, Kiso, Kumagai, Mau, Miuchi, Okubo. Replacements: Otao for Miki (29), Tanaka for Ikeda (64), M. Yamamoto for Yamoaka (48), Nishiura for Yamamura (71). Not Used: Kubo, Imari.
Referee: T Henning (South Africa).
