Wales wing Gareth Thomas could face censure from the Rugby World Cup organisers after lifting his shirt to reveal a "Free Charvis" T-shirt following his try against Japan.
The 14-day suspension of the 6ft 2in flanker Colin Charvis has become something of a cause celebre in the principality. The T-shirt revealed by Thomas showed Charvis looking through the bars of a cell alongside the slogan. Fans carried posters bearing the same image.
David Pickering, the Welsh team manager, at first made light of the Thomas incident, saying it showed the extent of the camaraderie in the Welsh squad and their sense of togetherness.
"It was a bit of humour and that is important," he said. "It was just the lads having a bit of fun and it should be taken in that spirit." Later, with the realisation that Thomas had violated RWC regulations, he took a stronger line, saying the player had been warned about his future conduct and made aware of the regulations. "I thought it was a plain white T-shirt," he added.
Pickering also confirmed that there would be an appeal against the 14-day ban handed down to the flanker following a punch-up with Roberto Grau of Argentina in the opening match of the tournament. Meanwhile, hooker Garin Jenkins cannot wait to take on Samoa - as long as he doesn't have to play as a flanker. Jenkins produced a typically aggressive performance in Wales's second World Cup win at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, helping his side take control up front as they laid the platform for a nine-try feast. But after struggling past Argentina and turning on the style to thrash Japan, the Welsh face the acid test on Thursday.
Mentioning Samoa to a Wales rugby union fan is akin to reminding Scottish soccer supporters of Costa Rica and Peru.
Events at the Cardiff Arms Park in 1991 - when a team then known as Western Samoa battered the stunned, unsuspecting Welsh - hurt the game in Wales a great deal.
Wales, under the guidance of Graham Henry, now have a side to be proud of - but the South Sea Islanders, despite yesterday's loss to Argentina, pose a major threat to Wales. Jenkins, who won his second cap as a replacement on that infamous October day eight years ago, said: "It was a tough game to come on to, especially as I was playing out of position.
"Hopefully I'll be up for selection this week and hopefully not as a flanker - I had to play there because so many players got injured during the game - but as a hooker."
Wales should certainly face a tougher test against Samoa than the one posed by the Japanese.
Neil Jenkins kicked eight conversions and a penalty to draw level with Michael Lynagh at the top of the international rugby union points-scoring table with 911.
Mark Taylor led the rout against Japan by crossing twice, while efforts by Allan Bateman, Rob Howley, Scott Gibbs, Shane Howarth, David Llewellyn and Gareth Thomas - together with a penalty try - piled on the agony for Japan.
Howarth was at his bubbly best, setting up Taylor's first and being involved in the 90 metre move which led to Gibbs grabbing the try of the match before going over himself.
The full back said: "I was pretty happy with my performance but I think we had a poor first half.
"There's still a lot of work to do. If we play like that against Samoa, we'll be three tries down before we know it."
Japan have now been beaten by Wales and Samoa, yesterday's defeat coming hot on the heels of a 43-9 loss to Bryan Williams's men last Sunday.
Andrew McCormick, the Japanese captain, said: "Both teams are very physical and they both like to throw it around.
"I think if they both go into the game with the same attitude that they had when they went into their games with us, it will be a really good game."
Wales: S Howarth: J Jones-Hughes, M Taylor, S Gibbs, A Bateman; N Jenkins, R Howley; P Rogers, G Jenkins, D Young, C Quinnell, M Voyle, M Williams, G Lewis, B Sinkinson. Replacements: G Thomas for Bateman (38), D Llewellyn for Howley (56), A Lewis for Rogers (60), B Evans for Young (74), C Wyatt for Sinkinson (79).
Japan: T Hirao; D Ohata, A McCormick, Y Motoki, P Tuidraki; K Hirose, G Bachop; S Hasegawa, M Kunda, N Nakamura, R Gordon, H Tanuma, G Smith, J Joseph, N Okubo. Replacements: M Sakata for Kunda (41), T Nakamichi for Hasegawa (60), W Murata for Bachop (70), Y Sakuraba for Gordon (77).
Referee: J Dume (France).
