Wales’ massive win sends Japan home empty handed

Wales 98 Japan 0

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, scrum-half 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 RBS 6 Nations Championship opener against world champions England in Cardiff on February 5.

Wales went all-out for the century, but South African referee Tappe Henning's final whistle spared Japan that ultimate embarrassment after Morgan had a try disallowed.

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.

Wales scorers: 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).

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. Att: 56,380

Referee: T Henning (South Africa).