Lake is the only member of the front row to retain their shirt from the Argentina defeat, with props Nicky Smith and Archie Griffin recalled to form the same trio that started the second Test in Kobe this summer.
Locks Dafydd Jenkins and Adam Beard continue their partnership in the second row.
The back row sees a reshuffle in the absence of injured captain Jac Morgan. Aaron Wainwright has overcome a knock to start at blindside flanker with Alex Mann at openside flanker, whilst Olly Cracknell, who became the 1,216th Wales men’s international last weekend, comes in at number eight.
Midfield duties remain in the hands of Max Llewellyn and Ben Thomas, whilst the half back pairing of Tomas Williams and Dan Edwards continue at Scrum-half and fly-half respectively.
There is one change to the Wales back line as Louis Rees-Zammit is preferred to Tom Rogers on the right wing, having made his first Wales appearance since the 2023 Rugby World Cup last Sunday. Josh Adams will again play on the left, with Blair Murray at full back.
Among the Wales replacements Liam Belcher, Rhys Carré, Keiron Assiratti, Freddie Thomas and Taine Plumtree are the forward cover for this match. Kieran Hardy, Jarrod Evans and Nick Tompkins are the back-line cover.
Speaking to the media about his selection, head coach Steve Tandy said:
“The props started the game really well [last week] and played 45 minutes. We were always planning to rotate those around after the six-day turnaround.
“Then there’s a reshuffle in the back row: Alex Mann goes to seven. We feel he’s got all the qualities to play six or seven.
“Some of his attacking ability you’ve seen on the weekend, and his defensive energy was outstanding. Then, bringing Olly Cracknell in at number eight and moving Aaron Wainwright to six gives us a really good balance in the back row.
“Louis Rees-Zammit comes in on the wing. He played a good few minutes last weekend and we feel he’s ready to return to the starting line-up.
“I think we’ve definitely seen lots of how we want to play against Argentina. There was a lot to be pleased about – our attack, I thought, was excellent and I saw a lot of physicality – but there’s lots to improve. So that’s what we’ve been focusing on. We’re looking to build on the first performance into this weekend.”
On Lake, he said: “When you see him in and around camp, he’s brilliant. He’s helping individuals. He drives the team. He sets standards of how we want to train, and also off the field. He’s an outstanding leader and I think he’ll do an amazing job.”
Wales XV to face Japan :
Murray; Rees-Zammit, Llewellyn, B Thomas, Adams; Edwards, T Williams; Smith, Lake (captain), Griffin, D Jenkins, Beard, Wainwright, Mann, Cracknell.
Replacements:
Belcher, Carre, Assiratti, F Thomas, Plumtree, Hardy, J Evans, Tompkins.
[Lead image: Welsh Rugby Union]
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