Wales’ defence coach Peter Murchie is not holding back, demanding a “vast improvement” in his squad’s defensive game as they get ready to restart their Nations Championship run this Saturday against Japan. After missing over 100 tackles and giving up 16 tries across three games this July, Murchie made it crystal clear he was not happy with what he saw.
The Defence Is Not Cutting It
It’s Murchie’s second campaign in charge of the defence, having joined Steve Tandy’s staff from the Kobelco Kobe Steelers. But the numbers from July’s matches tell a harsh story. Wales managed a win against Fiji in Cardiff, but then dropped games to Argentina and South Africa. Missing more than a hundred tackles? Sixteen tries conceded? That’s just not good enough, and Murchie knows it. He said directly, “From my side in the summer, we can be much better. I wasn’t happy with the defence overall, there’s much more in us and improvements to be made.” The goal is to be “extremely tough to break down and play against,” and if we’re honest, they haven’t been that. The players are ambitious, he noted, and they need to step up with “more consistency” this November.
More Time, But the Wins Have to Come
This time around, Murchie is getting a much better shot at shaping things. He joined the staff late last campaign after the Japanese Rugby League One season finished up in June. Now? “There is a much bigger lead-in than last time,” he explained, pointing to a “more complete coaching group” and proper time to debrief and prepare. They’ve been out with the regions, building relationships, getting the boys into camp, and that preparation time is crucial. But let’s be real, the clock is ticking on overall team performance. Wales has only snagged three wins in the 12 Test matches played during the Tandy era so far. Since November 2025, those three victories came against Japan, Italy, and Fiji, with nine losses mixed in. Murchie isn’t putting a number on wins for the coming month, but he’s clear: “We’re here to win Test matches, we’re not here to take part and we’ve spoken about that as a group.” Consistency, both in delivery and performance, is the absolute key.
Japan Is No Walkover, and Murchie Knows It
This Saturday’s opponent, Japan, is a familiar face, marking the fourth time these two teams have squared off in just 16 months. Back in July 2025, they had a 1-1 series draw in Japan. Then last November, Wales snatched a win in Cardiff thanks to a last-gasp Jarrod Evans penalty. But here’s the kicker: Murchie coached in Japan last year. He knows their game, their approach, their threats. “Japan are a good team,” he said, highlighting their progression and how they’ve pushed top teams close. They’ve got the skills, the pace, and a strong Japanese contingent, plus a “big foreign contingent” bringing size and bulk to the forward pack. This makes them a “difficult proposition to play against,” and Murchie insists Wales will “need to be at our best.” It’s going to be a battle, and every tackle, every defensive stand, will matter.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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