Howley’s so happy that Sam kept nerve

ROB Howley admits Wales got out of jail thanks to Sam Davies’ drop-goal.

The stand-in head coach said: “The feeling is more of relief than frustration, I thought Japan were the better team and deserved to win.

“The players are all disappointed, we used our get out of jail free card, and Sam Davies showed composure at the end.

“They came at us with the ball in hand and we couldn’t get out of our own half in the second half.

“People will look back and call it a win and it provides food for thought next week. While we came away with a win, it felt like a loss and Japan deserve the accolades they get.

“When we’ve made changes in the autumn before, we’ve come up with that kind of performance sometimes.”

Despite commanding 68 percent possession, they conceded 18 turnovers to hand Japan the initiative.

They have now conceded ten tries during their autumn campaign and Howley added: “Of course defence is a worry, when they’ve scored today, it’s come from us having the ball.”

One positive for the Principality Stadium crowd was the nerves of steel shown by Davies to slot the last minute drop-goal.

And Davies says the moment was just as sweet as he expected.

He said: “It is the kind of kick that you visualise in your head, winning a game for Wales.

“It is about all the hours on the training ground and not just with the Ospreys, going back to the younger days down at Penclawdd practising.

“I was just thankful to get the opportunity to put it over. It was hero or villain today and thankfully I was the hero.

Davies will go head-tohead with Ospreys team-mate Dan Biggar for the no.10 berth against South Africa next week.

His fly-half rival was the first to congratulate him after landing the vital kick.

“Dan Biggar came over and congratulated me, we get on well, and that is good of him.”