Matt Sherratt has warned Wales’ victory over Japan must be a turning point and not just a blip on an otherwise downward curve.
The interim head coach’s parting gift for Welsh rugby was to deliver the long-awaited first win in 21 months that finally ended the wretched 18-match losing streak.
After overseeing his final game - a dramatic 31-22 victory over Japan in Kobe that squared the series - Sherratt praised his players’ resilience and flair in sweltering conditions where they overcame a late Japanese fightback.
“Today is the end of a long season but for Welsh rugby it's got to be the start of something,” said Sherratt.
“The next guy coming in, a big motivation for the group was to let whoever that is start on a level playing field without the burden of the 18 in a row around his neck.”
The result — Wales' first since beating Georgia at the 2023 World Cup — provided a sense of catharsis after repeated near-misses and mounting criticism.
It was also an emotional conclusion for Sherratt, who took over from Warren Gatland earlier this year.
A late try from 22-year-old fly-half Dan Edwards, on his first Test start, sealed the win in the 75th minute and showcased the daring mindset Sherratt had been trying to instill.
“That last play summarises it for me,” said Sherratt.
“It would have been easy to go to a safe lineout at the front. We have thrown to the back, run a more risky play.
“And Taine Plumtree throws a reverse pass. I didn't intend for him to be that brave, but it worked.”
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Plumtree’s audacious pass set up Edwards, who ended the match with a 16-point haul and did enough to suggest he should have played a role on the field during last week’s eventual 24-19 defeat.
“It was about getting a win, I'm absolutely chuffed,” said Edwards.
“Especially with everyone saying we didn't deserve to win last week and were writing us off, people have been writing us off for however long.
“We've come back and shown everyone why we're here. It shows the character we've got. That was a real statement that when it gets tough, we can pull through.
“It's also just that little bit of a boost that Welsh rugby needed.”
Plumtree, one of several energetic replacements in the second half, credited the message from the coaching staff for inspiring his bold pass decision.
“It was just one of the main messages that Jockey [Matt Sherratt] gave us was to be brave and express ourselves,” said Plumtree.
“I think we were under an advantage. I heard Rog [Wales wing Tom Rogers] out the back so I pulled it back. Thank God it came through.”
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Captain Dewi Lake had also acknowledged the psychological weight that lifted with the win.
“Around 65 (minutes), you almost felt the sense that things were going quite similarly to last week,” said Lake.
“So to score that try in the dying moments, it sinks in that you've got the job done, you've won the game and that ultimately was our goal coming out here.”
Lake added: “The confidence that this will hopefully breed within this group will be huge for us going forward.”
There was also a poignant debut for Keelan Giles, who came off the bench to win his first cap — nine years after he was first selected for a Wales squad.
“It’s a massive day for me and my family,” said Giles.
“They made the trip over, which made it extra special. It's unbelievable.
“It’s almost like a full-circle moment, playing against Japan and being on the bench nine years ago against Japan and not getting on. So it's an extra special feeling.”
For Sherratt, who departs with one win and four losses during his brief spell in charge, he can now hand a cleaner slate to his successor.
“That’s got to be the start of something,” the Cardiff coach repeated.
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