LUKE Charteris feels those players in the current squad who were involved when Wales lost to Japan three years ago will have learnt some valuable lessons from that experience.

While a host of big names went out to Australia with the British and Irish Lions in the summer of 2013, a youthful Wales party travelled to the Far East for a two-Test tour.

Unfortunately, after winning the opener in Osaka 22-18, the visitors slipped to a 23-8 defeat in Tokyo, becoming the first Welsh side to lose to the Japanese in the process.

The team that day was led by second row Bradley Davies and featured fellow members of this autumn’s squad such as Liam Williams and Dan Biggar.

The three of those have gone on to forge successful careers at international level, and they will all be looking for a bit of revenge this Saturday when Wales host Japan in Cardiff.

“There are quite a few boys who are regular players or in the squad who played on that Japan tour who were maybe coming through then,” said former Newport Gwent Dragons lock Charteris.

“I think the boys would have learnt a lot from that tour, it was the first tour for some of them.

“Obviously they were disappointed with the result but a lot of boys have stepped on from there and put themselves up to be regular starters for us.”

He added: “The boys certainly know what the challenge this week will be.

“Although we don’t know the make-up of their team yet it will certainly be a tough game again.”

Japan, then coached by current England chief Eddie Jones, shocked everyone at last year’s World Cup when they turned over South Africa in the pool stages.

“We all watched it in the team room and all of the boys were cheering for Japan,” admitted Charteris.

“It’s good to see the so-called established teams coming unstuck, that’s the beauty of the World Cup.

“You don’t get to play those games that often, so it’s good in these November tours that we get to play Japan, Romania and Georgia.

“These are the teams that are certainly closing the gap between tier one and tier two nations.”

He continued: “Japan have really come on since that World Cup.

“They’ve obviously gone through a bit of a change in terms of a new coaching system and structure, and I think they’re trying to bring on the next generation of players.

“They’re missing a few boys from that World Cup team but I think the structure that has been put in place is still evident in the way they are trying to play rugby.”