WALES are one game away from clinching a World Cup quarter-final place against South Africa after romping to victory over a spirited but outclassed Japan at the Millennium Stadium last night.

Wales, who scored eleven tries, now move back to France for their final Group B winner-take-all game against Fiji in Nantes a week tomorrow. If they win they will be in the last eight.

But the Japan game was no judge of their chances against Fiji or the Springboks if they make the quarters because they won in a canter against brave opposition who offered little threat.

Wales were predictably dominant in the set pieces and the strength of scrum half Mike Phillips had an effect. The class of James Hook also told and Wales coach Gareth Jenkins will surely include him at inside centre from here on in .

Jack-in-the-box wing Shane Williams grabbed two tries, the second in the last minute putting him ahead of Ieuan Evans in the list of Wales' highest try scorers on 34, Gareth Thomas the only man ahead of him.

Japan shocked Wales by taking a third minute lead when Onishi kicked a 35 yard penalty awarded for offside after Shane Williams had twice spilled the ball in a tackle.

But Wales stormed back and camped in the Japanese 22, though there was an element of good fortune when they opened their account after ten minutes.

The ball ricocheted off a Japanese player into the grateful hands of Stephen Jones who sent Dafydd James clear and the winger made ground before releasing the supporting Alun Wyn Jones, who initially juggled with the ball before crossing wide out for a try which Jones converted.

But the Japanese suddenly broke out from their own line to score a spectacular try and snatch the lead back. The ball passed through half-a-dozen pairs of hands before wing Kosuke Endo swept across.

Wales were a bit worried because after putting a couple of penalties into touch Jones decided to go for goal and he duly put the ball between the posts to restore the lead.

They went one better when James Hook showed his class as he scored a super solo try, gliding down the touchline, dummying and handing off before racing away for a try which Jones converted from the touchline.

They scored again when Will James won a line-out, transferred to fellow lock Wyn Jones who handed on to Mike Phillips and the scrum half drove for the line then put hooker Rhys Thomas over for a try which Jones converted.

But Japan kept plugging away and Onishi landed his second penalty, though they conceded another try on the stroke of half-time when Martyn Williams slung out a long pass after a run by Stephen Jones to link with Jamie Robinson who put Dragons full back Kevin Morgan through on the inside and give Wales a 29-11 interval lead.

Wales extended it within two minutes of the resumption when Phillips used his strength to power across for a try, Jones converting.

Phillips' power paved the way for Shane Williams to cross to put him level with Ieuan Evans, then lock Ian Evans went on for his first game since December after a shoulder operation .

It was fast becoming a rout and Dafydd James got Wales' seventh try, Jones converting, though spirited Japan pulled one back when wing Onazawa sped through on the inside.

Replacements took a hand for Wales when Michael Owen put former Dragons teammate Gareth Cooper over in the corner, followed by Martyn Williams dashing over for two quick-fire tries Sweeney converting both.

Shane Williams nabbed his second try in the final minute to seal a comfortable win.

Wales: K Morgan, D James, J Robinson (T Shanklin 72), J Hook, S Williams, S Jones captain (C Sweeney 54), M Phillips (G Cooper 54), D Jones, R Thomas (H Bennett 58), C Horsman (G Jenkins 64), W James, A W Jones (I Evans 50), C Charvis, A Popham (M Owen 57), M Williams.

Scorers - tries: A W Jones, J Hook, R Thomas, K Morgan, M Phillips, S Williams (2), D James, G Cooper;, M Williams (2); conversions: S Jones (5), C Sweeney (2); penalty: Jones.

Japan: C Loamanu, K Endo, Y Imamura (K Taira 50), S Onishi (T Kusumi 52), H Onozawa, B Robins, T Yoshida (C Kim 66), T Nishiura (R Yamamura), Y Matsubara (T Inokuchi 74), T Soma (T Nishiura 71) H Ono, L Thompson (H Kiso 65), Y Watanabe, T Miuchi (captain), H Makiri (R Asano 51).

Scorers - tries: K Endo, H Onozawa; conversion: B Robins; penalties: Onishi (2).

Referee: J Jutge (France).

Attendance: 42,558.