CONTROVERSIAL lock Chris Stephens has been promoted to the bench for Wales' Second Test against Japan on Sunday - only hours being told he should not even be in the Wales squad.

Bridgend player Stephens threw a haymaker at former All Blacks second row Charles Riechelmann in yesterday's Wales clash with the Pacific Barbarians in Tokyo and was sin-binned.

It follows a similar incident last season which ended the career of Cross Keys full back Ioan Bebb, who suffered a serious eye injury.

Former Wales skipper Mike Hall said Stephens' actions yesterday had been "stupid" and he doubted he would captain Wales again.

Bebb, who yesterday said Stephens "should not be in the Wales squad, let alone be captain" when Stephens was named to lead Wales against the Barbarians, declined to comment further except to say: "It shows that when put in the position of ultimate responsibility, he still cannot control himself."

But Wales team manager Nigel Walker said it would have been wrong to make Stephens a "scapegoat" after a number of incidents in Wales' defeat yesterday.

"We've spoken to Chris and warned him about his future conduct and he has apologised," said Walker.

"There was quite a debate about whether we should pick Chris, but it would have been wrong to pick out that one incident because he had had a couple of unfortunate incidents in the past, and make him a scapegoat.

"It was nowhere near the worst incident on the night. It was a physical game." Wales coach Lynn Howells said: "When Chris came off he apologised to me and stood up in front of the players and apologised.

"For me, his punch was an isolated incident. He just lashed out and it was not premeditated. I know he regrets it."

But Hall said: "It was very silly because it was out in open play and right in front of the touch judge.

"I'd be very surprised if he ever captained a Welsh team again after that."

Gwent-born former Ebbw Vale flanker Nathan Budgett of Bridgend has been recalled to the Wales team for Sunday's Test. He replaces Bath youngster Andy Lloyd, with the other change from Wales' successful first Test line-up seeing London Welsh's Tom Shanklyn replace the injured Mark Jones on the right wing. Gwent props Iestyn Thomas of Ebbw Vale and Chris Anthony of Newport are again included.

Wales: K Morgan, T Shanlyn, G Thomas, A Durston, S Williams, S Jones, G Cooper, I Thomas, A Lewis, C Anthony, C Quinnell, A Moore, N Budgett, G Thomas, G Lewis. Replacements: S Jones, B Evans, C Stephens, J Ringer, D Peel, G Henson, J Robinson.