Amos eager to finally end his role as bridesmaid
HALLAM Amos made his Wales debut in 2013 and Japan is his second World Cup – but with only 20 caps to his name over six years the 25-year-old has not yet fully cracked Test rugby.
Having been hindered by ankle, shoulder and elbow injuries a regular run of international action has proved difficult for the aspiring doctor, but Amos gets the chance to impress against Uruguay this morning as part of a much-changed Wales side.
After graduating with a neuroscience degree from Cardiff University this summer, Amos still has three years left of medicine study. It puts him a unique position to talk about his own injuries.
“Most people have a socket joint with a ball in their shoulder. Mine was very flat and it meant I was always more likely to dislocate it,” Amos told TRP in Kumamoto ahead of facing Uruguay.
“Now with the operations I have had that cannot happen anymore. There is a bone block in place so you would have to shatter through that bone to dislocate it now.
“It is quite a good thing! Hopefully my shoulder issues are behind me.”
Amos has had a series of shoulder problems and after impressing at full-back in Argentina last summer he then suffered an elbow injury. It summed up his stop-start Wales career.
“Injuries are frustrating, but I’m lucky I can take a step away from the rugby and focus on my studies when they happen,” he said.
“There have been times where I have had a few games and then taken a knock.
“The last time was my elbow in Argentina last summer. I have just turned 25 and have had four shoulder operations and dislocated elbows and ankles yet I still have a few caps to my name.”
With Wales sealing three straight bonus-point wins over Georgia, Australia and Fiji, Warren Gatland’s fringe players have been kicking their heels.
Now they get the chance to impress against Uruguay with Gatland’s words that a good performance could seal them quarter-final involvement ringing in their ears. Amos can’t wait.
“It has been frustrating watching the boys. They have been brilliant so far, but I am ready for my opportunity now,” he said. “It is tough and we play the game to be out there.
“You experience the atmosphere in the warm-up and then you’re the bridesmaid and never the bride. You want to be on the pitch.
“It will be exciting to be out there against Uruguay and hopefully I will have a good run now.”
Wales will finish top of Pool D with a win over Uruguay to set-up a quarterfinal meeting with France. A bonus-point success would complete a perfect group stage record. The last time Wales did that at a World Cup was in 1987 when they went on to finish third.
Amos, who starts on the wing, could step in at flyhalf in the second half against Uruguay with Gatland resting his first-choice stars for the knock-out stages.
Amos said: “The last time I played fly-half was at Monmouth School when I was about 14. It’s been a while! We’ve got a few options there and I’d be happy to step in.”