‘I’d be happy to change roles for Wales’ – Adams
JOSH Adams is ready to switch to full-back and help Wales make what would be a ‘massive’ statement this autumn.
Wales head into their autumn opener against New Zealand on October 30 without a number of key outside backs, including Leigh Halfpenny and George North.
Liam Williams is a significant doubt for the game having missed the start of the Scarlets’ campaign after having his appendix out, while boss Wayne Pivac has also opted to move on without Hallam Amos, who is retiring at the end of the year, and Jonah Holmes, who was a surprise omission from the squad.
Louis Rees-Zammit is also unavailable for the out-of-window match as he is based in England.
It leaves Wales looking desperately short of full-back options with John
ny McNicholl the only credible candidate other than Adams, though there are defensive frailties in his game.
The Cardiff winger played there a number of times during his spell at Worcester, though he has never donned the red No.15 jersey. Despite scoring 17 tries in 33 Tests on the wing, he insists he would be happy to do a job.
“Yes, absolutely. I would have no problem there if any of the coaches asked me to fill in that role for the time being while there are a few injuries,” he said.
“Of course, I would give it my all, like I always do, and I would make sure I try and nail that role as best as I could, as if I was playing on the wing.
“It would be a new challenge, which would excite me as well, something different. I would have no issues whatsoever if that was the case.”
Not only do Wales have to welcome one of the most dangerous teams in world rugby later this month – one they haven’t beaten since 1953.
But they also have to do it with a plethora of injuries across the board and the likes of Dan Biggar and Taulupe Faletau, who are unavailable.
It has led to many writing off Wales’ chances against the All Blacks, who recently wrapped up their seventh Rugby Championship title in the last nine competitions.
Adams, though, is having none of it.
“With the biggest challenge comes the biggest rewards. Why not think of it like that?” he asks.
“If you like we’re maybe not at ‘full strength’ – in inverted commas – but everyone selected in the coaches’ eyes are good enough to be international rugby players.
“What better challenge for someone who hasn’t faced one of the big southern hemisphere countries before to face the All Blacks.
“When you get that opportunity – no matter if you’ve played 150 Tests like Alun [Wyn Jones], or a couple in some boys’ cases – against the All Blacks you want to show up.
“That’s our mentality. We’ve got to show up as a team. It’s a massive challenge, but I’m buzzing for it, and know that energy is going through the whole squad and we’re all looking forward to it.
“It’s special, the autumn. It’s not often you get the big three over to play – especially with Covid in the last couple of years, we’ve not played them at all.
“It’ll be a massive statement if we can get some victories in this autumn.”