Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'I am feeling good': Josh Adams set for long-awaited return

Josh Adams of Wales looks dejected after their side's defeat in the Autumn International match between Wales and Australia at Principality Stadium on November 26, 2022 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)

After six months on the sidelines, Wales wing Josh Adams can’t wait to step out at a “pumping” Arms Park for the derby day clash with the Dragons.

ADVERTISEMENT

He hasn’t played since May due to a hernia operation and a “nightmare” with his knee, which kept on filling up with blood.

But now he’s fully recovered and ready to return to action for Cardiff in front of a bumper crowd.

Video Spacer

Behind the scenes with Ugo Monye at the World Rugby Awards in Monaco | RPTV

Join Ugo Monye at the prestigious 2024 World Rugby Awards in Monaco. Watch more clips like this on RugbyPass TV. Watch more clips like this on RugbyPass TV.

Watch now

Video Spacer

Behind the scenes with Ugo Monye at the World Rugby Awards in Monaco | RPTV

Join Ugo Monye at the prestigious 2024 World Rugby Awards in Monaco. Watch more clips like this on RugbyPass TV. Watch more clips like this on RugbyPass TV.

Watch now

“I thought I was going to be back sooner, but nothing is ever as smooth as you want it to be,” he said.

“When you have setbacks, you can’t really see the end. But I am there now, so I am delighted.

Fixture
United Rugby Championship
Cardiff Rugby
31 - 23
Full-time
Dragons RFC
All Stats and Data

“I am feeling good. It’s been a long time, so I am itching to get back out there. I’m really glad I am back on the pitch and fully fit. I’m fresh and raring to go for the first time in a long while.”

Now 29, Adams cherishes being able to take to the field all the more these days, with the passing years.

“You take things for granted a bit when you are younger, you do naturally,” he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

“You think you have got bags of time. Then, as you get on a bit, you sort of appreciate every time you get to play because your body picks up more niggles and bangs and you spend a little bit more time in the physio room than you want.

“I probably realise how quickly the first part of my career has gone when you look back at it now.”

The 59-cap Adams, who trained with Wales during the autumn as part of his rehab, couldn’t have picked a much bigger domestic game for his return and is excited by the prospect of performing in front of another full house at the Arms Park.

“The turnouts we get here are brilliant,” he said.

“For them to show up every week certainly makes a difference to us. Running out here on Saturday, hopefully this place is packed to the rafters and pumping.

ADVERTISEMENT

“It honestly does give you an extra five or ten per cent of energy when you need it, especially when you are down close to the opposition line. You can hear everyone on the edge of their seat and the noise starting to rise. It does feed to us as players on the field.

“Those are the moments you really miss when you are not playing – being able to really take in the crowd, that and the feeling of elation in the changing room after winning a tight game.”

Ben Thomas, who started all three autumn Tests for Wales, skippers the Cardiff side from the centre, while Keiron Assiratti packs down at tight-head prop having also figured against Fiji, Australia and South Africa, with fellow international Cam Winnett at full-back.

The Dragons have former Ospreys great Filo Tiatia at the helm for the first time following the departure of head coach Dai Flanagan.

They welcome back wing Rio Dyer, No 8 Aaron Wainwright and scrum-half Rhodri Williams from Wales duty, with Angus O’Brien captaining the side from full-back.

Related

 

Go behind the scenes of both camps during the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2021. Binge watch exclusively on RugbyPass TV now 

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 54 minutes ago
'It doesn’t make sense for New Zealand to deny itself access to world-class players'

There are a couple of inadequacies in this articles points as well.


First

Robertson, in what he has said publicly, is building his argument for change as a means to close the gap that is increasing between the All Blacks and South Africa.

Based on recent performances, the All Blacks are better than the Springboks.


Second

Both games saw the All Blacks lead coming into the last 30 minutes, only for the momentum to shift dramatically once the two sides emptied their respective benches.

The failings of the second half were game plan related, they happened regardless of whether the bench had yet (play got worse very early in the half, even in the first half) been used or not.


And third

Robertson’s view is that because the Boks don’t lose access to their experienced players when they head offshore, it gives them an advantage

Didn't Razor have the most experienced team all year?


Also

“Sam Cane and Ardie Savea with Wallace Siti, what a balance that is.

This is part of Razor's problem. That's a terrible balance. You instead want something like Sam Cane, Hoskins Sotutu, Wallace Sititi. Or Ardie Savea, Sititi, Scott Barrett. Dalton Papaili'i, Savea, Finau. That is balance, not two old struggling to keep up players and an absolute rookie.

It has changed. Not many go north, more go to Japan, so how do we get the balance right to ensure that players who have given loyalty, longevity and who are still playing well

Experience is a priceless commodity in international rugby and New Zealand has a system where it throws away players precisely when they are at their most valuable.

You mean how do we take advantage of this new environment, because nothing has effectively changed has it. It's simply Japan now instead of Europe. What's it going to be like in the future, how is the new American league going to change things?


Mo'unga is the only real valid reason for debating change, but what's far more important is the wide discussion happening that's taking the whole game into account. The current modem throws players away because they decided to go with a 5 team model rather than a 12 or 14 team model. Players have to be asked to leave at the point were we know they aren't going to be All Blacks, when they are playing their best rugby, reached their peak. In order to reset, and see if the next guy coming through can improve on the 'peak' of the last guy. Of course it's going to take years before they even reach the departing players standards, let alone see if they can pass them.


What if there can be a change that enables New Zealand to have a model were players like Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe, Bundee Aki, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ethan Roots, Warner Dearns are All Blacks that make their experienced and youth developemnt the envy of the World. That is the discussion that really needs to be had, not how easy it is to allow Mo'unga to play again. That's how the All Blacks end up winning 3 World Cups in a row.

29 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Injuries pile up for Leinster with a further three Ireland stars out Injuries pile up for Leinster with a further three Ireland stars out
Search