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Wales lose Josh Adams minutes before Fiji game
By Sam Smith
Josh Adams has been a last minute withdrawal from the Wales team after appearing to pull-up in the pre-game warm-up.
Adams had been switched from wing to outside centre by Wales head coach Wayne Pivac, with Fiji parading six members of the starting line-up that faced Wales during the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
No explanation has yet been given for his withdrawal. He is replaced in the starting team by Saracens' Nick Tompkins.
Elsewhere Prop WillGriff John makes first Test start as Wales tackled Autumn Nations Series opponents Fiji at the Principality Stadium.
The Scarlets forward replaced Tomas Francis, who suffered concussion during training on Friday, while Wales were captained by Cardiff flanker Ellis Jenkins.
Jenkins’ back-row colleagues included Thomas Young on his first Wales appearance for more than two years, and wing Alex Cuthbert returned following a four-year international absence.
Wales are “prepared for anything” when they tackle unpredictable Fiji in Sunday’s Autumn Nations Series clash, according to scrum-half Kieran Hardy.
Wales have beaten Fiji in 10 of their previous 12 meetings, with exceptions being when they were knocked out of the 2007 World Cup by them and drawing in Cardiff 11 years ago.
But four of those victories were by seven points or less, including an 11-10 verdict in 2005, and Fiji led 10-0 during the last meeting – a 2019 World Cup pool game – before Wales prevailed.
Fiji will be Wales’ opening opponents in Bordeaux at the 2023 World Cup, and they are coached this weekend by a Welshman – former Cardiff scrum-half Gareth Baber.
Baber masterminded Fiji’s sevens gold medal triumph at the Tokyo Olympics, and he has a detailed understanding of the Welsh game.
“We know they are a side that is quite physical and particularly like to off-load and try to play in behind,” said Hardy, who wins his eighth cap on Sunday.
“We are prepared for anything this weekend. We’ve trained for all scenarios.
“We know what is coming at us. They can be unpredictable at times, but we will have to adapt to the situations as they come."
- additional reporting PA
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Latest Comments
Well said except Argentina is most certainly not an “emerging nation” as far as rugby is concerned. If you’re making global-social-political claim, then I’m out of my depth entirely.
Argentina by multiple leagues of magnitude played better than Ireland today. Striking away a try in the 2nd minute did not necessarily lead to Arg demise, but as we all know, rugby is such an emotional game that then to be down 12-0 over nothing is gut-wrenching, especially as it was effectively a 19 point swing. Argentina’s fight back throughout the rest of the match was laudable.
A howl of great sadness for a beautiful sport that has criminal administrators, feckless refs, foppish TMOs, idiotic tv pundits, et al. attempting to collectively suicide the whole thing. No fault of the players or coaches necessarily. We have a situation where punitive cards that detract away from the essence and loftiness of the game itself are celebrated to a degree that is pathologically purblind. Rugby has created for itself a fetish for punishment rather than simply allowing the game to be played. Shameful.
Go to commentsAbsolutely right, can’t expect nearly an all kiwi officiating team to know the rules properly 😉
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