Josh Adams believes Wales will face ‘probably the toughest Fiji team’ they have ever encountered in their pool opener – as he looks to build on impressive 2019 World Cup try record
Josh Adams believes Wales will face ‘probably the strongest Fiji team’ they have ever faced in their pool opener – as he looks to build on an impressive 2019 World Cup record
Josh Adams was not present for the arrival of his first child in 2021 and watched his partner Georgia give birth alone on Zoom from the Lions tour of South Africa.
The top scorer at the last World Cup in Japan was there as he and Georgia welcomed their new son Beauden before Adams flew to France.
It meant that Adams left for his second global showpiece with resilience. He will need it on Sunday as Wales aim for an opening win against Fiji in Bordeaux.
“It was pretty easy,” Adams said of his son’s arrival.
‘My partner had our son two weeks ago. I was there and that was fun.
Josh Adams recently welcomed the arrival of his second child – and was able to be present for the birth this time
Looking ahead to the World Cup opener in Wales, he said this would ‘probably be the strongest Fiji team we have ever seen’
‘Childbirth is a crazy thing and watching it on Zoom was probably very different from being there in person. They’re both doing fantastic.’
Adams played a starring role in the 2019 World Cup, scoring seven times. Wales faced Fiji in the group stages in the Far East, Adams scoring a treble in a tough encounter. His team just took the lead after falling behind 10-0 and losing then hooker Ken Owens to a yellow card. “Another hat trick would be nice,” Adams joked with a smile.
“There were a few clips that we watched from 2019. You don’t blow them (Fiji) away early – they are competitive and have gotten a lot better since we played them in 2019.
“This is probably the strongest Fijian team we have ever faced.
“As a team we are all desperate to get playing now.”
Fiji is the top-ranked team in Pool C and defeated England at Twickenham last month.
The Pacific Islanders are extremely dangerous, but the loss of playmaker Caleb Muntz to a tournament-ending knee injury has disrupted them.
“One of my slogans is to play like a Fijian, so traditionally it’s the release, the quick touch and the aggressive ball carrying,” said their head coach Simon Raiwalui.
“That’s what really pushed me: to play like a Fijian.”
That could well spell trouble for Wales and the likes of center Nick Tompkins, who has the unenviable task of keeping Fijian magician Semi Radradra quiet.
Wales are preparing hard to open their campaign against the highest ranked team in Pool C
Fiji will be without playmaker Caleb Muntz, whose knee injury has disrupted their side at the end of the tournament
Fiji head coach Simon Raiwalui said he wants his team to ‘play like Fijians’ – although they have worked on areas where they have traditionally been weaker
‘Semi played for Bristol and was excellent. You look at the magic he can do. I won’t say I’m intimidated by it; you just have to be prepared for it,” Tompkins said.
‘You have to stop the unloading and lead the way.’
On Wales, Raiwalui added: “They will be very well prepared, tactically astute and looking at things they can attack us with. They clearly have a very good tactical game.
“But we are a different Fijian team. We have been working on certain areas that have traditionally been a weakness for us, so it will be a good challenge.”