Josh Adams Interview: 'I think with the group we’ve got we can really succeed'
Josh Adams - with teammates - were speaking at Wales' Rugby World Cup kit launch
©WRU
For Josh Adams and his fellow Wales teammates, it is safe to say they have certainly been put through their paces over the last couple of weeks.
"Oh yeah, we’ve worked hard!" Adams says. “It’s been a tough two weeks but it was what we expected. I can’t remember if it was better knowing what we were going into because I’ve done it before or being naïve to the fact you’re going to have to work hard!"
Wales will travel to Turkey next week for the second of their World Cup training camps and it follows an intense fortnight in Switzerland.
Fitness drills, soaring temperatures and sleeping at altitude have all been part of the preparations for Warren Gatland’s side as they aim to get themselves in the best possible shape for the showpiece event in France.
"I think Switzerland and also the mini camps before, they were hard," Adams says. "Knowing you can push yourself and push your body to places where you probably didn’t think you could push it, it definitely gives you belief when it comes to tough times in a game.
"It’s also a feeling of when you’re doing a gruelling fitness session as a squad and you come out the other end, the feeling of relief you get together, you can’t match that feeling unless you go through dark places together as a team. That is something that will hold us in good stead."
That "togetherness” Adams touches on is something Wales will want to harness heading into the World Cup, with Gatland’s troops not expected to really challenge for the big prize.
After a tumultuous time off the pitch combined with an underwhelming performance in the Six Nations, Wales sit ninth in the world rankings but Adams feels the mixture of experience and newcomers currently in the squad will only push the side on as a whole.
"I think with the group we’ve got, we can really succeed," says Adams, who was speaking at Wales’ Rugby World Cup kit launch event at Ynsangharad Park, Pontypridd.
"The new boys we’ve added to the squad have really impressed and brought something. That’s important. They’ve probably also pushed the intensity without them knowing. They’ve dragged us older boys along and made us work harder. That’s been great for us. We’ve all competed really hard and had some physical sessions out there which is needed and the competition is probably as strong as it’s ever been."
Adams, 28, sees himself more as a ‘senior member’ of the squad with 49 caps to his name and the experience of a past World Cup under his belt.
Four years ago, the winger - as well as Wales - shone in Japan as he finished as the tournament’s top try-scorer which helped his side reach the semi finals.
His tally of seven in the Far East was impressive but despite Wales being a shadow of their former selves in recent times, Adams can see similarities between now and four years ago.
"It would be good to go one better with eight!” laughs Adams, when asked about his try-scoring exploits in 2019. “First of all Japan, what an unbelievable place. It was excellent and it wouldn’t have been as enjoyable if we hadn’t had done as well.
"It’s similar to this group now with the feeling of how tight we are. We’re working hard for that one goal at the end and if we can replicate that sort of feeling, that sort of momentum we had going into Japan, then I don’t see why we can’t replicate what we did then."
In truth, it would be some story if Wales were to match what they did back in Japan given they’ve won just two of their last nine Test matches (spanning across the conclusion of Wayne Pivac’s era and Gatland’s latest stint in charge).
Added to this, the withdrawals of Alun Wyn Jones, Ken Owens, Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb from World Cup plans will mean Wales will have to adapt without some of their most notable leaders (with the captaincy for the World Cup yet to be decided) but Adams isn’t too interested in outside noise and neither are the squad.
Internally, it seems Gatland has been able to put his stamp on the team once again and everyone is pulling in the same direction with France 2023 rapidly approaching.
"In the Six Nations, we finished fifth,” Adams says. “It was disappointing to only win one game [v Italy]. We know we’re miles better than that. It’s something we might talk about moving closer towards the games and the World Cup. I think it could be a motivating factor to prove a point.
"We’ve had our teething period now and everyone understands what’s wanted from them a little bit more. All the detail has been ironed out. Once you have got clarity, you’ve got intensity then.
“He’s [Gatland] certainly someone everyone works hard for and respects given his previous achievements here. With the weeks we’ve had and talks with him, I think he’ll have the squad in the best possible shape."
Wales face England home and away in World Cup warm-up matches before hosting South Africa.
Gatland’s side will then head to France where they will compete in Pool C alongside Eddie Jones’s Australia, Georgia (who beat Wales last autumn), Fiji and Portugal.
The Wales boss will hope No.8 Taulupe Faletau will be back to full fitness by then after the back-row was left out of the team's plans for their Turkey training camp earlier in the week due to an injury concern.
