Adams will move into the center as Wales begin Six Nations title defense | Rugby Union News
Winger Josh Adams will make his first Test appearance at center when Wales play Ireland on Saturday; Saracens’ Nick Tompkins will partner Adams in midfield, while there are also departures for winger Johnny McNicholl and flanker Taine Basham
Last update: 03/02/22 11:54
Josh Adams will play in the center for Wales against Ireland
Winger Josh Adams will make his first Test match appearance at center when Wales kick off their Guinness Six Nations Championship title defense against Ireland on Saturday.
Adams, who won 35 caps and was top scorer at the 2019 World Cup, would have featured there in the Autumn Nations Series tie with Fiji this season but suffered the injury during warm-up and did not start.
Saracens’ Nick Tompkins will partner Adams in midfield, while winger Johnny McNicholl and flanker Taine Basham also start, with uncapped Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake among the substitutes.
Flanker Ross Moriarty, who recovered from a shoulder injury suffered against New Zealand in October, is also on the bench and is set to earn his 50th cap.
But there is no room on Matchday 23 for center Jonathan Davies, who made 99 Test appearances for Wales and the British and Irish Lions.
Fly-half Dan Biggar leads the team as Wales start the tournament without world record holder for Test match appearance Alun Wyn Jones.
Jones is among a number of injured British and Irish Lions, joined by other key staff such as George North, Leigh Halfpenny, Ken Owens, Justin Tipuric and Josh Navidi.
Wales have won a solitary victory in their last seven visits to the Aviva Stadium, and they will meet an Irish side who just overthrew New Zealand just over two months ago.
Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Johnny McNicholl, 13 Josh Adams, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Louis Rees-Zammit, 10 Dan Biggar (captain), 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Taine Basham, 6 Ellis Jenkins, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Wyn Jones
Substitutions: 16 Dewi Lake, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Seb Davies, 20 Ross Moriarty, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Callum Sheedy, 23 Owen Watkin
Sky Sports
