Gareth Thomas has made the case for Josh Adams continuing in the centre for Wales despite Saturday’s midfield misadventure against Ireland in Dublin.
One website gave Adams a 2 out of 10 in their player ratings after his effort in the 29-7 Six Nations defeat at the Aviva Stadium.
Normally a wing, the scorer of 17 Test tries appeared uncertain in defence playing at No. 13 and Ireland targeted him.
Read more: Sam Warburton finds the major problem that undermines this Wales team and calls for selection change
His afternoon reached a low when he was yellow-carded after leading with a shoulder and felling Johnny Sexton.
The RugbyPass website awarded the Wales international a 2 in their match ratings, pointing out that he “really struggled to adapt to his positional switch”, a comment most would agree with.
But former Wales captain Thomas has outlined an argument for head coach Wayne Pivac to give the selection another whirl.
“It kind of feels like it’s a failed experiment if he just reverts back to Jonathan Davies,” said Thomas on BBC Wales’ Scrum V programme.
“If you want to play a George North-type person in the centre then you give him another pop, but you give him a pop with motivation this time — ‘You have a carrot now.’
“It’s like, ‘OK, people have started doubting you. Go out there and show them what you are capable of doing’.”
The issue is one Wales need to get right.
Their confidence will be brittle after the weekend’s schooling in the Irish capital and they need to take the field against Scotland this weekend with every player comfortable in his role.
Another unconvincing display from Adams could prove costly against a side who defeated England in round one and will be determined to post their first success over Wales in Cardiff in 20 years.
On the other side of the coin, Pivac will have noted that Adams made more metres than any other Welsh player and there were three other Welsh backs who missed more tackles than he missed.
It’s the coach’s call, then, but one upon which much rests.
To get the latest rugby news and analysis delivered straight to your inbox, you can sign up for our Welsh rugby newsletter.
