Josh Adams will make his first start at centre for Wales in Dublin tomorrow and his opposite number, Garry Ringrose, admits the unknown quantity brings a “fear factor” for Ireland.
Adams has proved a prolific winger across his 35 Tests for Wales and the British & Irish Lions (scoring 17 tries), but has switched to centre for the first time due to injuries to Willis Halaholo, George North and Johnny Williams, while Jonathan Davies was deemed too short of game time.
“I guess there’s an element of unpredictability, maybe a fear factor, from that perspective,” said Ringrose, who starts alongside Bundee Aki in Ireland’s midfield. “There wouldn’t be huge amounts of tape to watch of him playing at 13.
“There is that relationship between the 13 and the winger on how to defend, [but for] someone who can defend on the wing as well as he can, I’m sure there’ll be no problem for him in the centre.
“I suppose there’s that bit of fear factor of what to expect or to be ready for it, but I suppose that’s always the case.
“He knows his way to the whitewash, especially in the Six Nations, so it’ll be at the forefront of my mind to try to stop that.”
