Josh Adams has set out his goals as he looks ahead to Friday’s Guinness PRO14 encounter against Scarlets before setting off to link up with the Wales squad for the Six Nations.
While his unbelievable try scoring ratio in 2019/20 has dropped slightly this season, the electric wing continues to be a vital player for both club and country and is often highlighted for his all-round contributions, both in attack and defence.
While Adams admits he loves nothing more than crossing the whitewash in Cardiff Blues and Wales colours, he insists that he focuses on making a positive impact for the side’s overall efforts.
“There were small little things that maybe hindered the way we went about things and how effective we could’ve been as a back three or as a player myself in terms of opportunities with the ball,” explained the Welsh international.
“But as long as we’re improving as a team and ultimately winning, that’ll be the most important thing for me.
“If I can contribute well for the team, whether that’s scoring tries or defending well and chasing kicks, and the coaches are happy with how I’m going, then I’ll be happy to just be involved.
“I don’t change the things I do like the way I train or how I prepare. I usually keep to the same routine and methods of how I go about things.
“The tries will come. It’s inevitable that, at some point, by playing on the wing that I’ll put the ball down. When will that come? I don’t know.
“But as long as I’m contributing to the team in whatever aspect, I’m happy. If tries come off the back of that, then great and I hope they do, but making a positive impact is on the forefront of my focus.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to be running in hat-tricks in every game, that would be brilliant.
“But time will tell. I won’t change anything, I’ll keep chipping away and I’m sure the tries will come.
“You look at the Dragons game for example, and I’d love to have seen my heat-map from that game because I reckon it was just up and down the five meter channels on either side of the pitch, chasing kicks and entering rucks.
“Dan Fish was a water boy that day and asked me if I’d paid for a ticket as I was basically a spectator that day. He wasn’t wrong!
“But it’s a balancing act. We are given a freedom as wings that, if the play is not down your side, then go and create an extra number on the other side or float around the rucks and try to pick out the lower number defenders like the front row or second row and find mis-matches.
“We are given the licence to do so but if the ball comes to your wing and you’re not there to score, then it’s your fault. You also need to make sure you’re on your wing when the time is right.
“You must be effective and it does take a bit of time to get that balancing act but I’m comfortable with that.”
Adams is joined in the international set-up by seven of his regional team-mates, including outside half Jarrod Evans who is recalled for the first time since last year’s campaign.
The wing has applauded Evans’ attacking prowess and is confident the playmaker will be a valuable addition to the Wales squad.
“Luckily I’m on his team, so I don’t often have to defend against him,” said Adams.
“But I can remember, when Jarrod wasn’t in the Welsh squad at time and it could’ve been my first Six Nations campaign.
“We did some backs units against Cardiff Blues. They came down and we did some backs moves against each other.
“Jarrod absolutely tore us apart. He was unbelievable in that training session.
“You could even ask experienced, world class defenders like Dan Biggar, Hadleigh Parkes and Jonathan Davies and they’d openly and honestly say that we didn’t know what he was going to do. It was incredible how sharp he was.
“At times it’s really difficult to read what he’s going to do because he’s unorthodox and so skilful. When we give him good, go-forward ball and attacking opportunities, there isn’t anyone better going forward with the ball than him.
“Honestly, there isn’t He’s unbelievable.
“He’s a fantastic player. I’ve blown smoke up his backside in this interview so he needs to do well otherwise I’ll look stupid.
“With the ball, attacking the line, I haven’t played with anyone as good as him. His deception of pass, his feet, his head movement of selling the pass, is incredible. It’s one of the best I’ve ever seen.
“There are aspects of his game that won’t be as strong as some of the other boys, maybe like his exiting or kicking, and he knows they’re work-ons. But that doesn’t mean that he’s bad at it, because he isn’t.
“Everyone have strengths and weaknesses, and Jarrod’s super-strength is running with the ball and being an attacking threat, and I don’t know anyone who is as good at it than him.
“He fits the bill of a running, attacking 10, and he’s fantastic. But whether Wayne sees him as a starter, or coming off the bench, I don’t know. Callum came in during the autumn and done fantastically well after playing brilliant rugby with Bristol and is a similar attacking, ball-in-hand 10.
“We’ve obviously also got Biggs, who has added another dimension to his game since being at Northampton and now doesn’t just offer the kick or pass but he’s very dangerous with the ball now as well.
“There is a really interesting balance between the three and I’m certainly confident that Jarrod will be in a good spot by the Six Nations.”