In large video games, you want large gamers to step up and ship large moments. Wales’ win over Fiji was such a pulsating encounter that it’s arduous to assert one second swung it, but when there was a pivotal momentum shift for Warren Gatland’s facet then it got here with Josh Adams’ monstrous second-half deal with.
Wing Adams started the sport nicely with a strive, clearly taking a liking to the Flying Fijians having run in a hat-trick towards the identical opposition on the 2019 World Cup. Nonetheless, that was to not be his starring intervention.
Learn extra: Jac Morgan’s kick units up essential Louis Rees-Zammit strive in Wales win over Fiji
Watch Josh Adams deal with towards Fiji
Josh Adams is a BEAST 💪#RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/xD5kQDpNee
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) September 10, 2023
With Wales 25-14 up however Fiji beginning to flip the screw within the 51st minute, Adams’s reverse man, Selestino Ravutaumada ran straight at him with a prolonged run-up. Neither man needed to provide an inch however Adams, standing completely nonetheless, climbed into his opponent with good tackling approach.
His shoulder crunched into Ravutaumada, with the power of the hit – plus doubtlessly some help from Adams’s left hand – inflicting his shorts to come back tumbling down. It was such an enormous hit that you would might say he pulled his pants down, actually (sorry).
Associated: Fiji stun Wales with sensational strive from deep inside personal half
Fortunately for the flying Fijian winger, he was carrying a pair of beige beneath shorts which preserved his modesty. Adams, not content material with flattening his opponent, jumped straight again to his toes and received a turnover penalty after jackalling on the ensuing ruck.
That call might have been barely fortuitous because it did seem that the Wales man’s arms touched the ground earlier than he managed to latch onto the ball. Nonetheless, Adams roared in celebration and was instantly mobbed by his team-mates after a momentous piece of particular person play.
The affect of the deal with couldn’t be underestimated because it gave an actual enhance to the Welsh facet who went on to determine what they thought was a commanding 32-14 lead just for Fiji to struggle again to 32-26 with simply minutes left on the clock.
Learn extra: The right way to watch the Rugby World Cup
And the Tier Two facet might have snatched it proper on the demise. The bouncing ball came visiting to Semi Radradra out on the left wing however he knocked on with the road begging in a merciless end to undoubtedly the most effective sport of the opening event and an prompt World Cup traditional.
“What I needed this group to be is resilient, robust to beat, decided and I believe we confirmed all of these in abundance tonight”
Dan Biggar provides his response to an enormous win towards Fiji!@gabrielclarke05 #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/aMiG88JDpY
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) September 10, 2023
Wales fly-half Dan Biggar was named Participant of the Match and he emphasised how large the Adams deal with was in his post-match interview.
“It was big, an enormous second for us,” defined the No 10, who will retire from worldwide obligation on the finish of the event. “Technically good. There have been quite a lot of big moments for us however that was proper up there.”