Josh Adams on Wales' Crucial Test Against South Africa
Josh Adams, who played against South Africa with the Lions in 2021, believes that Wales' upcoming Nations Championship match against South Africa will serve as a definitive measure of their development under coach Steve Tandy.
The Welsh team has traveled to Durban for their final game of the 2025-26 season following a 35-21 loss to Argentina in San Juan.
Prior to facing the Pumas, Wales secured victories against Italy in the Six Nations and Fiji in the Nations Championship opener, as well as a win over the Barbarians in an uncapped fixture. However, the defeat by Argentina provided a sobering reality check, and now Wales confront the most formidable challenge of the tournament when they meet the reigning world champions at Kings Park on Saturday at 16:40 BST.
"There's probably no harder test," admitted wing Adams. "It's certainly something that will test this group and it'll probably answer a lot of questions about where we are.
"How can we react from the Argentina game? The physicality, contact area, movement is all magnified against a team like South Africa so we have to be at the races.
"We can talk about lots of areas of the game, but we've got to move quickly, hit hard and stay in the fight. Those are the simple things we need to work on this week."
Argentina Provide Reality Check for Wales
Wales demonstrated resilience in their match against Argentina, remaining competitive and pursuing a pair of bonus points as the game neared its conclusion. Nonetheless, the Pumas secured a convincing victory, responding strongly after their opening round defeat by Scotland.
"We were just slightly off it around our physicality, first time tackles, speed around the ruck – the basics where you need to be at it at this level," said Adams.
"We still managed to find ourselves in the Test match and it was going back and forth until they pulled away with a couple of scores before half-time.
"Argentina are a good team when they stay on top of you and if you are not at it in the areas that I have mentioned – and with your discipline – then teams will punish you."
Upcoming Challenge Against South Africa
Wales will face a South African team that has commenced the Nations Championship with victories over England and Scotland. The Springboks previously defeated Wales 73-0 at Principality Stadium in November, a match where Wales were disadvantaged due to the fixture falling outside World Rugby's designated window.
In contrast, Wayne Pivac's Wales achieved their first-ever win on South African soil during the second of three Tests in 2022, with Adams scoring a decisive try. Four years later, Wales would consider a competitive performance in Durban a positive outcome.
The Welsh squad must again endure extensive travel, covering over 5,000 miles and crossing five time zones, a journey lasting nearly a day.
Adams has dismissed concerns about travel fatigue, citing Scotland's recent experience on the same trip where they nearly upset the Springboks before losing 42-28.
"Every team has to travel," said Adams.
"Scotland made the journey and they were in the Test for most of the game. So there'll be no excuses."
