Josh Adams has thrown his support behind the new interim Wales coaching set-up, praising their fresh energy and innovative approach - even in the absence of results.
Adams, who topped the try-scoring charts at the 2019 World Cup in Japan, is relishing his return to the country for this summer’s two-Test series.
But beyond the nostalgia, it’s the impact of Matt Sherratt and his coaching staff that has truly caught his attention.
"It has been brilliant and exactly what the squad needed with a new way of looking at the schedule," Adams said of the reshaped set-up, which includes Danny Wilson, Gethin Jenkins, Adam Jones, Rhys Thomas, and Leigh Halfpenny.
"Meeting times have changed, how we do weights and at what time. Everything feels new, which is a good thing because it has freshened things up."
Wales are still searching for a win under Sherratt, having endured a winless Six Nations which extended their harrowing losing streak to 17 games.
Yet Adams believes the groundwork being laid could pay off soon—perhaps even in the sweltering heat of Kitakyushu and Kobe, where they’ll face Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms.
"The addition of Danny and Gethin for the summer is brilliant," Adams added. "We're in a good space to cope with anything."
The squad’s preparation has included some of the most punishing sessions Adams has ever experienced, as they attempt to replicate Japan’s stifling conditions.
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The team has trained in a heat chamber set to 36°C with 87% humidity, used soapy wet balls to simulate match conditions, and undergone recovery protocols designed to reflect game-day realities.
"Some boys were saying 'that's the hardest thing I've ever done' and it's got to be in the top three worst I've felt after a session," Adams admitted.
"It was really bad, genuine, because it's so stuffy."
The physical toll has been significant, with players reportedly losing up to 5kg in a single session.
"We're weighing in before and after, we take one bottle of water which is rationed for the whole session," he explained.
"Not because they want to be horrible, but it gives them a better gauge of how much fluids we lose and it's a considerable amount of weight."
Rather than relying on ice baths post-session, players are asked to cool down naturally—mimicking the demands of match conditions.
"They don't want us hopping in ice baths because you can't do that in the game," Adams said. "It's trying to get your body to regulate this body temperature and back to normal."
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After missing the final three Six Nations matches with a hamstring injury, Adams is back to full fitness and ready to lead a youthful Wales squad that includes only four players—himself, Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, and Aaron Wainwright—from the 2019 World Cup semi-final run.
"I got back for the last six games of the season," Adams noted. "That meant I had probably the longest consecutive run of matches I've had in at least a season and a half and I'm feeling good at the minute."
Looking ahead to the Japan series, Adams knows that playing the Brave Blossoms at home, in the summer, is a vastly different challenge than Wales faced in the cooler autumn conditions of 2019.
"I think the big difference from 2019 is the time of year because we didn’t go over there until September last time," he said.
"So the temperature’s different, humidity makes it feel like 10 degrees warmer than what it actually is."
"When you look at your temperature gauge, it might only say 25 but humidity (makes it) feel like 35. So we’ve done a fair bit of prep for that."
Whether or not the results follow immediately, Adams believes the shift in mindset, structure, and intensity under the new coaching group is already taking effect.
Wales’ first test against Japan takes place on June 29, and for Adams, it’s about more than reliving past glories—it’s a chance to see a new era take root.
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