Wales boss Wayne Pivac backs Josh Adams to thrive in the centres

Wales boss Wayne Pivac has backed Josh Adams to thrive as a centre of attention in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener against Ireland.

Adams will make his first Test match appearance in the centre after 35 Wales starts as a wing.

Adams, who was top try-scorer at the 2019 World Cup, would have featured there in the Autumn Nations Series appointment with Fiji this season, but he suffered an injury during the warm-up and did not start.

“He has trained there (outside centre) quite a bit, and it is something we are excited to have a look at,” Pivac said.

“We wouldn’t do it unless we thought he could do a job. He has played there for Cardiff.”

George North, who is among a number of injured British and Irish Lions currently unavailable to Pivac, made an identical switch with considerable success for last season’s Six Nations title-winning campaign.

Pivac added: “They are different players, but if he has any sort of impact like George, we will be very pleased.

Josh is strong in the contact area and a good defender. We are excited to see him go- Wales head coach Wayne Pivac

“George hadn’t played there much either, and he made a pretty good fist of it.

“It is a position where you need a lot of pace, not only with the ball but also without it.

“Josh is strong in the contact area and a good defender. We are excited to see him go. Hopefully, the conditions are such that we can move the ball around and get it into his hands in good positions on the park.”

Saracens’ Nick Tompkins will partner Adams in midfield, while there are also starts for wing Johnny McNicholl and flanker Taine Basham, with uncapped Ospreys hooker Dewi Lake among the replacements.

Flanker Ross Moriarty, who has recovered from a shoulder injury suffered against