Hallam Amos has pedigree to be the new Shane Williams says Lyn Jones
Hallam Amos, the leading contender to replace an out-of-touch Alex Cuthbert against Uruguay in Cardiff next Sunday, is being backed to take the tournament by storm provided Wales take him off the leash.
Dragons‘ head coach Lyn Jones believes Amos could have the same impact on this World Cup as another novice wing, Shane Williams, had on the one in Australia 12 years ago.
“Hallam has what it takes to be the surprise package but he has to put the shirt on first,” says Jones, underlining his claim that the Dragons’ 20-year-old is the best left wing in Wales. “Give him a chance and I am positive he will deliver. I think he will an influential player in the World Cup.
“In 2003, Shane Williams went to Australia as the third-choice scrum-half and thanks to serendipity he became a world-class wing. It just shows what can happen when someone is given a chance. Shane had something different. He had something to turn a game. In that respect a lot of the Dragons’ progress last season was down to Hallam.
“Nobody will forget the tries Cuthbert and (George) North scored in the Lions series but nothing stands still. There’s always new competition coming up.”
Amos, given his Pro12 debut at Newport as a 17-year-old and given his first start by Wales at 19, is not in the same outsized bracket as Cuthbert and North at 6ft 1in and 14-and-a-half stone. “Size is important but it’s not everything,” says Jones. “Ability is far more important in the game of rugby.”
Wales dropped Cuthbert during the Six Nations last season after his rejection of a dual contract coincided with a slump in form, as reflected by one try in the last seven matches.
The Blues wing only returned last month because his successor, Liam Williams, had been in the throes of recovering from a metatarsal operation.
Williams will step into Leigh Halfpenny’s boots at full-back against Uruguay but Wales will almost certainly rest several front-line players rather than risk further injury before the England match on Saturday week.
PETER JACKSON
