Adam Beard is preparing to figure in his second Rugby World Cup, and while Wales’ preparations have been hugely intense it hasn’t been as painful for the giant Ospreys lock this time around.
Four years ago Beard was already a key member of Warren Gatland’s side but on the eve of Wales’ departure to Japan the then 23-year-old was rushed to hospital with extreme stomach pain. It turned out his appendix was the culprit, and as a result Beard was forced to have it removed.
Beard missed the first three pool games before returning for Wales’ 35-13 victory over Uruguay in Kumamoto.
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“I definitely know my appendix won’t go this time, that’s already gone so I should be okay this time,” recalls the 27-year-old. “It was a bit of a whirlwind so hopefully, touch wood, nothing like that happens with the lead up to this World Cup.
“It was a bit crazy. I remember the night just before travelling and coming down with stomach cramps and I thought nothing of it, thought it might be a bit of trapped wind or whatever.
“But it got progressively worse and I wasn’t deemed fit to fly by our doctor and I had my appendix removed then literally as soon as I got back. It was a bit of a curve ball and a bit of a setback but I’m just thankful the coaches gave me that time to recover and get me back out there when I was fit and raring to go.
“I think I ended up playing four games at that World Cup, which, if you asked me when I was coming off that operating table from the appendix I probably said that I wouldn’t have played that World Cup. I was lucky that the coaches gave me that chance and had the belief in me to come out there and perform for them.”
Things are very different this time in terms of preparations, with Beard and his team-mates setting personal bests and looking in the shape of their lives.
“Just looking at my fitness test scores, body composition, strength, it’s the fittest I’ve ever been. So, physically going into these games I’m in a really good position and just looking forward to getting the rugby side of it going now, and hopefully I can put in a good performance on the weekend.”
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Saturday will be Beard’s first run out of the summer having sat out last weekend’s comfortable 20-9 victory over England in Cardiff as Gatland looks to give most players in his squad an opportunity to put their best foot forward for the World Cup. Saturday’s test match at Twickenham will likely be a far tougher challenge than the one they faced at the Principality Stadium, with Beard set to go head-to-head with the world class Maro Itoje.
“Maro Itoje is renowned as one of the best locks in the world so it’s going to be tough opposition on the weekend,” he said. “They’ve got the youngster George Martin who I thought played pretty well on the weekend for England.
“So, it’s going to be a tough day, you’ve even got the likes of Lawes and Vunipola in that back five [of the scrum] as well. They’ve gone pretty fully loaded with that pack, but it’s an opportunity that we’re relishing and we can’t wait to get stuck into it.
“A win would obviously be nice but with the bigger picture we’re just looking at performance really. We’ve made a lot of changes, so it’s a good opportunity for us boys to showcase what we can do.
“You’ve seen what the 23 did on Saturday and how well they played and it’s about us boys replicating that and improving as well because even though we had a good win there are still improvements to be made. Make no bones about it, we know that with the England team that’s been picked it’s going to be a tough test but it’s an opportunity that we’re looking forward to.”