Wales flanker Sam Cross boosted by Sevens background
Friday 17 November 2017 22:58, UK
Sam Cross believes the skills learned in Sevens rugby will help him when he makes his first Test start for Wales against Georgia on Saturday.
Cross won a silver medal for Great Britain at last year's Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and he will now get the opportunity to impress in this weekend's game at the Principality Stadium.
The Georgia game is just his fourth professional match of 15-a-side rugby, with the last coming on November 11 when he made his international debut off the bench against Australia in a 29-21 defeat.
Ospreys flanker Cross has made more than 100 appearances for Wales' Sevens team, however, and the 25-year-old is confident that experience will prove beneficial.
"My path is probably a bit different from the normal route, but I have played a lot of international rugby on the sevens circuit against top international players," he said.
"If you look at what the likes of Rieko Ioane [New Zealand wing] have done - he was a regular on the sevens circuit, but has come in and was one of the top players on the British and Irish Lions tour this year.
"That is a credit to the strength of the sevens circuit at the moment. Quade Cooper, Bryan Habana, Sonny Bill Williams - they have all played sevens in the last 12 months, so you can transfer those skills over.
"Rugby is rugby. There are a lot of similar things in the games. Maybe it is a bit more open in sevens, but fitness comes into it.
"Fitness is a big strength of my game. I am a bit different from your normal seven. I like to get my hands on the ball. Ball skills are one of my main strengths, running and off-loading."
