AFTER going two years without experiencing Test agony, giant lock Adam Beard doesn't intend to get a double dose just six days after experiencing a first defeat with Wales.

The Ospreys forward took to the international field for the 14th time at Twickenham last Sunday after a winning streak that featured successes in Apia, San Juan, Santa Fe, Paris Rome, Edinburgh and Cardiff (seven times).

But when Mathieu Raynal blew his whistle for the final time in London, Beard was on the losing side for the first time.

It may have 'only' been a World Cup warm-up but the 23-year-old, who failed to match Geoff Wheel's 15 games unbeaten between 1975 and 1978, doesn't want a repeat of the 33-19 loss to England in the return fixture on Saturday (kick-off 2.15pm).

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"It was disappointing and we would have liked to keep the winning streak going but we know what we have got to work on now going into this weekend," said the forward, who made his debut in Samoa in the summer of 2017.

"As disappointing as it was we've just got to respond – it's a four-Test series going into the World Cup.

"The main target is what is coming in six weeks so we will work on the negatives from Twickenham and right those wrongs at home.

"It's disappointing but we are already looking forward to Saturday. We've got a sell-out crowd and I am sure they will be a huge factor in it.

"International rugby is about winning games, but there is a bigger picture and it's all about six weeks' time."

Beard had his left wrist strapped after the game – "I had the X-ray and it came back all clear, it's only a little bump – and saw fly-half Gareth Anscombe follow number eight Taulupe Faletau in being ruled out of the World Cup through injury.

Some shuddering hits were put in at Twickenham and the same will be the case at Principality Stadium.

It's a necessary evil says Beard, as Wales count down to their World Cup opener against Georgia.

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"You can do all the training in the world, the fitness and the physical work in the gym, but there is nothing like getting out there on the field.

"You need those carries and big tackles to prep for what is to come; the physicality was right up there and will stand us in good stead."

Beard only made his Test debut in Samoa two years ago while he had just three senior Ospreys outings to his name when the last World Cup was played in England.

Now he is battling with Dragons captain Cory Hill, Jake Ball and Bradley Davies to join skipper Alun Wyn Jones in Japan.

"It's only my second season as an international, I am still a young guy and I've got a lot to learn but I am really enjoying it," he said.

"The World Cup is massive but I just have to concentrate on the day to day and week to week, improving all the time to get in that 31.

"It would be a dream come true to get on that plane but there is such strong competition, we have seen that over the past 18 months.

"I genuinely don't think that anybody is a cert for the squad and there are four or five boys knocking on the door in every position.

"Everybody is on their toes and that is making everybody work so hard in every session and every game. We know that we have to keep improving and keep taking our opportunities."

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Gatland names his 23 for the return fixture at 11am and has pledged to keep changes to a minimum with a view to the six-day turnaround between their Pool D fixtures against Georgia and Australia.

That has meant an intense week of learning at Wales' Vale Resort training base.

"It will emulate what is to come in Japan, we've rested up and looked at what went wrong so that we can put those parts right," said Beard.

"It's important that we use the time that we have, we have had to rest up and then work hard to make sure we are firing and ready to go on Saturday.

"Look at any England team and they bring that set-piece game, so we have to match them there in Cardiff and that is a challenge that we are all looking forward to."