HALLAM Amos is being tipped to enjoy an accomplished first cap by the man who made the most famous of dream debuts for Wales, fellow Monmouth School old boy and teenage prodigy Keith Jarrett.

Newport Gwent Dragons star Amos plays in his opening Test tonight, making his bow for Wales against Tonga at the Millennium Stadium on the wing at the tender age of 19 years and two months.

Newport’s Jarrett was just 18 years and 11 months old when he equalled the then Wales match points record of 19, scoring a sensational individual try and kicking all of his side’s five conversions and slotting over two penalty as England were routed in 1967.

The full-back’s performance in that 34-21 victory has become part of Welsh rugby folklore, the old enemy had arrived at Cardiff Arms Park confident of securing a Triple Crown at the expense of the hosts, playing to avoid being saddled with the dreaded wooden spoon.

Jarrett played out of position that day, the centre was selected at No 15 in only his second senior match there and, remarkably, never played full-back again.

A tourist with the 1968 British and Irish Lions in South Africa, he went on to win ten caps for Wales – securing a Triple Crown and Five Nations title – before switching codes to play rugby league, a brain haemorrhage in 1973 tragically cutting short his career at the age of 25.

On his fellow Monmouth School alumnus Amos, also a versatile back able to switch between full-back, centre and wing, Jarrett said: “Hallam was younger than me at 17 when he played in his first senior game when the Dragons played Wasps two years ago and he did very well in that game and as has gone on to do well when playing for Wales Under-20s.

“I did meet him when I was invited to a speech day at Monmouth School. After lunch, I made a beeline for him and introduced myself.

“He seems very confident and although I’ve not seen that much of him playing, when I have, he’s shown he’s got speed, he makes breaks and is safe under the high ball. I’m sure he will do very well on his debut.”

On his own show-stopping entrance against England 46 years ago, Jarrett said: “When I first played full-back, for Newport against Newbridge, the week before that game, I had a howler!

“My first cap was just one of those days when everything went right. I never knew why England’s outside half (John Finlan) didn’t have me running from one corner to the other with his kicking because I’m sure if my Newport and Wales captain that day Dai Watkins had been playing for them, that’s what he would have done.

“I always thought the Welsh pack dominated the match but when I watched the game again 20 years later, the opposite was true.”

Jarrett added: “It felt surreal at the final whistle – I remember having a cigarette in the changing room before going to do an interview for BBC Grandstand, climbing to the end of a ladder to get to top of the South Stand to meet either David Coleman or Frank Bough – I can’t remember which one.

“I had a shock when I arrived because my old headmaster R F Glover was already there, waiting to congratulate me.

“He said to me, ‘Well played George’. He called everyone George because he could never remember anyone’s name!

“I was in a daze for after the game but I do remember having a few glasses of champagne and I didn’t get I certainly didn’t get the bus home that night!”