As a recipient of the Macphail Scholarship, Adam was spending his summer in New Zealand training with the Canterbury Rugby Football Union's international high performance unit (IHPU) and playing for University in the local league competition.

However, with Scotland's punishing summer tour schedule resulting in a personnel crisis in the back row, Adam found himself called up to face the Springboks in Durban.

The first Adam knew about Vern Cotter's plans was when Glasgow assistant coach Kenny Murray, also attending the IHPU, told him a start against South Africa was probable with Glasgow head coach Gregor Townsend confirming the news.

''It was a fair step-up,'' said Adam

''Obviously the physicality of the South Africans was a really big ask but I would like to think the state of rugby here is really open and you do cover a lot of ground when you play club footy.

''I didn't feel unfit, it was more just the impacts I was getting which were quite a bit harder.''

Adam played the full match as the under-strength Scots, who started six uncapped players, succumbed 55-6 after trailing 19-6 at halftime.

He returned to New Zealand after the match but will be back in Scotland later this month, having completed his 15-week scholarship.

During his stay he has boarded with a family near the IHPU's base at Rugby Park.

Canterbury assistant coach Jason Holland is Adam's main point of contact during training sessions, while head coach Scott Robertson and another assistant, Scott Hansen, also offer guidance.

Former All Blacks captain Reuben Thorne has also mentored him and reviews his University games.

''He doesn't say a lot but when he does it hits home,'' said Adam in the Christchurch Press.

''He's been in most weeks to go over my game from the weekend or to do a session. That's pretty good footage, so we usually talk through the clips when we watch things like the contact area."