Alun-Wyn Jones on his World Cup hurt and what he needs to do to gain 2021 Lions selection
Wales captain Alun-Wyn Jones admits that World Cup pain is spurring him on to make a fourth British and Irish Lions tour.
Jones, who became Wales’ most capped player last month, has been tipped as a possible Lions captain when Warren Gatland’s tourists take on South Africa in July 2021.
The Ospreys lock forward will be nearly 36 by then, but Jones’ performances at the recent World Cup in Japan, where Wales finished fourth, suggest that he remains at the peak of his powers.
“I am not going to lie, I am aware it’s there, but it’s a two-pronged answer,” Jones said after being named BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year 2019. “You are never going to say never, but you don’t want to be too greedy as well.
“I am fully aware you have to be fit and playing well to be selected. If the planets align and I am potentially still there, then it’s somebody else’s decision. The losses still hurt but they inspire you to go on as well. It does spur you on and make you want to go again.”
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Jones, who has also been shortlisted for the BBC’s UK-wide Sports Personality of the Year award this weekend, has enjoyed a stellar 2019.
He was instrumental as Wales won the Grand Slam, claimed the top spot in the World Rugby rankings and reached the semi-finals of the World Cup.
Jones’ final game of the tournament – against New Zealand – saw him win his 134th Wales cap, which added to his nine Tests for the Lions and saw him surpass Italy’s Sergio Parisse to move to second in the world all-time caps list with 143.
? Wales men's rugby union captain Alun Wyn Jones is the BBC Cymru Wales Sports Personality of the Year for 2019.
? https://t.co/461m3QAh8Q pic.twitter.com/g6jNXLHTUe— BBC Sport Wales (@BBCSportWales) December 11, 2019
Only Richie McCaw, who led the All Blacks to World Cup success in 2011 and 2015, has more caps to his name with 148. Jones could equal that mark in the 2020 Guinness Six Nations when Wales will be under the charge of new head coach Wayne Pivac.
Asked if he was excited by the new era, Jones said: “Massively so. “One of the highlights of the year was the Grand Slam, but you also look at the likes of Josh Adams, Aaron Wainwright, Tomos Williams and others.
“People have had opportunities and stood up. That’s probably as big as a Grand Slam and with a new coach, it’s exciting times. I’ve sat down with him (Pivac) on a few occasions.
Rugby World magazine stirs the pot with a World XV for 2019 where South Africa don't have it all their own way
https://t.co/hLPjphfOE8— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 10, 2019
“I was in for that Barbarians week on the three days that he wanted everyone in. I think there were a few raised eyebrows after the World Cup, but it was invaluable really as time is always precious.”
Jones missed the non-capped Test match victory over the Barbarians at the end of November with a groin injury that has sidelined him since the World Cup. But he hopes to return to action for the Ospreys over Christmas and build up his fitness before Wales’ Six Nations opener against Italy on February 1.
“We are carrying a bit of hurt from the World Cup,” Jones said. “I am on a personal level because we went out there believing we could win it.
Wayne Pivac will walk the Gatland's Gate countless times but he will look to forge his own identity on a team that showed encouraging signs against the Baabaas, according to @OwainJTJones https://t.co/bJ0DDloj2w
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 2, 2019
“Having had the Sunday morning after Grand Slams and Championships and winning trophies you want that. Warren was honest, consistent and essentially really proud of what he did and what he created with Wales.
“The phrase has been coined that it’s Wayne’s World now. Wayne is going to do it in his way but carry on with some of the foundations that have been laid.”
– Press Association
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Comments on RugbyPass
To me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
30 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
30 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
30 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
30 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
30 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
30 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
30 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to comments