'I'm sorry... I'm embarrassed by some of my comments': The Rugby Pod's Jim Hamilton has apologised 17 weeks after writing off Alun Wyn Jones' Lions chances
Retired Scotland international Jim Hamilton has retracted his early November claim that veteran Wales skipper Alun Wyn Jones doesn’t deserve to be selected by Warren Gatland on the 2021 Lions tour. Speaking 17 weeks ago in the wake of a derisory fifth-place finish in the delayed 2020 Six Nations after Wales struggled to adjust to Wayne Pivac’s new regime since succeeding Gatland following the 2019 World Cup, Hamilton suggested that Maro Itoje, James Ryan, Scott Cummings and Jonny Hill all merited Lions selection ahead of Jones.
“A lot of people say he is going to go on the Lions tour,” said Hamilton on The Rugby Pod November 4 show about Jones in the aftermath of the October 31 Scotland win over Wales at Llanelli in the rescheduled back match in last year’s Six Nations.
“In my opinion, he is not in the best four second rows. I’d say Jonny Hill is playing better than him. Scott Cummings from Scotland. Across the board in terms of where we stand now is Alun Wyn Jones in the top four second rows? Maro. James Ryan for Ireland: now he is not in the form he was but in my opinion he is still playing better than Alun Wyn Jones. And what is better? It’s carrying the ball, it’s defensively, it’s lineout.
“There is no doubt about it, Alun Wyn Jones is still a fantastic player. Like he absolutely is… but I have named four second rows there, Maro Itoje, James Ryan, Jonny Hill and Scott Cummings. Is Alun Wyn Jones the fifth or sixth? This is up for debate.”
Hamilton has now revisited his criticism on the latest episode of The Rugby Pod and taken back his suggestion that Jones was over the hill and shouldn’t feature on the next Lions tour. It comes in the wake of a startling Wales revival that has seen them defeat Ireland, Scotland and England during February to win the Triple Crown and set-up a Grand Slam bid in the coming weeks when they visit Italy and France.
Ex-Scotland lock Jim Hamilton doesn't hold back in outlining his current Lions pecking order at second row ? https://t.co/1p2aW49jhe
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 4, 2020
The ex-Scotland lock admitted he initially felt that recent red cards in favour of the Welsh and the refereeing controversies that gave them their disputed first-half tries versus England would take away from the merit of their recent rejuvenation. However, he now believes they are fully deserving of praise – especially veteran skipper Jones to whom he made an on-air apology.
“I was thinking if Wales win this game it has taken the shine off Wales winning this game (against England). Two red cards in the first two games for them and then these decisions. I know there was a tweet that came up on social media, is Jim going to apologise? I’m sorry, from the bottom of my heart. There is a couple of things. I’m pumped for rugby that Wales aren’t on the demise and aren’t on for a wooden spoon. And I’m embarrassed by some of my comments, I happy to say it.
“A load of them. Saying I think Wales, they’re down and out. Alun Wyn Jones isn’t the player that he was. I thought he was brilliant. I don’t think he was as good as Maro. I know Maro gave away ten penalties or whatever it was, five penalties at the weekend, but that is what it is. We have got an opinion and our opinion is not always right.
“From a Welsh perspective and watching Wayne Pivac’s body language from the first week in the Six Nations, you can visibly see in his eyes, because that is all we could see, the pressure to the emotion of game three against England at the weekend, you can’t not be happy for him.
“For whatever reason, and I for one had written Wales off – I don’t know why, I’ve only ever beaten them once – and when it matters, when it really, really, really matters they turn up. A Lions year, Gatland is in the crowd wearing his mask, absolutely loving it, playing against England, everyone is thinking England are going to beat them.
“Alun Wyn Jones, captain, I’ve questioned him, is he good enough? George North, we spoke about him two years ago and I’m like, ‘I don’t think he is that good’. He was phenomenal at the weekend and then you add into the mix now they have got Louis Rees-Zammit, Josh Adams after Covid-gate comes in and plays the way that he has played. Fair, fair play to them.
“Another point we can talk about as well is the back row, Justin Tipuric doesn’t give away a penalty. He never gives away penalties and the way that he plays, so I go back to my point – from a Wales perspective, I am sorry. I will never, ever doubt you again until you drop Alun Wyn Jones and then you’re never going to win again because that guy is the in-form second row in the Six Nations.
“I can’t believe that somewhere I also said that the Wales-Italy game might be for the wooden spoon. There needs to be a forfeit for that. I’ve shaved my head, I don’t know what else to say but like Elton John said, I’m sorry.”
@TheRugbyPod is excellent this week. Fair and balanced chit chat into what has been a crazy week for ruggers. Tip the slipper to big @jimhamilton4 and @AndyGoode10 ??????
— Greg Stark (@GregEdinburgh) March 2, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith and Ireland live rent free in Safa’s heads. Their comments only triggers because its true. If the Boks had dismantled a 14 man AB’s, then there would be more respect. But they didnt, in fact quite the opposite, the 14 man NZ were clearly better. And the Bok have always been ordinary between RWC’s, thats why their supporters are now ‘only RWC’s matter’. They know thats BS. Its BS to both AB’s and Bok’s due to their history. But now its all the Safas have. Now we’ll hear excuses when they lose “oh we didnt have all our players available, the ABs/France/Eng/Irel were at full strength”, forgetting for a minute that its because of their own dumb policy. Oh well, makes a change from blaming ‘cheating refs’.
23 Go to commentsNo Nick, they did not, in fact, justify any ‘probables’ label. At no time did they seriously compete for the championship. Ireland led from start to finish and in the end, as a result of glaring referee errors, were never under serious pressure to lose their crown.
28 Go to commentsMoney for him, and his family, has been the sole motivator since he signed for Queensland aged 17. Why else sign for Melbourne. Tupou is poorly advised. If he’d stayed and developed in NZ he would have had a long Test career. If Leinster offer him a few more coins than he’s currently earning, he’s goneburger.
4 Go to commentsFinn. No one would say Ford had played well up until the last game. One standout performance in 5 is hardly in form . It should be a given that a 10 will control play . Not in Fords case be praised for suddenly doing so. Where was he against Scotland ,Italy. The pundits were saying how far away from play he was standing and one even said that the Ireland game was his last chance saloon to perform . Not exactly top form catching anyones eye. If he can play like this game after game then great. Keep him in . But after 90 odd caps we all know he just doesnt keep it going . By all means keep him there but the issue is that Borthwick will persist even when he plays poorly. Which is more often than not. Thats why i am concerned that Smith ,despite fab form , cannot get a game at his preferred spot. Can you imagine Ford at full back .
5 Go to commentsI do not really get why put Ollivon at 6 when he’s a 7, while Cros was the best Frenchman of the tournament, playing at…6. His only game replacing Aldritt at 8 doesn’t change much in terms of his impact. Lamaro was also outstanding in that brilliant Italian side, probably better than Reffell. So putting 2 Welsh players from the wooden spoon holders, and none of the 4th nation (Scotland) is also strange. Is it about showing that in this harsh transition Wales is, there were some standouts…?
6 Go to commentsThe events at this year’s six nations should undermine many of the arguments made against promotion and relegation between the six nations and the REC. If Italy had been allowed to yo-yo between divisions it conceivably could have really hurt their development, but if Italy, Wales, and Scotland are all at risk of relegation, with none of them being relegated more often than once every 3 or 4 years, you’d have to back all of them to muddle on through it, especially when you factor in the likelihood they’ll still be guaranteed world league matches against tier 1 opponents. Another way of looking at italys resurgence would be to say that the development model of adding an extra team to the six nations has worked, and now must be done again. Georgia could join to make it a 7 team round robin, and if and when Georgia demonstrate an ability to consistently win games, Portugal can also be added to make it an 8 team 2 conference competition. Frankly at this point I think it falls to world rugby to demand that the 6N act in the interests of the game. If the 6N won’t commit to expansion then the 6N teams should be handicapped in world cup draws (i.e. world cup seedings would not be based on their ranking points, but on their ranking points minus a 5 point penalty).
5 Go to commentsSteve Borthwick deserves credit for releasing the shackles on his England side and letting them play in a manner that somewhat resembles the top sides in the Gallagher Premiership. Will they revert to type in New Zealand in July.?
28 Go to commentsJames Lowe wouldn't get in any other 6N team. He's a great example of Farrell’s brilliance, and the Irish system. He is slow. His footwork is poor. But he fits perfectly in that Irish system, and has a superb impact. But put him in another team, and he'll look bang average.
6 Go to commentsCrusaders reached their heights through recruitment of North Island players, often leaving those NI teams bereft of key players. Example: Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock robbed the Canes of their lineout and AB locks. For years the Canes have struggled at lock. This rabid recruitment was iniated by rule changes by a Crusader dominated NZR Head Office. Now this aggressive recruitment has back-fired, going after young inside back Hamilton Boys stars. They now have 4 Chiefs region 10s and not one with the requisite experience at Super level. Problems of their own making!
2 Go to commentsOver rated for a long time…exposed at scrum time too.
4 Go to comments“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to commentsFinn Russell logic: “World” = 4 countries. Ireland may be at or near the top. FR’s bigger concern should be he and his fellow Scots (incl. the Bloemfontein ones) sliding back down to below top 10
42 Go to commentsMind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever. Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
58 Go to comments$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
4 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
6 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
28 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
22 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to comments