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Lions explain bench U-turn selection after the arrival of Jones
Warren Gatland has explained his U-turn regarding the bench selection of Alun Wyn Jones for this Saturday’s Lions match versus the Stormers in Cape Town, their last preparation match before the three-game Test series versus the Springboks opens on July 24.
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The Lions boss had initially stated on Wednesday night when Jones was en route to Cape Town following his miracle shoulder dislocation recovery that the veteran Welsh forward would not be considered for selection against the Stormers as his original tour captain would likely need to spend a few days isolating before getting stuck into the action.
However, having arrived in South Africa on Thursday morning along with fellow mid-tour call-up Ronan Kelleher, Jones came through a round of virus testing and was cleared by the Lions medics to be available for selection for this weekend’s game.
“It was just making sure that he came and was tested,” explained Gatland about the Stormers game U-turn involving a player he thought was lost to the tour for good when he suffered his shoulder dislocation versus Japan on June 26 in Edinburgh.
“He passed the Covid tests. We needed to check on that and make sure that was done, make sure he got here safely and fit. We then just looked at the options, spoke to Alun Wyn and spoke to the medical team about the ability to put him on the bench and so we went ahead to do that. We felt that if he was going to be in contention next week that he needed to have a hit-out to prove 100 per cent that he was fit and ready to go.
The fun and games between Gatland and Erasmus are building nicely ahead of the July 24 Lions versus Springboks first Test #LionsRugby #CastleLionsSeries #LionsSA2021https://t.co/THcoGq274Y
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 15, 2021
“He needs 20 minutes so we have had that conversation with him. I know he has travelled and just arrived today [Thursday] but if he is in contention for next week he needs to have a run. That is why we wanted him to have that and if someone comes off (earlier) he is ready to go. We wouldn’t have brought him out unless he was 100 per cent.
“That was part of the thing that he went back to Wales, he rehabbed, he took a full part in the Welsh training. We have been looking very closely at a number of videos of the training sessions he had taken part in and if the medical team hadn’t passed him fully fit then he wouldn’t have come out.”
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Gatland has said on Wednesday night following the 17-13 loss to South Africa A that the arrival of Jones back into the selection mix by no means guaranteed him a spot in a second row contest where Iain Henderson, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes and Adam Beard have all especially gone well.
“No, it’s not,” said Gatland when asked if Jones’ Test selection was guaranteed. “He hasn’t had any rugby for the last three weeks even though he has been taking a full part on training and stuff. It’s something we won’t make a decision on that.
“It’s going to be a conversation about what we do with the team because in the game at the moment having guys come off the bench is incredibly important and having guys who can come off and make a difference.
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“That is going to be incredibly important for the Test matches that we have players who come off the bench and can really give you something, can give you energy but also that experience and ability to be able to change a game. There are no guarantees of anyone being selected. Those discussions will take place after Saturday’s game.”
It was Thursday when Gatland revisited his thinking around Test selection, insisting that multiple places were still up for grabs. “Probably fluid in terms of 60, 70 per cent,” he suggested. “We have got some thoughts on where we are. We want to see some players have another hit out this weekend, have another look at some of those combinations.
“There are a few guys who aren’t involved who we are pretty happy with but it is still an opportunity for the side on Saturday to go and stake a claim. We felt we learned a heck of a lot from last night’s runout against the Boks. We were disappointed with some of our turnover rate.
The latest Lions bulletin also covers Watson, Jones and Williams, the trio hurt Wednesday's loss to South Africa A #LionsRugby #CastleLionsSeries #LionsSA2021https://t.co/AFmGpGlqpJ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 15, 2021
“We got on top of that much better in the second half. We were really pleased with our second-half performance, how strong we were and we finished over the top of them. But we need to start better and we need to make sure we are in that arm wrestle early on and deal with their kicking game. That is pretty much in our thoughts as well.”
Itoje, meanwhile, was looking forward to the increased competition for Test places that the return of Jones will bring to the Lions squad. “I want the competition, I want the best team available, I want to compete. All those kinds of decisions are up to the man that gets paid the big bucks, Warren, so I will leave that to him but from my point of view, I just want to do whatever I can to help this team be successful.
“He [Jones] is a man of immeasurable experience, he is the most capped rugby player in the history of rugby so he is going to add his experience, he is going to add his clout and add his edge.”
Maro Itoje delivers a very blunt assessment of the South African style of play#LionsRugby #CastleLionsSeries #LionsSA2021
https://t.co/5jTYG2pGpv— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 15, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to comments