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Alun Wyn Jones has broken his silence on the remarkable 21 days which saw him go from suffering a tour-ending shoulder dislocation versus Japan in Edinburgh to running out as a Lions replacement in last Saturday’s tour win over the Stormers in Cape Town, an astonishing comeback that has now led to the veteran Welsh lock being handed a starting spot and the captaincy for this Saturday’s first Test versus the Springboks.
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It was June 26 when Jones was injured when cleared out at a Murrayfield ruck and it was soon announced by the Lions that he would miss the tour due to the likely severity of the injury. However, it was just three days later while at home in Wales that he received the results of his scan and was told there was a chance that he could recover sufficiently and get back on the tour.
Jones wound up spending some time in training with Wales and after he came through a full-contact session unscathed on July 13, he was called back by the Lions, flying into Cape Town two days later and then playing 26 minutes off the bench in the July 17 win over the Stormers. Now he is set to lead the Lions out in what will be his tenth successive Test series cap with the famed tourists.
“I can’t swear on here so I won’t go into too much detail but the first few days after that and getting home, I was at home on the sofa before the guys had even got to the airport on the Sunday so that was a tough one,” said Jones at his virtual Lions media briefing on Wednesday from Cape Town after Gatland confirmed a first Test XV consisting of six England players and three each from Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
“Fast forward to the Tuesday where I was told there was a chance, it was bordering on surreal. To be here having taking the knocks and bumps, it means more in the fact that I spent two weeks with the guys.
Gatland has voiced his anger over his leaked Lions team and vows to do things differently next week for the second Test versus the Springboks #LionsRugby #CastleLionsSeries #RSAvBILhttps://t.co/ke9yx87me9
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 21, 2021
“I was getting to know people, we were bedded into the rugby, I had the seven minutes (against Japan) and for the two days I was ‘tour done’, but I had the decent news on the Tuesday and sometimes all you need is a chance. I was willing to work hard and make it difficult for the guy next to me (Gatland).
“There weren’t many thoughts I can share with you (from that Tuesday). It was a quick couple of phone calls to get the apparatus I needed to start the recovery, to be ready for the next day, and I made sure I didn’t dwell on that and the situation for too long. It was about being proactive and starting the recovery and that is what I did and I guess that is why I am here.
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“It has been pretty whistle stop for me since I spoke to Warren and some of the management about being involved last Saturday literally off the plane. I was fortunate enough to get game time on Saturday and put myself in contention. To be sitting here now and be involved in the Test week is everything I worked for really over the last four years. To be sitting here now is a very, very special thing.”
Jones added he will be keeping things simple in terms of the messages he will be giving to the players in the build-up to Saturday’s Test series opener. “Very basic. When you get to this level and the calibre of players we have it doesn’t have to be over complicated. A big one is going to be composure.
“We are going to be in an arm wrestle. There is going to be a territory battle and the basic messages are going to be along those lines. There is going to be a lot of emotion involved but the calibre of player and the simplistic nature of that approach is what I have used with previous teams and Wales in the past and I’ll continue in a similar vein.
“He [Gatland] has probably had the hardest selection because of the quality of player we have, but the message I gave to the squad back at The Lensbury was we have come to win a Test series and we have a squad that is capable of starting that ball rolling.”
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Gatland said: “It is great in terms of him making a brilliant recovery to make himself available. He had a run-out the other day, had some time on the pitch and it’s fantastic. With regard to the selection, there were a lot of discussions and we did discuss whether we should start him on the bench.
“But when the decision was made that we were going to go with Ali Price at No9 we felt we really needed his experience and leadership in terms of starting in the second row. It’s pretty important to us to have him back.”
Tomorrow at 7pm ?
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— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 21, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
82 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments