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The time Alun Wyn Jones confronted blazer over after dinner speech

By Kim Ekin
Wales rugby captain Alun Wyn Jones (Photo credit should read BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)

James Haskell has recalled how he impressed he was at seeing Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones confront a WRU blazer after a heavy defeat at Twickenham.

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The Welsh skipper appeared on ‘The Good, The Bad and the Rugby’ podcast recently and opened up about his career and plans for the future.

Haskell spoke about how he witnessed an unnamed Wales blazer dressing down the team in a speech at the after-match meal, only for the Welsh icon to immediately seek him out to confront him over what he’d said.

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“I was blown away the time England played Wales at Twickenham, and somebody from your side got up and did a speech and basically said you’d let the team down and it was a bit of an embarrassment and you walked straight up and said ‘don’t ever speak about a team like that, everyone has tried their 100 per cent.

“Yes the result, we didn’t get what we wanted but you cannot say that’. I was like ‘f***ing hell, I love that’, you want a leader to be able to speak up and say that. I was blown away.”

Jones said that approach had got him in trouble behind the scenes before.

“In credit to him [the speaker], I think he was as disappointed as we were. Obviously, he had a few more than we had.

“In credit to him as a man he met us in person and apologised to us. It is what it is sometimes.

“That sort of approach has got me in trouble at times as well. It doesn’t happen too often but I think sometimes when something needs to be said it needs to be said.”

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Wales ended a forgettable Guinness Six Nations campaign with a result few thought possible – losing at home to Italy. Their poor run of form in the Test arena has sadly been mirrored in the regional setup, where the teams have suffered one of their worst campaigns in years.

Wales are now gearing up for a World Cup year and Jones spoke recently about putting the recent run of results behind them.

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“It can definitely get better, can’t it. I won’t pull any punches on that.

“I think we have to rewind 12 months. There was this big thing about giving opportunities to players and getting the strength in depth which we haven’t had.

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“The melting pot of players is larger. It is down to us then, or Wayne to get the squad and essentially put a better product on the park.

“I think it’s perceptions. Results promote chatter and opinion. The inevitable criticism that will come, it always does.”

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Trevor 1 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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