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.
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.”
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.
“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
Thanks Nick. I’m looking at the other 7 options in Australia and they don’t seem to be close behind Fraser at the moment? Even before reading this I thought he was well ahead. A random one - Slipper and Allalatoa seem to be getting well beaten in the scrum. I can’t remember this happening often before. Is it a technique/teamwork issue or are their bodies finally past it?
12 Go to commentsNZ is now entrenched in Div 2 of womens rugby. Canada would be thrashed by the likes of France or England. Europe are Div 1, with massive competitions, massive money…
2 Go to commentsBlackadder dies not deserve selection. He has not played enough games. Finau is just better. Kaino's replacement at Blindside On form TJ should be the starting 9 .
127 Go to commentsThe difference is Cotter..
5 Go to commentsThey can’t handle the level of comp in the NH. Pollard was a complete waste at Montpellier - and was the backup 12 when he left. Kitschoff was stealing his paycheque every week at Ulster,- getting absolutely rinsed by backup THs in the URC. There is a reason all the Boks go to Japan - they don’t have it in them to be able to compete. And yes, they won the RWC. Where Barnes and O'Keeffe were the direct reason for that tragedy occurring.
39 Go to commentsTrouble with Jones is he has so many impractical innovations. Kemeney wasn't good enough in any position for top level test rugby. I like how Vern has Papalii playing. He's always had the workrate when in form, although I'm not sure that he quite has Cane's mongrel.
12 Go to commentsPut those results on the old CV and send it in to the crusaders bro.
1 Go to commentsJust go with a top 6 system where the top 2 teams go straight to the semi-finals and the other 4 teams fight it out for the other 2 semi-final spots.
8 Go to commentsIt’s a shame that Baxter wasn’t nominated for DoR of the season. what he did is more impressive than McCall imo
1 Go to commentsSeveral boks said during World Cup they play so hard to give people back home hope. As an Englishman the Springboks Captain’s life story is an inspiration which should give us all hope and inspiration. Rather like that other great South African, Nelson Mandela
39 Go to commentsFox News, Tucker Carlson, Jordan Peterson and Joe Rogan? Yikes.
1 Go to commentsThat is harsh though. Messi has/had a reputation for trying to keep his feet and keep dribbling for goal. Many of his brethren were the histrionic divers but not him.
2 Go to commentsMcReight is certainly one of the first picked. He’s going to be the glue, a Wallaby with some rugby IQ and the everywhere man for the Wallabies.
12 Go to commentsSophie De Goede is one of the best players we’ve ever produced. Kicked all the points, 2 try assists, line out takes, carries, tackles, charge downs… what a player
1 Go to commentsThe guy had just beasted himself in a scrum and the blood hadn't yet returned to his head when he was pushed into a team mate. He took his weight off his left foot precisely at the moment he was shoved and dropped to the floor when seemingly trying to avoid stepping on Hyron Andrews’ foot. I don't think he was trying to milk a penalty, I think he was knackered but still switched on enough to avoid planting 120kgs on the dorsum of his second row’s foot. To effectively “police” such incidents with a (noble) view to eradicating play acting in rugby, yet more video would need to be reviewed in real time, which is not in the interest of the game as a sporting spectacle. I would far rather see Farrell penalised for interfering with the refereeing of the game. Perhaps he was right to be frustrated, he was much closer to the action than the only camera angle I've seen, however his vocal objection to Rodd’s falling over doesn't legitimately fall into the captain's role as the mouthpiece of his team - he should have kept his frustration to himself, that's one of the pillars of rugby union. I appreciate that he was within his rights to communicate with the referee as captain but he didn't do this, he moaned and attempted to sway the decision by directing his complaint to the player rather than the ref. Rugby needs to look closely at the message it wants to send to young players and amateur grassroots rugby. The best way to do this would be to apply the laws as they are written and edit them where the written laws no longer apply. If this means deleting laws such as ‘the put in to the scrum must be straight”, so be it. Likewise, if it is no longer necessary to respect the referee’s decision without questioning it or pre-emptively attempting to sway it (including by diving or by shouting and gesticulating) then this behaviour should be embraced (and commercialised). Otherwise any reference to respecting the referee should be deleted from the laws. You have to start somewhere to maintain the values of rugby and the best place to start would be giving a penalty and a warning against the offending player, followed by a yellow card the next time. People like Farrell would rapidly learn to keep quiet and let their skills do the talking.
1 Go to commentsThe name “Kwagga” came to mind while I was reading this. And there’s another Sevens convert roaming the wide open kant at the Lions now - JC Pretorius. Keep an eye on him.
12 Go to comments2024 Rugby Championship: Sat, 10 Aug 2024 – Sat, 28 Sept 2024. Looking forward to watching the All Blacks coached by Scott Robertson, with or without the ‘dynamic’ qualities of Shannon Michael Frizell - see his display against South Africa at Go Media Mount Smart Stadium on July 15.
1 Go to commentsI agree about 8 being too many The English premiership has top four only Top 14 has six URC has 8 I think 6 would be fine It gives those other two teams an incentive But rewarding a team in perhaps 8th with three wins is atrocious If they get in they know they only need one big game
8 Go to commentsInteresting article. I think the answer lies in a comment Kwagga Smith made during the World Cup. Asked whether it bothers him that the Bok team doesn’t get more credit he said: “We don’t play for people to respect us: we play for each other and we play for South Africa.” The Springbok team is a brotherhood - an incredibly tight unit, most of whom are good friends off the pitch as well. Not only do they not want to let South Africa down, but they fight like crazy not to let their teammates down. Not saying they don’t care about their club teammates, but I think the bond shared in the Boks is just much, much deeper. Tough to forge the same sort of bond at a club over a handful of years. That must translate into superior performances for country over club.
39 Go to commentsThere is very little creativity in the 9-10 axis for SA. 10 needs to be solid, put the work in and kick the points. the SA counter is almost always via the edge or a kick through for a winger. When was the last offensive backline score from SA against a top team? Perhaps the ultra physical nature of the SA teams means players they get to hit more stats in those games. Maybe the SA pleyers are perfectly suited to the SA system. In other Words they are not club players gathered to play SA Internationals. They are SA International players adapting to play club.
39 Go to comments