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Six Nations 2013: Lock Alun Wyn Jones called into Wales squad

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Unioncomments142

Alun Wyn Jones

Ospreys lock Alun Wyn Jones has been added to Wales' Six Nations squad ahead of the match with Italy on 23 February.

Jones, 27, came off the bench in Ospreys' win over Ulster on Friday, the night before Wales beat France 16-6 in Paris.

He had not played since injuring a shoulder against Argentina in November.

Ex-Wales flanker Lyn Jones has said Jones should start against Italy, despite Andrew Coombs and Ian Evans impressing in the win against France.

"Should he be selected next time? Too right he should be," Lyn Jones told Sunday's Scrum V programme.

Scrum V pundits on France v Wales

"He came on [as a replacement] on Friday night and changed the game for the Ospreys. [He was a] man amongst boys."

Lions lock Jones was one of three specialist second rows unavailable for Wales for the start of the Six Nations because of injury.

Blues' Bradley Davies and Perpignan's Luke Charteris are both out for the whole of the Six Nations tournament.

Wales were boosted by the return from injury of Jones' Ospreys team-mate Ian Evans, while Newport-Gwent Dragons' Andrew Coombs was awarded his first cap against Ireland.

Evans and Coombs started in Wales' 16-6 win over France in Paris, the day after Alun Wyn Jones made his Ospreys return.

London Welsh head coach Lyn Jones also believes captain Sam Warburton should be restored to the starting line-up in Rome.

The Wales captain missed the game in Paris with a shoulder injury and the side was skippered by Ryan Jones in his absence, with Justin Tipuric starting in Warburton's usual number seven shirt.

Rob Howley's side ended their eight-match losing run with victory over France and their first win in Paris since 2005.

Highlights: France 6-16 Wales

"Sam Warburton should come back into the side and he should start," added the former Ospreys head coach on Scrum V.

"He's the captain and is the best open-side in Wales for two years and I think we should start him."

Kingsley Jones, Lyn Jones' assistant coach at London Welsh, believes Wales should stick with the team that won in France.

"I would keep Alun Wyn Jones on the bench and I would keep the same team," the Russia head coach said.

"They've been through eight defeats, they've worked hard and they got a win in France.

"I'd keep Tipuric in the team, he's done nothing wrong and has played well."

But former Wales lock Gareth Llewellyn believes Andrew Coombs and Ian Evans should retain their places in the second row against Italy.

"He's [Coombs] got the shirt, he's played really well, he's done nothing wrong and why would you change it?" Llewellyn said.

"I think Ian Evans has played superbly well off of very little rugby and Alun Wyn can come on the bench.

"He'll get some game time and have a chance to put his hand up for the England game."

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142 comments

  • Comment posted by U11743023, at 10:30 11 Feb 2013

    I'm in Kingsley's camp on this, AWJ is a great lock, but give him bench space along with Sam.
    The front row deserve another chance, this time on maybe a better pitch and "no feel for the game Clancy" present to annoy.
    Lloyd made a good difference and there ought to be others on the bench who can do the same.
    Captain HAS to be Ryan, 2 years ago i was isolated in that view.

  • Comment posted by Blew1, at 10:48 11 Feb 2013

    RJ should be captian, SW is off-form and doesn't seem to be leading well at the moment so why keep on selecting him when he shouldn't be there and pile more pressure on him and extend his poor form further? Look what happened to Priestland! SW is a world class player on his day, but he hasn't had one of those for a LONG time now, the management should stick to picking the in form players. Simples.

  • Comment posted by dragonsbreath, at 16:37 11 Feb 2013

    Hersh, genuinely, why do you bother? Don't worry about the sanctimonious 'I'm just a rugby fan...everybody else is bitter etc etc' People come on here to chat about Rugby for enjoyment, and then you pop up. Really and truly, why? What do you get out of it? Just want to make the world a slightly less pleasant place? Seems quite a poor, toxic little ambition really. Puzzling..

  • Comment posted by U15182970, at 15:15 11 Feb 2013

    One full back we haven't mentioned is lee byrne, it's strange how he has been left in the cold.

  • Comment posted by Steve, at 12:48 11 Feb 2013

    Keep the side as it is.

    Been v impressed with Coombs. Good in the pinout, strong tackler and gives good go forward something Wales really need. AWJ is good in every area but excels at nothing and doesn't get much go forward.

    Both Evans and Coombs give us this.

    Agree about Walker - love to see him off the bench or starting, eventually North will get moved to centre coz Walker's pace is serious.

  • Comment posted by U15536233, at 08:43 11 Feb 2013

    Leave the starting 15 as it is. They have just beaten France in Paris and deserve their places.
    Agree with 1 and 2, AWJ on the bench.

  • Comment posted by TARW, at 14:08 12 Feb 2013

    All academic now Rob Howley has rightly named an unchanged starting line up, however I hope he looks to experiment a little with the bench I would pick Mitchell Owens Bevington Warburton AWJ Williams Hook and Walker

  • Comment posted by JohnnyWAL, at 13:54 12 Feb 2013

    @125 have to disagree with your rating of AWJ.
    Personally I think he is Wales best all round 2nd row, him and Charteris would be my ideal partnership.
    I do agree that he should not start after a half of regional rugby, the pack was fantastic in France, Coombs and Evans have been good so far, don't change anything! Have AWJ on the bench.

  • Comment posted by dragonsbreath, at 13:34 12 Feb 2013

    @116 Frank - glad you're finding it all entertaining. For me the most diverting moment on the thread so far was you barging in with your 'facts' which turned out to be wrong, resulting in a red-faced blizzard of justification. Give us more - there's an audience for that kind of thing!

  • Comment posted by U14352397, at 11:16 12 Feb 2013

    From this day forth Ryan Bevington will be known as 'Bev the Rev'. Awesome try against Ulster last week.

    Don't know who said it, one pndit did that Bev might be an outside shot for the Lions.

    Interesting....

  • Comment posted by Freddie1973, at 23:45 11 Feb 2013

    Team for the next World Cup

    Samson lee
    Hibbard
    Bevington
    Ian Evans
    Charteris
    Lydiate
    Tuperic
    Faletau
    Rhys Webb???
    Priestland
    North
    J Davies
    Ashley beck
    Eli walker
    Halfpenny

  • Comment posted by Colchins, at 22:35 11 Feb 2013

    FB Byrne
    W North
    W 1/2p
    C Daves
    C Williams
    FH Hook
    SH Williams
    P Jenkins
    H Hibbert
    P Jones
    SR Evans
    SR Coombes (AWJ on bench)
    F Tiperic
    No8 Jones
    F SW

    Strong pack
    Lively backs

  • Comment posted by Gokikia, at 16:27 11 Feb 2013

    "AWJ is now a good squad player, no more"

    What?! Is this some sort of joke? Don't mind if you feel he shouldn't start as Evans and Coombs have impressed but to say he's no more than some sort of fill in squad player really sounds stupid. AWJ is world class

  • Comment posted by Bringbackbarryjohn, at 16:05 11 Feb 2013

    Re 51. To give a straight answer to a tongue in cheek question, the greatest? Neither of the two options, nor the source of my name in this sequence. Has to be Dai Watkins. You have to be in your sixties to remember him, but the fastest fly half over the first 20 yards I ever saw. And what a jink. Different game now, of course, but he was a great entertainer. Any other candidates?

  • Comment posted by Robert Howells, at 15:13 11 Feb 2013

    Thanks for not being having 'a problem with that'. It is simply that you are a bore, buttie!

  • Comment posted by Robert Howells, at 14:59 11 Feb 2013

    @41 what a boring life this guy lives
    I run a busy business on-line & every hour I drop in to get some intelligent Welsh rugby conversation, just to find this Sais jerk wasting my time - can't avoid seeing what's on the screen, you see ... bit like catching a cold except this clown is more anti-social
    Go away!
    PS he will now spend 20 mins of his valueless time thinking about a "witty riposte"

  • Comment posted by U14332681, at 14:30 11 Feb 2013

    @25
    I feel a bit sorry for Roberts he runs through brick walls for Wales, as its their game plan. Plays straight after injuries and gives his all running at back rows, yet he still gets loads of stick from the Welsh public.
    I think his form is struggling a bit because of a combination of both.

  • Comment posted by U15465885, at 14:27 11 Feb 2013

    I think Bevington should start ahead of Gethin Jenkins, AWJ with Warbs on the bench and give Walker a chance (if fit)

  • Comment posted by celticnomad, at 13:39 11 Feb 2013

    Don't change it, to do so would be madness. Regardless of form, victory in Paris is no mean feat. If you're going to keep faith after an appalling 40 minutes against Ireland , why would you then punish players for a great 80 minutes against France. If AWJ fit he comes onto bench as Reed very much emergency cover. Warburton also on the Bench (hard on Shingler dropping out of Match Day Squad).

  • Comment posted by Gazza, at 13:28 11 Feb 2013

    @15-scrumpox2. I agree that AWJ is world-class and is good in the 'enginroom', but with Coombsie you have two for the price of one - proved his worth in the second row and, if you watched the match closely, both he and RYAN JONES were clearing those rucks and taking out the bigboys - as blindsides should do. I am neither an O's nor NGD, but I say keep both Ryan and Andrew in for the Italy game.

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