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Six Nations 2013: Wales captain Ryan Jones to miss England game

Last updated on .From the section Welsh Rugbycomments190

Wales back-row Ryan Jones receives treatment

Wales captain Ryan Jones has been ruled out of the Six Nations title decider against England in Cardiff on Saturday.

The back-row, who turns 32 this week, was forced off in the 48th minute at Murrayfield after injuring his shoulder in Wales' 28-18 win over Scotland.

Justin Tipuric, Andrew Coombs and Aaron Shingler are options to start in the back-row against England.

Mike Phillips hopes Wales can let rip

"It looks as though he [Jones] will be out for six to eight weeks," said Wales assistant coach Robin McBryde.

"He has broken a bone in his shoulder and he is now under the management of the Ospreys."

As players who have been versatile enough to play in the second and back-rows, Newport Gwent Dragon Coombs and Scarlet Shingler are like-for-like options to take over from versatile Jones at blind-side.

Cardiff Blue Warburton could also join Tipuric in a re-formed Wales break-away trio with the former starting at six.

McBryde also raised the possibility of uncapped Osprey James King - a second-row regular this season - coming into the Wales back-row alongside number eight Toby Faletau and Sam Warburton.

"You've got Aaron Shingler, James King, Andrew Coombs as well to fall back upon so we're blessed we've got quality players in the back-row," said McBryde.

Coombs, 28, was uncapped ahead of the tournament and has earned plaudits for his displays against Ireland, France and Italy, the latter game in which Alun Wyn Jones returned from injury as a replacement for the Dragon.

McBryde said of Coombs: "He's played a lot of his rugby at six.

"He's played recently a lot more at second-row, but I think he's shown enough, definitely at regional level, but at international level as well with regards to how effective he can be with ball in hand and he's got great footwork [and] good off-loading ability.

"He's very accurate at the breakdown, both in attack and defence and he's got that physicality about him as well so he could well be an option for us at six."

Warburton, whom Jones replaced as captain against France, took over as skipper against Scotland and moved to the blind-side role to accommodate Osprey Tipuric's introduction.

But former Wales flanker Martyn Williams suggested lock Alun Wyn Jones should take over as captain if Jones was not fit to face England, to take the pressure off Warburton.

The win at Murrayfield was a record fifth successive away success in the Six Nations for Wales.

That victory set up a mouth-watering clash at the Millennium Stadium on 16 March against England, who will be going for the Grand Slam after at Twickenham on Sunday.

But defending Six Nations champions Wales will retain the title if they beat England by eight points, and could do so with a seven-point win.

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190 comments

  • Comment posted by Rich C, at 14:40 12 Mar 2013

    "3.gpemby
    Wait... the points difference is 14 so how does an 8 point win help Wales? They will win with a negative points difference v England?"

    Wales are playing England, so every point Wales score is a point conceded for England, so an 8 point win is a 16 point swing

  • Comment posted by JoolzMF, at 15:52 12 Mar 2013

    Sad to see Ryan Jones out of the game, the guy's been immense when called upon in this 6N. If anything, this could spur Warburton on to continue his great play from last weekend - I remember when Ryan lost his form not long after leading Wales to the GS, and he had to start all over again to regain his place then ultimately the captaincy again. Sam could use that to help him continue with his game

  • Comment posted by TheSongster, at 16:22 12 Mar 2013

    and here come the footy fans. Welcome.

  • Comment posted by User0360681420, at 18:25 12 Mar 2013

    Unless one or other team get a few ealry linebreaks its going to be another tight affair. Yeah people have been bagging the refs, but being a stickler for the complicated laws and nuances of the game is what it takes to be an IRB elite ref. The complicated rules are the problem.

    If England win the GS in Wales they would have deserved it. If wales win by the 7 point margin ditto...

  • Comment posted by TheSongster, at 20:14 12 Mar 2013

    Before it all started:
    France for GS
    England contenders
    Wales for WS
    Ireland have a chance
    Scotland and Italy??

    Followed by:
    England for GS
    Italy for GS
    Ireland for GS
    France, Wales, Scotland for WS

    Now:
    England for GS?
    Wales to be Champs?
    Scotland, Ireland??
    Italy, France Wooden Spoon?

    No matter how the rugby is played, it's always tough, exciting and ours!

    Come on Wales

    Good luck to all

  • Comment posted by Bristolwelshgirl, at 15:51 12 Mar 2013

    The Ref is the Ref tho - the laws are not his fault. It's his job to interpret and apply them. We couldn't play without them and sometimes not with them. We have to suck it up or go down football's slippery slope. I know what I would prefer.

  • Comment posted by User0599038360, at 16:56 12 Mar 2013

    @69 Raedwulf

    If England win I will happily declare it a brilliant attritional game of high quality rugby played under the most extreme pressure.

    If Wales win it will be a boring game ruined as a spectacle by a biased referee and a disappointing end to a very average 6N. ;-)

    Oh, and the pitch will have hindered Englands open, expansive style!

  • Comment posted by The Holy Hooker, at 15:21 12 Mar 2013

    Shame about Ryan -seems only yesterday that he burst onto the international scene as a Lions replacement in 2005.
    Benches and strength in depth are so important in tests now, and England seem to have the edge in bench strength. Haskell, Hartley and Lawes are big assets to bring on at around 60mins.Could be key.

  • Comment posted by User0302385138, at 10:01 13 Mar 2013

    161 Swanseajack92

    I have to agree! The "it's been a poor 6N" thing is usually shorthand for "my team hasn't been effortlessly brilliant throughout"

    You don't have to score 50 points to make a good game and we've seen both high scoring games and low scoring games where teams have had to adapt, as they should, to the conditions.

    ...and a decider in the last game. What more could a fan ask for?

  • Comment posted by Bristolwelshgirl, at 14:37 12 Mar 2013

    Sad for Ryan. He's just dug Wales out of an 8 match losing streak only to have to hand any glory over to Sam / Alan or whoever. If Wales win the championship there's only one man who should lift that trophy first - broken shoulder or not.

  • Comment posted by User0456443497, at 15:53 12 Mar 2013

    As an England and Italy supporter (made last Sunday a bit weird) I just hope that it's a great game, with the result not decided only by kicks. Real shame about RJ's shoulder. Hope Walsh realises that he's not the centre of attraction, and that there are some tidy scrums.

  • Comment posted by Come on Wales, at 21:52 12 Mar 2013

    @141 .... Think you will find that most other nations wish both sides luck and indeed would just like to see a damn good game of rugby...

    Certainly that is the case for all the a rugby fans I know from the other nations (many) and in fact all the true rugby fans from England and Wales .... Though naturally plenty of good quality banter incl

    Let the best side on the day win and let rugby win....

  • Comment posted by swanseajack92, at 03:10 13 Mar 2013

    everyone keeps saying this has been a poor six nations.
    i disagree. just because there have been no 50- pointers, is because since the first two weekends, every team has either been in contention for the title or for the wooden spoon. this six nations has been so unforgiving that it has made it exciting, in who will claim the title, whouldve thought scotland vs wales would matter?

  • Comment posted by User0713141355, at 17:07 12 Mar 2013

    To those asking earlier about Lydiate, his ankle is fine and has been for a couple of weeks but he's injured his hamstring! He's been training but pretty gently, he should feature somewhat in the next Dragons game.

    Obviously he's a big loss but I'm sure us Wales fans are a little bit excited by the prospect of what Warburton and Tipuric can do together from the start :)

  • Comment posted by nondescript, at 15:37 12 Mar 2013

    So sorry Ryan is out of Saturday's Test. A great servant of Welsh Rugby and a fantastic role model. Hopefully he will regain full fitness to be included in the Lions Tour Party, not just as a utility forward but as Mid-week Captain as well. We all wish him a speedy recovery.

  • Comment posted by D1679481394225, at 19:04 12 Mar 2013

    Shame for Ryan Jones, a decent bloke and a fine player. But his absence can be more than covered by 3 other quality back row players. Bit like Ben Morgan and England.

    Same pitch, same ref, all to play for. Come what may, England's inexperienced players will learn from the experience and Wales will finish the season on an overall up with the Ireland loss a distant memory. Good luck both teams

  • Comment posted by GivingUpTheGun, at 07:00 13 Mar 2013

    @152
    'you're arrogant'
    'no, you're arrogant..'

    Shut up - this is a rugby forum.

  • Comment posted by User0436934925, at 00:51 13 Mar 2013

    Ryan Jones will be a big miss but we have some good back ups in Tips and Coombs.

    I expect Wales to win on Saturday, apart from a crazy 40 minutes vs Ireland, they have been the best side in every game and in tough game. England = overrated. Wales by 15 clear points.

  • Comment posted by User0673755527, at 21:19 12 Mar 2013

    Re 1stDec2012
    Is that your date of birth
    What an idiot

  • Comment posted by Steve , at 09:46 13 Mar 2013

    Just heard that Steve Walsh is definitely NOT ref for the match as he doesn't recognise what's on his passport. He was last seen at Heathrow heading for Buenos Aires as he woke this morning and decided he wanted to be a South American cattle hand. Next week it could be an Italian waiter in Roma!

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