Six Nations 2013: Alun Wyn Jones should be skipper - Williams

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Alun Wyn Jones

Martyn Williams believes Alun Wyn Jones should captain Wales against England in Saturday's Six Nations title decider if Ryan Jones is ruled out.

Jones is a doubt with a shoulder injury which forced him off in the win over Scotland, when Sam Warburton took over.

But Williams believes lock Alun Wyn Jones, not Warburton, should skipper the side if Ryan Jones is unavailable.

"I'd let Alun Wyn captain the side next week if Ryan doesn't make it," said Williams, who won 100 Wales caps.

"[It would] take the pressure off Sam [and] just say 'go out and cause chaos in the breakdown'.

"Rob Howley said himself he's had a tough few months. Let Sam concentrate on his game.

"There's going to be enough media hype this week and [Sam should] just do what he did [against Scotland] and concentrate on playing his own game."

Lock Alun Wyn Jones and Warburton returned to Wales' starting line-up against Scotland and Warburton was man-of-the-match in the 28-18 win at Murrayfield.

Scrum V Statpad: Scotland v Wales

Cardiff Blues flanker Warburton did not start in the wins over France and Italy but returned in place of Justin Tipuric against the Scots.

Despite the return of Warburton, Ospreys forward Ryan Jones retained the captain's armband against the Scots, having skippered the side in France and Italy.

But Jones is a doubt for Saturday's final game against England in Cardiff after he injured a shoulder early in the second half.

Wales' most-capped forward Williams - he made 100 Test appearances for his country - fears Ryan Jones will miss out.

"I'd be amazed [with a] shoulder injury to turn around in six days to be fit to go," Williams told BBC Wales' Scrum V programme.

"You never know with the physios and injections."

England's 18-11 victory over Italy at Twickenham means a win against Wales in Cardiff next Saturday would seal a first Grand Slam in a decade.

But a Wales victory by eight points or more, providing they stay ahead of England on tournament tries, would see Rob Howley's men retain the title.

Williams, a Grand Slam winner in 2005 and 2008, believes Wales are capable of denying Stuart Lancaster's side.

"I think we'll win [and] I think we'll win the championship," Williams said.

"I think they'll have to change the way they play because physically England will match them."

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94 comments

  • @11 By Mr. Trip you are referring to Alun Wyn Jones tripping Dylan 'Eye Gouge/Bite/Cheap Shot Specialist' Hartley in the same fixture in 2010 are you?

  • Completely agree with MW. AWJ is a born leader and SW isn't. The shackles were off for Sam and he created so many problems for Scotland it was great to see him rediscover the form that made him such a threat 18 months ago..

  • just out of interest who does everyone think is the best ref in the game? for me it's nigel owens

  • I think all this fuss about Steve Walsh in nonsense. All the refs are terrible atm, it won't make any differance which one it is. At least its not Alain Rolland

  • Bomber you are nuts, warbs and tipuric got to start, did you not notice the MOM for warbs? or u think 1 trip 2 Oz to watch wales lose means you know more about the game than Jon Davies, or any 1 of the other former players or pundits? Warbs tipuric and toby will start. All 3 will go with the lions and 2 will prob start in the test 15. Coombs has done well but nothing outstanding, Wales By 9

  • I agree, AWJ for captain, born leader, makes a noise on the pitch and it wont affect his performance. To the person who mentioned his fathers illness, I would have thought if he's captain he would want to have a good game for his dad! I would want to do the same. SW and JT play well together, tipuric going low SW over the ball gaining the Turn over. I dont think england will play that bad again

  • Bomber .. Just out of Interest .... Ow many Turnovers did Warbs achieve on Saturday ?

  • See comment on other blog ....
    Plain and simple if England lose it won't be because Walsh was ref

  • @71 ..... Excuses in early is all I can read into that ..... Pain and simple ....
    Both teams know the ref, his style, his pet hates .....

  • @58
    It would seem you are in a very small minority my friend. I rate the opinions of the pundits who all agreed (not just Jiffy) SW was man of the match 13 tackles, 3 turnovers. And they did not all happen while Tipuric was on! ( I am a Tips fan by the way)
    Class is permanent form is temporary

  • MAy i remind you of the occasion two years ago when england turned up to dublin thinking they were the boys and going to win the grandslam ect...what happened they choked and ireland beat them, i think wales will win this weekend, english players are arrogant, turn up thinking an easy victory on the cards, then underperform and wales will win by 8.

  • Silly argument going on here about Tips carrying SW. Absolute trash! The game plan when both are on the field is simple - dogged 6 work by Tip to go in low and tackle, and SW to steal. They worked and hunted as a pair. Please grow up and understand match tactics when they are clear as day. SW also made more than 5 cracking tackles prior to JT coming on. SW better ball stealer.

  • You said, Warburton made 3 turnover from the 52nd minute, within the last 30 minutes, all that happened when Tipuric was on the pitch...perfect foil for Warbs with Lydiate out, and Jones injured. I know that Faletau said that, however, that is his opinion of his own game, stats have shown differently, he's tackling and making yards, better than any other 8 in the 6n.

  • 34 not impressed with England too much to be honest and am English. It is all so predicatble and but for referee could have lost 3 of the 4 games, take the NZ game out and they were poor in Autumn too and NZ had norovirus bug.
    I just think at this time Wales, bigger,better and more experienced and have grinded way out of 8 game losing spell when in reality could have should have won 6 of them!

  • I must admit having played at openside for 30 years I know that flankers are a bit crazy and not always capable of TCUP as skippers.

    I don't know why but 2nd rows seem to make good (Lion's) captains, Johnson and McBride spring to mind. It might have something to do with that dark place they go at scrum time that enables them to think clearly about decisions to be made.

  • @19
    Great put down mate lol
    @11 You got it both barrels there pal! made my day

  • Nonsense coming in on the thread from the English re SW who had a great game - turnover after turnover
    RJ will captain if fit - if not AWJ
    This is free SW, Toby and JT to destroy a frail Eng back row
    You have been warned!
    THIS IS CAERDYDD

  • Bomber, I think you'll find that pretty much all the papers and the 'great' Sir Clive himself were effusive in their praise for Warbs so not just a biased Jiffy view. Interesting to see who England start with. Has to be Youngs (Care's box kick that went 3m behind the gain line was great comedy!), will Twelvetrees start and will Ashton's time finally be up after another woeful performance?

  • Personally I would have him as my Lions skipper. I know it's left field but to my mind none of the current skippers are up to it and he is the type of guy who would be a Martin Johnson type skipper. I said it 6 months ago and stick by it, think he is immense. Thoughts?

  • 3.Tommo.
    Poss W 58.8% E 62%
    In Ops Half 62.5% to 68.5%
    T-overs 9 to 0
    Error 22 to 40
    Poss Kick 36% to 21%
    Tackle 98% to 86%
    So England Missed more tackes and did not turn over a single ball. Watch out for Sam the Man, HE'S COMING TO GET YOU!!!
    Player stats are not too easy to get.

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