Record-setter stays focused Boks outclass Namibia
Alun Wyn Jones might not strike you as the type of man who cries too often but, as the anthems ring out ahead of Wales’ crucial game with Australia tonight, you would forgive him if the emotion proves too much.
When he leads his side into battle at Tokyo Stadium, Jones will become Wales’ most-capped player — a landmark he greets with an insistence that the focus remains entirely on the task at hand.
But even though he gives the impression he would prefer trying to circumvent Tokyo’s expansive subway system without a map than talking about his achievement, the mask briefly slipped yesterday.
“On a personal level, it is nice for myself and my family,” he admitted. “But there is a much bigger picture, which is the match. I don’t think anybody is going to be worried about the numbers on the stats sheets. My focus is the game.”
Jones will make his 130th appearance — in a match that will decide who wins Pool D — overtaking former prop Gethin Jenkins. Wales’ other 100-cap players are Stephen Jones, Gareth Thomas and Martyn Williams.
No Wales player has made more test starts (118) or won more tests (65) than Jones, and no lock has scored more tries (nine) than the giant who Wales have turned to for inspiration over the years.
Others are more willing to explain what Jones has done, and continues to do, for his country.
“People who get to the top have a drive to want to be successful and he’s definitely done that,” said head coach Warren Gatland. “To become Wales’ record test player with 130 caps is special. Hopefully there are many more to come.”
Jones, 34, made his debut in 2006 at blindside flanker against Argentina in Patagonia. His first appearance as a lock came against New Zealand later that year.
He won a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2008 and was made captain against Italy in the 2009 championship, becoming the youngest forward to captain Wales since 1934. South Africa Namibia 57 3
South Africa restored some order at the World Cup by putting away Namibia 57-3 last night.
The Springboks’ second-string lineup was still on a different level against the World Cup’s lowest-ranked team in a Pool B game that was only a side story to Japan’s shock win over Ireland hours earlier.
South Africa scored nine tries, five in the first half and four in the second. Hooker Bongi Mbonambi and winger Makazole Mapimpi had a pair each.
Namibia have never won a World Cup game and the gulf between the teams was clear. Namibia also had players sin-binned in each half.
Mbonambi got both his tries from rolling mauls. Flanker Francois Louw also got one from the back of a maul and the Springboks were going at a point-a-minute in the first half.
Stand-in captain Schalk Brits also scored and broke out into a big smile. The game made 38-year-old Brits the second-oldest Springbok to play at a World Cup and the second-oldest man to captain the Boks at rugby’s marquee event.
The winning margin was South Africa’s smallest over Namibia.
South Africa 57 (M. Mbonambi 2, M. Mapimpi 2, F. Louw, L. Am, W. Gelant, S. Kolisi, S. Brits tries; E. Jantjies 6 cons) Namibia 3 (C. Loubser pen). HT: 31-3.