Rugby Wyn Jones may make shock return to Lions squad in South Africa
ALUN Wyn Jones could make a surprise return to the British & Irish Lions squad after seeing dramatic progress in his recovery from the dislocated shoulder that appeared to have ended his tour.
Jones sustained the injury six minutes into the opening match against Japan on June 26 but is now training with Wales and Warren Gatland will make a decision today whether to summon him to South Africa.
“A few weeks ago we didn’t think there was an option and he’s been back fully training with Wales. He’s trained this week with them,” said Gatland.
“I think he’s doing a double session tomorrow (Tuesday) with them and we’ll have to see what the outcome of that is.
“He’s made a remarkable recovery from that injury which isn’t as bad they first thought.
“That’s a real positive and it would be a boost to the squad having someone of his experience and calibre to come in.”
Conor Murray will make his first start since being named Wyn Jones’ replacement as British and Irish Lions captain in tomorrow’s clash with South Africa A.
Murray is reunited with Dan Biggar at
half-back at Cape Town Stadium in a combination which was last seen in the 28-10 victory over Japan that launched the tour in Edinburgh.
Murray played 29 minutes as a replacement against the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday in his second appearance of the tour, his afternoon cut short by a yellow card for killing the ball.
There are only three survivors from the XV which overwhelmed the team from Natal, with Biggar, Anthony Watson and
Chris Harris retaining their places. Watson makes successive starts and switches from wing to full-back to form a back three with Welsh duo Louis Rees-Zammit and Josh Adams. Harris moves from inside to outside centre, with Bundee Aki taking the number 12 jersey.
Gatland has opted for a back row of Josh Navidi, Tom Curry and Taulupe Faletau as the Lions await their toughest test of the tour having amassed a total of 181 points in three games against provincial opposition. Gatland intends trialling combinations for the Test series rather than giving his entire first-choice XV a run-out before the opener against the Springboks in Cape Town on July 24.
British & Irish Lions: A Watson (Bath Rugby, England); L Rees-Zammit (Gloucester Rugby, Wales), C Harris (Gloucester Rugby, Scotland), B Aki (Connacht Rugby, Ireland), J Adams (Cardiff Rugby, Wales); D Biggar (Northampton Saints, Wales), C Murray (Munster Rugby, Ireland, capt), W Jones (Scarlets, Wales), K Owens (Scarlets, Wales), K Sinckler (Bristol Bears, England), M Itoje (Saracens, England), I Henderson (Ulster Rugby, Ireland), J Navidi (Cardiff Rugby, Wales), T Curry (Sale Sharks, England), T Faletau (Bath Rugby, Wales).
Replacements: L Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, England), M Vunipola (Saracens, England), Z Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland), A Beard (Ospreys, Wales), T Beirne (Munster Rugby, Ireland), S Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, England), G Davies (Scarlets, Wales), E Daly (Saracens, England).