WYN WILL RECLAIM PROP SPOT, INSISTS HIS OLD COACH
WYN Jones may have a farming background but he isn’t about to hurl a bale of hay at Wayne Pivac or angrily point a shears the way of Wales’s coach and his fellow selectors.
That isn’t the way the unflappable West Walian carries on at all.
But he could be forgiven for wondering what’s happened to his rugby fortunes of late.
Barely three months ago he was coming off a Lions tour as first-choice loose-head with plaudits as the best in his position in the British Isles.
Nothing lasts for ever, though, and now he finds himself relegated to the Wales bench with a 23-year-old in front of him and the national coach suggesting Jones “has some work to do to get to full fitness levels required to play at Test level”.
Call that coming down to earth with a splat.
Jones coughed up a couple of penalties against New Zealand and endured a difficult game off the bench against South Africa when he came on for 10 minutes to face the full force of a fresh Springbok front row after Rhys Carre had been yellow-carded, then he had 11 minutes on the pitch at the end when the visitors were pretty much in full cry in all areas.
Sometimes games go that way, as if written in the stars that things are not going to go to plan.
The trick is not to dwell on them. So where does it all leave Jones? Well, the reasons for his testing autumn with Wales are clear.
Firstly, he had his wedding to longtime partner Jeian Lewis to think about in September. However you look at it, such an event does require more than a bit of focus. A time when confetti seems more important than
Connacht, for sure.
Secondly, resetting mentally and physically after a Lions tour isn’t easy.
And, thirdly, Jones had played only 93 minutes of rugby over two games for the Scarlets this season heading into camp with Wales. Ahead of a game with the All Blacks, that’s not even within a space flight of being ideal.
Not the club’s fault, nor Jones’s fault. But not perfect.
But those who are starting to suggest that perhaps Wales may have already seen the best of the 29-year-old could well be misreading the situation.
For Jones has experienced reverses in his career before but he has always found ways to recover.
And his former coach at Llandovery, Euros Evans, reckons he will get back on track this time as well.
“Wyn’s pathway to the top wasn’t straightforward,” said Evans, the current Drovers head coach.
“He’s had lots of disappointments along the way.
“It went smoothly enough for him at Llandovery. He was a Junior Drover, he played for our second team, then he made the first XV. We farmed him out to Ammanford along the way to continue his development.
“But in terms of his natural progression to the regional scene, he didn’t make the Scarlets squad initially.
“He experienced setbacks – didn’t make U18s, didn’t make U20s. A lot of people doubted him, but he is mentally strong, controls what he can control and works hard.
“He doesn’t let a problem turn into an upset and his focus is on what he can achieve.
“Of course he’ll be disappointed with the way things are going, but he has that resilience in him and that tenacity to keep going.
“I have no doubt he’ll bounce back.”
How hard is it after a Lions tour, though?
“The Lions is the pinnacle for a player,” said Evans.
“It’s not just physiologically draining. The same applies psychologically as well, coming back from a tour and then going again. Emotionally, it’s a huge challenge.
“Wyn has also just got married. “There are just a few things that have come together at once.
“The certainty is that starting back in Tests against the All Blacks after just a couple of games is no easy task.”
The challenge for all sports people is to see success as part of an unfolding journey rather than the end of that journey.
The best ones grasp that and keep achieving, reflecting on what they have done only after they’ve retired. It is a mindset Alun Wyn Jones has – hence his 16-year Test career which is still very much alive.
“A career is rarely a smooth line for any player,” said Evans.
“For some, in particular, it can be a bouncy ride.
“Wyn is one of many who has had to go through ups and downs over the years.
“But the best always find a way back.
“They hit a testing period, refocus and come out the other side better players and better people.
“That’s what Wyn is going through at the moment.
“But I know what he is made of. He’ll be OK.”
Where does Evans rate Jones as Pivac’s side head into the final match of their autumn schedule.
“He’s Wales’s top loose-head,” is the unequivocal answer.
“Fundamentally for me, the game in the front row is about scrummaging and being dominant and strong there.
“I still see Wyn as being Wales’s best scrummaging loose-head.
“He provides good pictures for referees, so it’s rare for an official to
have it in for him, and when he’s on his game, his extras come in.
“He’s good on the jackal, his workrate is high and he’s strong in defence and as a carrier. His fundamentals are there, but so are the addons.
“Nothing was ever given to him on a plate. He’s had support, of course – we supported him. But it’s not the support academy players get today.
“Everything he’s achieved he’s had to put in the effort.
“He is self-motivated, self-driven and he kept believing he’d get to the top.
“Those kinds of attributes will stand him in good stead now.
“People will question him, he might even question himself. But knowing he can deal with disappointments will help him.
“He’ll never get above himself and he’ll always work as hard as anyone.”
It’s a convincing endorsement which screams out a simple message to those even thinking of writing Jones off: don’t.
NARBERTH suffered defeat in their Championship opener as they went down 30-22 at home to Neath.
Full-back Iestyn Morgan scored Neath’s first try after hitting a tremendous angle to run in unopposed from 40 metres.
Fly-half Steffan Williams also got in on the try scoring, with No. 8 David Griggs going over from close range for Neath’s third touchdown.
There was plenty of passion on show at Main Field as Llangennech earned the Llanelli bragging rights with a comfortable 26-6 win over Llanelli Wanderers in One West.
There were four tries scored by Tom Neale (2), Jordan Saunders and Callum Jenkins, the last try coming in the corner following a scrum.
Three of the tries were converted by Osian Evans.
Felinfoel started their league campaign with a 39-17 victory over Penclawdd. Newcastle Emlyn won 24-19 at Gowerton.
Gorseinon eased to a 34-15 win at Pembroke and there were also wins for Whitland and Yr Hendy.
In Two West, Carmarthen Athletic got their league season off to a fine start with a 27-13 win at Tenby United.
Skipper Joel James scored the first try, with the Steff Joneses – one a flanker, the other a winger – also touching down.
Tumble eased to a 29-3 victory over Amman United in Three West B.
The Parc y Mynydd Mawr side made a bright start as wing Kieran Jones broke and passed to hooker Dafydd Humphreys, who put in fullback Elis Lewis for the first of his two tries.
Amman almost hit back, but wing Eurig Morgan narrowly failed to snap up a tricky interception.
Outside-half Tom Caddell then missed a penalty before making up for it with a shorter effort minutes later.
Tumble were disrupting the Amman line-outs, in which the visitors had a torrid time, and soon the Reds were a man down after Craig Ratcliffe’s yellow card.
Tumble’s Steve Hewitt then hit a post with a penalty. A retake was awarded, and Hewitt managed to hit the same post with his second attempt.
Amman’s Rhodri Lewis had a try ruled out, and he was in the thick of the action again early in the second period when he chased Caddell’s chip over the top in a swift counterattack. But they lost the ball and from the turnover, Tumble full-back Lewis dribbled along the wing before following up for a corner try. Hewitt converted from the touchline.
The Magpies scored the next try as another incisive counter attack saw Scott Jones put in wing Sam Jones for a handy 17-3 advantage.
Amman scrum-half Alex Williams tried to keep his side on the front foot throughout, while replacement Rhydian Jones also punched holes in the Tumble defence.
Tumble were reduced to 14 men following a yellow card, but they did not find it too much of a handicap as flanker Callum Williams crashed over.
The visitors leaked a further injurytime try as Steffan Davies squeezed over in the corner.
Both sides return in two weeks, when Amman entertain Trimsaran, while Tumble make the short trip to Penygroes.
Cwmgors made a winning start to their new Three West Central campaign with a thrilling 25-23 victory at
Cwmllynfell.
Victory was sealed by a last-gasp Andrew Mason penalty.
The home side took the lead with a third-minute penalty, then grabbed the opening try of the afternoon on 15 minutes.
Cwmgors’s Andrew Mason found his range with his third penalty attempt to cut the deficit.
And the visitors ended the half with real purpose.
Excellent work from the forwards led to Joseff Davies finishing off a move for a try. Mason added the extras to put Gors ahead.
On the stroke of half-time, it was the backs this time who made the inroads and Owen Davies was on hand to go over the line for a try converted by Mason.
Cwmllynfell claimed the opening try of the second period and soon regained the lead in a real see-saw match with another try.
But a fine Cwmgors counter-attack from deep inside their own half created space for Steff Phillips to finish off the move with a try.
The lead was short-lived as the home side kicked a penalty, but the referee awarded the Cherries a late penalty and Mason kept his nerve to slot it over.
Amman United have organised a players’ reunion on Saturday, November 27, for those who played in the unbeaten teams of 1971-72 and 1991-92. The event starts at the clubhouse at 7pm.