PEEL BACKS JONES TO SHOW CLASS
DWAYNE Peel has addressed Wayne Pivac’s comments over Wyn Jones’s fitness to play international rugby this autumn.
The loosehead prop was touted as the top player in the British Isles in his position after returning from the Lions’ tour to South Africa in the summer.
But Wales endured a tough autumn in the scrums, with Jones benched for the game with South Africa and Pivac subsequently saying: “We’ve come in undercooked. Wyn Jones, coming back from the Lions, knows he has some work to do to get to full fitness levels required to play at Test level.”
Scarlets head coach Peel believes there were reasons for Jones, who got married in early September, heading into Wales’s programme of Tests as he was.
“Was he undercooked?” said Peel, a Test Lion himself and winner of 73 caps for Wales.
“Yeah, well, the Lions boys came back later than everyone else, so he hadn’t played much rugby.
“He played a game and a half for us before going in, with not much preseason before that.
“So, was he undercooked? Potentially, yes, in terms of time on the pitch with us here.
“I wasn’t working with Wyn every day.
“Wayne’s made the comments, and Wyn will react to that. I’m sure he’ll have a good reaction off him.
“I’m looking forward to working with him as we haven’t had much time together. The Lions boys came back late, did a couple of weeks with us and then went into camp.
“So it’ll be good to get him back. “I’m sure he’s looking forward to getting some games under his belt and getting stuck in.
“It’s one of those things in sport and you move on and make sure you’re ready to go the next time you put the shirt on.”
Jones spent only 16 minutes on the pitch amid the scrummaging misadventure against South Africa, with Rhys Carre starting, and against Australia he was up against arguably the most powerful tight-head in world rugby in Taniela Tupou.
Peel believes his time with the Scarlets over the next couple of months will help him.
“I’m not here to comment on his scrummaging,” said Peel. “All I know is he’s focused, he’s a good player and I know he’ll come back and work hard. I’m sure he’ll show his worth in the next while for us in a Scarlets shirt. I’m really looking forward to getting to work with him properly.”