WYN’S WORLD AIM

ALUN WYN JONES has been ruled out of the Six Nations but is still being backed to make the 2023 World Cup.

The Wales captain is to have surgery on the shoulder he injured in winning his 149th cap for his country against the All Blacks last Saturday.

At the age of 36, time is not on his side for an international return.

But Japan’s Kane Thompson and South Africa’s Schalk Brits both played at the last World Cup at 38 and Wales coach Wayne Pivac believes Jones can do the same.

He said: “He’s going to have surgery and be out for a number of months.

“The intention is to see if Al can get to the World Cup. It’s a realistic goal personally.

“It’s not ideal for him – we were all looking forward to him playing

BODY BLOW: Alun Wyn Jones needs an operation on the shoulder injury suffered on Saturday 150 Test matches for Wales – but that is still a goal and I’m sure he’ll get there.”

Jones’s absence leaves a huge leadership void and, while centre Jonathan Davies will take over as captain against South Africa tomorrow, Pivac will also turn to Lions duo Adam Beard and Dan Biggar to help steer the ship in Cardiff against a powerful Boks outfit. Ulster’s South African-born hooker Bradley Roberts, who qualifies through his Welsh grandmother, is set to make his debut off the bench in one of six changes to the side. WALES: Mcnicholl; Rees-zammit, J Davies (capt), Tompkins, Adams; Biggar, T Williams; Carre, Elias, Francis, Rowlands, Beard, Jenkins, Basham, Wainwright. Replacements: Roberts, W Jones, John, Carter, S Davies, G Davies, Anscombe, L Williams.