PIVAC: ALUN WYN IS AN INSPIRATION
WALES boss Wayne Pivac has described Alun Wyn Jones as “an inspiration” as his captain prepares to equal the world Test-match appearance record.
The 35-year-old lock plays his 148th game for Wales and the British and Irish Lions in Paris tomorrow (8.10pm), matching the mark set by New Zealand’s World Cup-winning skipper Richie Mccaw when he leads out his country against France in Paris.
Jones’ international career began in the South American rugby outpost of Puerto Madryn 14 years ago.
Since then, he has been part of Six Nations title successes, Grand Slams and World Cup semi-finals, in addition to nine Lions Tests across three different tours.
“He will tell me off if I speak too much about him,” Pivac said, after naming the starting line-up to face Les Bleus.
“That’s the nature of the beast. He just wants to get on with the game.
“He’s looking forward to this Test match like it was his first Test match. He is just that sort of character.
“He has been leading by example during the week, as you would expect. He has had plenty of good words and encouragement to say to the young guys and he just brings that wealth of experience, which is invaluable.
“He’s the first guy to say if his form is not good enough, he shouldn’t be selected, and I can assure you at training he is doing everything that he has been doing for a number of years now.
“It’s great for the young guys to see him lead like that, and he is an inspiration to all the players.”
Wales’ first match for seven months sees a return for centre Jonathan Davies, who has not played Test rugby since suffering a knee injury during the World Cup last year, while Pivac has named uncapped Louis Rees-zammit and Ospreys hooker Sam Parry among the replacements.
In the pack, hooker Ryan Elias takes over from shoulder injury victim Ken Owens, with Cory Hill partnering Jones in the second row and Aaron Wainwright starting at blindside flanker in tandem with back-row colleagues Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau.
Wainwright has come in for Ross Moriarty, who suffered an ankle injury during training on Wednesday, and uncapped Cardiff Blues flanker Shane LewisHughes has been added to the Wales squad.
As for France, they have named a powerful side, with just the one change from the team which beat Wales 27-23 at the Principality Stadium in February.
That sees Montpellier’s Vincent Rattez coming in on the wing, with Gael Fickou moving into the centre and Arthur Vincent going on to the bench. FRANCE: A Bouthier; T Thomas, V Vakatawa, G Fickou, V Rattez; R Ntamack, A Dupont; C Baille, J Marchand, M Haouas; B Le Roux, D Willemse; F Cros, C Ollivon (capt), G Aldritt. Reps: C Chat, J-B Gros, D Bamba, R Taofifenua, D Cretin, B Serin, A Vincent, T Ramos. WALES: L Halfpenny; G North, J Davies, N Tompkins, J Adams; D Biggar, R Webb; R Carre, R Elias, S Lee, C Hill, A W Jones (capt), A Wainwright, J Tipuric, T Faletau. Reps: S Parry, N Smith, D Lewis, S Davies, J Davies, G Davies, R Patchell, L Rees-zammit.