Jones good to go following Lions return, says Gatland
Alun Wyn Jones has been propelled straight back into the British and Irish Lions squad to face the Stormers with the aim of preparing him to take the helm against South Africa in the first Test.
ThreeweeksafterdislocatinghisshoulderagainstJapan in what was announced as a tour-ending injury, Jones will take his place on the bench on Saturday for the final fixture before the opening collision with the Springboks.
It was during two fullcontact training sessions with Wales on Tuesday that the game’s most-capped player proved his fitness in a remarkable comeback, taking a full part in line-outs, scrums and mauling as well as tackling in team versus team scenarios.
Gatland had stated that Jones, who is to be reinstated astourcaptain,wouldfacetwo or three days of self-isolation on arrival at the squad’s base outsideCapeTownandwould begintrainingonMonday,but that plan has been revised with July 24 in mind.
“We felt that if he was going to be in contention next week then he needed to have a hit-out and prove 100 per cent that he is fit and ready to go.Heneeds20minutes,”Gatland said.
“If someone comes off early, he’s ready to go. We’ve been looking very closely at a numberofvideosoftheWelsh trainingsessionshehastaken a part in. If the medical team hadn’t passed him fully fit, he wouldn’t be here.”
In another topical selection, Marcus Smith will make hisLionsdebutashecoversfor injury trouble at fly-half.
Finn Russell is rehabilitating a torn Achilles that could end his tour and Dan Biggar was forced to withdraw from thestartingXVthatfell17-13to an experience-packed South Africa ‘A’ team on Wednesday night because of a rolled ankle that is expected to heal quickly.
Owen Farrell faced the shadow Springboks and is rested against the Stormers, leaving Smith as the only option for Saturday to maintain his acceleration through rugby’s ranks.
On June 26 he was helping Harlequins win the Gallagher Premiership title and a week later he made his England debut. Now the 22-yearold playmaker will start amongst the elite of British and Irish rugby.
“There’s no doubt he’s developed over the last 12 months or so and he’s had an outstanding year for Harlequins. He got a couple of caps for England, which is brilliant,” Gatland said.