Alun-Wyn Jones: Wales captain?
According to assistant coach Robin McBryde, the Welsh captaincy is "up for discussion" ahead of Saturday's Six Nations title decider against England in Cardiff.
Ryan Jones, who led Wales to victory over Scotland last weekend, has been ruled out with a shoulder injury and although Sam Warburton is widely viewed as the obvious choice to regain the captaincy, it is understood that British and Irish Lions lock Alun-Wyn Jones is being considered for the role.
It has been suggested that Wales boss Rob Howley might name a third different captain of the campaign with prop Gethin Jenkins also in the mix if he is recalled instead of Paul James.
Warburton, who captained the side in the disastrous opening loss to Ireland, was Man of the Match at Murrayfield as the 24-year-old was allowed to concentrate solely on his own performance.
Asked about the captaincy, McBryde did not give a clear indication of who would lead the team this weekend.
"That will be up for discussion," said McBryde.
"There are quite a few sore bodies at this stage after Saturday, and we are not under any pressure to make any decisions at the moment.
"We will take our time and make sure the decisions are right in order to get things spot-on for Saturday.
"We are in a good place. Those decisions will come on Thursday."
Alun-Wyn Jones has only led Wales once before - against Italy in Rome in 2009 - but he is a natural leader and in excellent form.
Wales will name their team on Thursday with Justin Tipuric set to replace Jones in the Welsh back row.
As for the front row, McBryde said the staff had yet to decide between Jenkins, who has returned to training as he recovers from a calf muscle problem that sidelined him for the Scotland game, and James.
"We will be weighing up our options - the strengths of both players," said McBryde.
"We are on the back of two very strong scrummaging performances against Italy and Scotland, where both players have figured.
"As a forwards coach, I am as fed up as everyone else with regards to the number of reset scrums going on," he added.
"Hopefully, we will see a good contested area at the scrum and it will be a good spectacle for the spectators.
"All I can say is that we are very proud of the way we have gone about things. We have addressed the issues we had at the start of the campaign, and reaped the benefits in the last two games.
"England have a quality front-row and strength in depth. It is not going to be easy, and we will have to be at our best."
Comments
Jhamer25 says...
Heathy
Look i know dan cole will be a great player no doubt at all, howevre he is so over rated by the english media it's unbeliavble.
Dan cole made 1 turnover on the weeken for going over the top and causing a player not to release. Cole is good in the loose but so is adam. Adam also turned over a ball from the lineout on the weekend by rippping the ball from a lineout. Adam also made 10 tackles and if thats a bad work rate then I dont know what a good one is.
Adam jones was useless before but the past 2-3 years he has changed and become a much better all round player. He has come on a lot sicne then heathy.
Those are the stats so check becuase i know im not right
Posted 22:05 13th March 2013
melkdave says...
@Jhammer25
A.Jones is NOT a world class prop,outside the scrum he offers nothing.Also this 6Ns he has struggled against both the irish and french scrumsCole offers alot more outside the scrum,and has held his own against every scrum so far this 6Ns.A.Sheriadan is also alot better in the scrum ,if the lions want to carry any one whos useless outside the scrum,im pretty sure they would take A.Sheriadan over A.Jones anyday.He is demolishing frontrows in France atm,and in the T14 the scrum is a serious set piece unlike the Pro12 .
Posted 18:28 13th March 2013
Heathy says...
@Jhammer25 - I'm not sure what part of the media think that Dan Cole is the best in the world as although he is very good, there may be the odd other call in that direction. Adam Jones is one of the worlds best scrummagers and for that there is no doubt. The only problem is that this is ALL he does as he doesn't offer anything around the park. Dan Cole does and is extremely effective in this area. Look at the stats re turnovers etc. If you have a team that can carry Adam Jones for other duties then he's your man for the set piece. Failing that he's annonimous. In my opinion he'd be my Lions prop if he was on form (which has been questioned but is now returning). Don't listen to the English media in the same vein that you shouldn't listen to the Welsh media. They are BOTH as bad as each other.
Posted 10:35 13th March 2013
cheeseontoast says...
I hope it's not Warburton purely because all the media build-up will be about a Warburton v Robshaw personal duel for the Lions captaincy. This shouldn't take the focus away from the game in hand, which hopefully will be a cracker.
On the other hand, Wales should pick the best man for the job regardless of the opposition and from that point of view, Warburton has the experience for what is a crucial match for both teams.
On yet another hand, AWJ is a vastly experienced player and club captain and would probably do a very good job. Oh, I don't know, although I would prefer to keep the captaincy away from the front row, as they are often substituted and have enough to worry about up front.
Posted 08:26 13th March 2013
Jhamer25 says...
Please please please once and for all shut the english media up about dan cole being the best in the world. he has potential and is coming along well but is far from the greatness that adam is.
Adam shove every englishmans head up their a$$ on saturday.
Adam is by far the best tight head in the world and the leading lion.
Also alyn wyn to start as captin, let warbs slowly get back into form.
Posted 19:54 12th March 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Jones would be good. He's likely starter for Lions and he could well go on to be Lions Captain.
Posted 19:36 12th March 2013
rugbydaft says...
I agree wyn jones is the man for the day ,real shame about Ryan Wales are not the same without him
He is probably one of the only NH internationals who would have made it in the SH - in NZ he would have been an honoury citizen
Posted 19:26 12th March 2013
stumpy says...
Warburton isn't a very good captain. When he was considered the undisputed skipper of the Wales side, it was because he led by example. However, when his form is has been inconsistent as of late, he has very little actual leadership qualities to fall back on. Wyn-Jones, on the other hand, I imagine is a great motivator, and wilsl really get the chests out when the rivals English come to town!
Posted 18:09 12th March 2013
bcrugby913 says...
Let Warburton find his form. He was killer without the burden of the captaincy. I say Jones is the obvious pick
Posted 17:52 12th March 2013