Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

England v Wales: Lock Alun Wyn Jones to set caps record against England

Written by 
Published in Rugby
Friday, 09 August 2019 03:05

Alun Wyn Jones will appear in a Welsh record 135th Test when he captains the team in Sunday's World Cup warm-up against England at Twickenham.

The 33-year-old will make his 126th appearance for Wales, having also won nine British and Irish Lions caps.

He beats the mark set by prop Gethin Jenkins, who made 129 appearances for Wales and played in five Lions Tests.

Lock Jones leads an experienced squad, as coach Warren Gatland sticks largely with a tried and tested starting XV.

Wales have named an unchanged back-line from the side that clinched the 2019 Grand Slam against Ireland in March.

Gareth Anscombe starts at fly-half, partnering Gareth Davies at half-back, with Dan Biggar providing cover on the bench.

With Taulupe Faletau ruled out of the World Cup through injury, fellow Lions number eight Ross Moriarty continues at the base of the scrum in a breakaway trio that has Justin Tipuric at open-side and Aaron Wainwright in the six shirt.

Elsewhere in the pack, Nicky Smith, Ken Owens and Tomas Francis are named in the front row with Adam Beard partnering Jones in the second row.

On the bench, Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones and Dillon Lewis provide the front-row cover with Jake Ball and Aaron Shingler completing the forward contingent.

Managing injury concerns

Tomos Williams, Biggar and Owen Watkin are named as the backline cover, but scrum-half Williams is an injury doubt.

"There's a good chance that Tomos Williams may not be on the bench on Sunday. He got a shoulder knock in training. I don't know the extent of that but it would probably rule him out of Sunday," said Gatland.

"That would mean Aled Davies would come on the bench.

"We originally picked Cory Hill in the second row but his ankle is a little bit tight and we decided it wasn't worth the risk.

"Josh Navidi had been troubled by a hamstring injury and is back in full training today [Friday].

"We've been looking after James Davies, who's had issues with the back.

"Samson Lee has a hamstring issue. Rob Evans has a shoulder and a neck irritation.

"Hopefully they'll come into consideration over the next couple of weeks.

"We're trying to be smart about players we expose but also trying to manage some others.

"If we feel we need to protect some players then we'll do that.

"Fingers crossed that we don't pick up too many injuries going forward, we're bound to get one or two more but hopefully not too many."

After the Twickenham encounter, Wales host England on 17 August at the Principality Stadium, before home and away Tests against Ireland beginning in Cardiff on 31 August and then concluding in Dublin on 7 September.

They begin their World Cup campaign in Japan on 23 September against Georgia, before facing Australia, Fiji and Uruguay in the group stage.

"These matches are really important leading into the Rugby World Cup, to ensure that both the players are ready for the tournament but also to give players opportunity to put their hands up for selection," Gatland said.

"There is a balance with selection, a need to mix continuity from what we have achieved and opportunity, and we will look to do that over the next couple of weeks.

"Looking at the first two matches this block replicates what we are doing in the Rugby World Cup with a six-day turnaround, so it's a good opportunity for us to prepare and mimic that schedule."

Wales team:

Liam Williams (Saracens) (55 Caps); George North (Ospreys) (83 Caps), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) (73 Caps), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets) (15 Caps), Josh Adams (Cardiff Blues) (10 Caps); Gareth Anscombe (Ospreys) (26 Caps), Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (41 Caps); Nicky Smith (Ospreys) (28 Caps), Ken Owens (Scarlets) (64 Caps), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (40 Caps), Adam Beard (Ospreys) (13 Caps), Alun Wyn Jones (Capt, Ospreys) (125 Caps), Aaron Wainwright (Dragons) (8 Caps), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) (64 Caps), Ross Moriarty (Dragons) (31 Caps).

Replacements: Elliot Dee (Dragons) (18 Caps), Wyn Jones (Scarlets) (12 Caps), Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues) (12 Caps), Jake Ball (Scarlets) (32 Caps), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets) (17 Caps), Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues) (7 Caps), Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints) (70 Caps), Owen Watkin (Ospreys) (13 Caps).

Read 2300 times

Soccer

Carro's outspoken ambition takes Leverkusen to unimaginable heights

Carro's outspoken ambition takes Leverkusen to unimaginable heights

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe Bayer Leverkusen players and coaching staff had rather importan...

Al Nassr CEO: Ronaldo doesn't control the club

Al Nassr CEO: Ronaldo doesn't control the club

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsAl Nassr CEO Guido Fienga has said Cristiano Ronaldo "doesn't contr...

British player arrested for alleged drug smuggling

British player arrested for alleged drug smuggling

EmailPrintBritish footballer Jay Emmanuel-Thomas has been charged in connection with trying to smugg...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Is continuity enough to get the Bucks back into title contention?

Is continuity enough to get the Bucks back into title contention?

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsA few days after the official start of NBA free agency this summer,...

Philly mayor strikes deal with 76ers for new arena

Philly mayor strikes deal with 76ers for new arena

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPHILADELPHIA -- The 76ers have a new teammate in their bid to build...

Baseball

Power Rankings: AL, NL wild-card teams on the move ahead of October

Power Rankings: AL, NL wild-card teams on the move ahead of October

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsWe have our first official playoff teams! The Brewers clinched the...

Flying bat, J-Rod's gaffe on bases doom M's rally

Flying bat, J-Rod's gaffe on bases doom M's rally

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsSEATTLE -- With their playoff chances slipping away, the Seattle Ma...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated