Jones Injury Upsets Welsh Balance & New Shirt
By Paul
July 19 2007
Ryan Jones’s absence for Wales cannot be underestimated. Unfortunately affective ball carrying forwards simply don’t grow on trees down here. A reccurance of the Ospreys's Number Eight's shoulder injury has ruled him out of contention for a World Cup place.
Under Gareth Jenkins, the Ospreys has become one of the cornerstones of the Welsh side, surviving the cut after some less than inspiring Six Nations performances.
Even with a ready made number eight replacement in Alix Popham, the deliberate back-row balance Jenkins has been trying to strike through playing the more athletic Jones in contrast to the aggressive presence Popham offers.
A back-row also containing Colin Charvis and Martyn Williams may lack the dynamism Wales will need to upset the Wallabies in September. Jonathan Thomas and Alun Wyn-Jones will be worth cautiously monitoring in the August tests.
"We wanted to make a considerable step forward in the game's science," said Welsh Rugby Union boss Roger Lewis.
So seventy quid to make your gut and man breasts stick out, if anyone is interested.
The good news is that hot on the heals of Peter Rogers returning to rugby with Bridgend, Martyn Madden has rejoined ambitious semi professional / semi-Welsh side London Welsh. Also with Darren Morris still with Worcester, the new shirts may have put pay to any hopes of late World cup calls.