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Wales: Alyn Wyn Jones to equal Richie McCaw's world record

2020-10-21T12:37:02.964Z


The captain of the XV du Poireau, opposed to the XV of France on Saturday, will honor his 148th selection at the international level, which is as much as the legendary captain of the All Blacks.


A record which should have been equaled at the start of the year, but which was delayed due to the health crisis.

Had the final match of the Tournament between Wales and Scotland not been postponed, Welsh second row Alyn Wyn Jones (1.96m, 118kg) would have equaled the former captain's world selection record of the All Blacks Richie McCaw (148 capes), double world champions (2011, 2015), retired after 148 capes (and 131 victories!).

Seven months later, this will be the case on Saturday at the Stade de France against the XV of France.

The captain of the XV du Poireau, 35, should logically be aligned to challenge the Blues. 

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“It's amazing, isn't it?

Achieving what he has done throughout his career, in his position, is incredible, said Neil Jenkins, Wales assistant coach.

He's playing in the front five, in one of the toughest positions on the pitch, but he still seems like a young player.

He is always the first in training, the first in everything, he is very rarely beaten no matter what, if at all.

He's like that."

And the former 101-cap international added: "He's done something amazing and whatever accolades come his way, he really deserves it.

I would like to think he will continue a little longer, but when the day comes when he stops and no longer wears this jersey, he will be sorely missed. "

Controversy and coolness in the face of Marler

At the beginning of the year, Alyn Wyn Jones had been at the heart of a strange controversy.

The scratching hair Joe Marler had put his hand in the basket, during a scuffle.

A scene more comic than tragic during which the second-line of the XV du Leek had remained stoic, taken aback by this new provocation from the troublemaker of the XV de la Rose.

An attitude and a coolness greeted at the time by the coach of the XV of France, Fabien Galthié, who had made the parallel with Mohamed Haouas, expelled - him - for having punched a Scotsman. 

“I was reading a very interesting interview with Alun Wyn Jones, who said he had 130 selections, told Fabien Galthié, immediately taken over by his manager Raphaël who had told him that he had exactly 138 with his national team (more 9 with the Lions).

And the coach of the Blues to continue: "When this mishap happened to him, we will say, with this English opponent (

Joe Marler

), we asked him for his reaction and he said, from his 138 selections:" I knew very well that if I reacted the way I should react, as a man, I would immediately abandon my team and receive a red card ”.

Well, from the top of his four caps, Momo Haouas did not have the necessary hindsight to react in this way when he had just received a series of very manly treatments. "

Mad dog snarling in its infancy

However, before shining with his calm and mastery, the native of Swansea - also a law graduate from the university of the same city - had to learn to channel himself.

In 2010, a slightly surly mad dog, he lost his nerves against England, tripping over hooker Dylan Hartley.

Logical yellow card and ten minutes fatal to the Welsh who had conceded 17 points before losing (30-17).

"I hope he will never do that again in his career", had dropped, in an unveiled threat, the coach of the time Warren Gatland, the man behind the Welsh miracle of the last decade (three Grand Slams , two world semi-finals). 

Difficult for Gatland to do without such a player, true beam of the Welsh pack.

Tough on evil, precious in touch, constant in his efforts and rarely hurt.

Last year against Ireland, during the last Tournament, the second row of the Ospreys was hit in the knee after ten minutes, he then left the lawn of the Principality Stadium grimacing in pain.

But he had finally returned to his teammates, to finish the match with 19 tackles on the clock.

No misses.

And the XV du Poireau had achieved the Grand Slam, the third for "AWJ" who had already participated in those of 2008 and 2012!

The captain of Le Poireau even won the title of best player of the 2019 Tournament. 

“Since he became captain, we don't have many fights in training anymore because he's the one who caused most of them!”

Warren Gatland

The balding-haired second-line has also participated in the last three tours of the prestigious British and Irish Lions, in South Africa (2009), in Australia (2013) where he was captain and in New Zealand (2017).

"Alun Wyn is one of the most iconic figures in our game," greeted new Wales coach Wayne Pivac earlier this year.

He is our leader and I am delighted for him because he continues to set the bar always very high. ”

During the last Japanese World Cup, finished in fourth place, the back Liam Williams (29 years old, 65 sel.) - who will be absent against France - was in admiration of the longevity of his captain.

“It's just incredible, playing 13 years (

14 now, Editor's note

) for Wales!

I've been there for seven years and feel like it's been ages.

He is almost the double of me, ”smiled the former Saracens player, recently repatriated to the Scarlets from Llanelli.

A model to follow.

But who has been able to evolve and gain maturity.

Warren Gatland - who called him "impulsive and temperamental" during his younger years - had told Japan that "since he became captain, we don't have a lot of fights in training because it is he was the one who caused most of them! "

Adding: "Alun Wyn has matured gracefully."

To gain a place of choice in the pantheon of world rugby.

With the possibility of being alone at the top for the match next week against Scotland. 

World top 10 most capped players:

1. Richie McCaw (NZ), Alun Wyn Jones (CEO, Lions): 148


3. Sergio Parisse (Ita): 142


4. Brian O'Driscoll (Irl, Lions): 141


5. George Gregan (Aus): 139


6 . Gethin Jenkins (CEO, Lions): 134


7. Keen Mealamu (NZ): 132


8. Ronan O'Gara (Irl, Lions): 130


9. Stephen Moore (Aus): 129


10. Victor Matfield (AfS), Kieran Read (NZ), 127

Read also

  • After "a rather heavy political time", the XV of France found the way of Marcoussis

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2020-10-21

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