Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Alun Wyn Jones retained despite Gatland's threat
Jones was spotted by referee Alain Roland as he stuck out a leg to trip England hooker Dylan Hartley. Roland immediately issued the sin-binning, and Wales conceded 17 points while Jones was on the sideline.
So often we see teams doing okay with only 14 men, with the average points being scored during that period being seven. But on this occasion England scored two converted tries, and kicked the penalty that was awarded for the trip.
Ultimately, according to coach Gatland, that cost Wales the match. His frankness in the interview after the match was refreshing to see, if not surprising. Normally coaches will stand by their player publicly and give them a telling off in private.
Some will say Gatland should have reacted differently, and others will say that hes quite simply using Jones as a scapegoat for an under par performance. Seventy minutes were played with 15 men, and Wales managed to get within three points at one stage, before throwing a loose pass that was intercepted.
So despite what he said in that interview, Gatland decided to retain the British & Irish Lions lock in the starting lineup for the next match.
Kicking coach Neil Jenkins predicted that Jones wouldnt be dropped.
"I think we've all made mistakes and Alun made one on the weekend and we've had other players in the past that have been sin-binned and we've come through it unscathed.
"On Saturday we didn't, we conceded some points, but it's one of them things. I think we learned from it and we move on. I think sometimes some things are said, aren't they? Alun's a fantastic rugby player.
"He's made a genuine mistake and we've got to accept that, deal with it and move on and hopefully discipline-wise we'll be fine next Saturday," Jenkins said.
This clip shows the incident at hand, as well as the resultant points scored within that ten minute period when Jones was off the field. It also then features the interview with Gatland, and some thoughts from Shane Williams.
What do you think of Gatland's reaction, and the subsequent selection of Jones?
Time: 04:58
Wales team to face Scotland on Saturday:
Lee Byrne, Leigh Halfpenny, James Hook, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams, Stephen Jones, Gareth Cooper, Paul James, Gareth Williams, Adam Jones, Jonathan Thomas, Alun Wyn Jones, Andy Powell, Martyn Williams, Ryan Jones.
Replacements: Huw Bennett, Gethin Jenkins, Bradley Davies, Sam Warburton, Richie Rees, Andrew Bishop, Tom Shanklin.
Posted at 12:42 pm | 27 comments
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Viewing 27 comments
Elliot February 09, 2010 2:42 pm
I thought it was great at the time. Its not often that coaches say what they're really feeling!
jackohos February 09, 2010 3:49 pm
As has been said by others: no one would have felt more disappointed and stupid than Jones himself.
He's suffered enough in the media and I wouldn't have liked to be Jones when he had to explain it to Shaun Edwards!
If he ever needed motivation for the next game, atoning for his error is it.
He's suffered enough in the media and I wouldn't have liked to be Jones when he had to explain it to Shaun Edwards!
If he ever needed motivation for the next game, atoning for his error is it.
Alex February 09, 2010 4:39 pm
Is it just me, or did Simon Shaw stamp on Jones' leg just as he went over him? Perhaps Jones was angered by this, and which spurred him to trip Dylan Hartley up.
Anonymous February 09, 2010 4:52 pm
No Alex, think he clearly stepped over him. Just spare-of-the-moment stupidity from Jones.
Alex February 09, 2010 5:17 pm
Look at Shaw's left foot. I think it clearly goes out of its way to step on Jones' leg.
David February 09, 2010 5:27 pm
Silly mistake, hope he's learnt his lesson. But WTF Gatland's picked COOPER again? Richie Rhees was so much better! Arrrgh
tomas February 09, 2010 8:21 pm
(iam argentinian so excuse my english)
terrible mistake by jones, he was response of the defeat, plus a great match by england.
honestly he is a great second row and there is not a replacement so god as him. also he is an experience player and its aware of his mistake, put him on the bench wont make him any diference excep of have a lower-level pack of fowards
terrible mistake by jones, he was response of the defeat, plus a great match by england.
honestly he is a great second row and there is not a replacement so god as him. also he is an experience player and its aware of his mistake, put him on the bench wont make him any diference excep of have a lower-level pack of fowards
tomas February 09, 2010 8:23 pm
he make a hughe mistake but take him out wont be helpfull for wales and also he wont learn nothing staying in the bench.. his punish was the shame
Anonymous February 09, 2010 8:29 pm
This makes gatland look really weak, no one will take him serious as they know he wont carry out his threat. this is a start of a down hill slope for gatland. he will need to pull out the big guns to keep wales going, if not wales will get the wood spoon.
Anonymous February 09, 2010 8:30 pm
Wyn-Jones is bi-sexual apparently. Be interesting to see if he's likely to come out like Gareth Thomas did
WelshOsprey February 09, 2010 10:51 pm
Why the hell has gatland picked cooper again? He's been rubbish all season and was awful against england!!!
Anonymous February 09, 2010 11:58 pm
Alex....are you seriously trying to find an excuse for him tripping hartley?
Some of you welsh fans really do struggle with accepting things.
Some of you welsh fans really do struggle with accepting things.
Anonymous February 10, 2010 1:55 am
to the above anonymous im pretty sure alex is simply looking at the game, i doubt there is any welsh person who is looking for an excuse....
i have to agree about gatland now looking weak....
i think it all stems back to him not saying that in the first place.....
yes he could have said, 'it was that discrepancy that lost us the game'
but to make a threat that he could cut jones, is ridiculous...im not saying jones is the best lock known to man, but he does his job very well!!
i have to agree about gatland now looking weak....
i think it all stems back to him not saying that in the first place.....
yes he could have said, 'it was that discrepancy that lost us the game'
but to make a threat that he could cut jones, is ridiculous...im not saying jones is the best lock known to man, but he does his job very well!!
Anonymous February 10, 2010 2:01 am
also forgot to add, jones knew what he did was wrong, look at him, he knew straight away.
he probably looks at it and thinks 'why did i bother' i mean there were tacklers almost on hartley already....
i think he is really going to kick himself if it comes to points difference!!! (not that i think it will include wales)
also id need to see a slowmo before i could say shaw stood on jones....my initial guess without a slow mo would be no he didnt!
he probably looks at it and thinks 'why did i bother' i mean there were tacklers almost on hartley already....
i think he is really going to kick himself if it comes to points difference!!! (not that i think it will include wales)
also id need to see a slowmo before i could say shaw stood on jones....my initial guess without a slow mo would be no he didnt!
Mark Hammond February 10, 2010 3:21 am
Why is it that Jones doesn't get a week suspension? Dan Carter did. I remember the Wales coach crying out for justice on that play. What is the difference?
Seems like there were also a few high tackles in all 3 Six Nations games, so why no suspensions?
No consistency at all.
Seems like there were also a few high tackles in all 3 Six Nations games, so why no suspensions?
No consistency at all.
ned2or3 February 10, 2010 3:59 am
Just one of those things that happen in rugby... as long as he has learned from it then play him. If he has another brain fade then it will need serious action from the coaches.
As for a week ban, are you crazy?? The game is soft enough yellow card was a enough of a penalty.
And to the anon who mentioned Wyn Jones sexuality-- who cares?? if you want to talk about rubbish like that go to a celebrity blog this is Rugby Dump and we discuss rugby here!
As for a week ban, are you crazy?? The game is soft enough yellow card was a enough of a penalty.
And to the anon who mentioned Wyn Jones sexuality-- who cares?? if you want to talk about rubbish like that go to a celebrity blog this is Rugby Dump and we discuss rugby here!
Mark Hammond February 10, 2010 8:55 am
I fully agree, a week suspension would be crazy for a yellow card. However, Dan Carter got a week, yet didn't even get a card!
Matt February 10, 2010 8:13 pm
Is it just me or does anybody else not think it was a yellow card?
It was without doubt a penalty but why the yellow - it wasnt malicious (as in a violent trip), it wasn't stopping them from scoring a try and it wasn't a repeated infringment. It was just a stupid reactionary thing and he got caught.
Yellow cards are being thrown about too easily now and as we saw at the weekend there impact on game is massive. Sometimes a penalty can be enough! Refs and the media are now massively overreacting to actions that happen on the pitch as long as it is not deliberately dangerous it should not be made a big thing!
I'm Scottish and therefore would love Jones not to be picked for this weekend because he is a brilliant player and he'll be out to prove a point this weekend.
It was without doubt a penalty but why the yellow - it wasnt malicious (as in a violent trip), it wasn't stopping them from scoring a try and it wasn't a repeated infringment. It was just a stupid reactionary thing and he got caught.
Yellow cards are being thrown about too easily now and as we saw at the weekend there impact on game is massive. Sometimes a penalty can be enough! Refs and the media are now massively overreacting to actions that happen on the pitch as long as it is not deliberately dangerous it should not be made a big thing!
I'm Scottish and therefore would love Jones not to be picked for this weekend because he is a brilliant player and he'll be out to prove a point this weekend.
Alex February 10, 2010 8:45 pm
For the anonymous person who thinks i'm welsh, i'm not. I'm English.
I was merely pointing out something in which i wanted an opinion on, and of which is why we have these forums.
Bring on the Italians i say!
I was merely pointing out something in which i wanted an opinion on, and of which is why we have these forums.
Bring on the Italians i say!
guido February 11, 2010 3:22 pm
actually, it is not fair to say wales lost JUST BECAUSE of a player in the bin. Statistics show the team with a man down concede an average of 6 points in 10 minutes. Wales conceded what? 14 or so? 17 if you count the penalty leading to the sinbinning of the player. I don't think you can blame it all on him. It was pretty stupid though...right in front of the ref
Anonymous February 12, 2010 9:23 am
Well said guido, obvious jones being off didnt help, but its times like that when a team has to pull together and show what its made of! its only because they lost that jones gets blamed. they let their heads down and england made use of the advantage and wales' mistakes!
but hey, everyone needs a scapegoat!
but hey, everyone needs a scapegoat!
Anonymous February 12, 2010 11:29 am
Should have used his hands to trip instead of his foot.
The ref seemed to think that was ok when England did it (and scored a try from it).
The ref seemed to think that was ok when England did it (and scored a try from it).
Anonymous February 13, 2010 1:10 am
'Should have used his hands to trip instead of his foot.
The ref seemed to think that was ok when England did it (and scored a try from it).'
.......so you're reffering to a tap tackle are you?
The ref seemed to think that was ok when England did it (and scored a try from it).'
.......so you're reffering to a tap tackle are you?
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