Alun Wyn Jones to lead the side against the Brumbies – Rugby News Update
Alun Wyn Jones, the 26-year-old Ospreys and Wales lock has laid down the importance of the midweek clash against the Brumbies, on Tuesday, June 12.
Wales is currently on tour of Australia, where they are to play the Wallabies in a three-match test series, and have already lost the first test. Their midweek game will see 14 changes, but the captain has laid down the gauntlet by stating that a good performance
could earn the players a call-up to the Wales squad ahead of the second test at Melbourne on the weekend.
"But it's also a shop window for a lot of the younger boys - and myself - that featured in the Barbarians game to put our hands up and get selected for the next two Tests.”
Jones is not taking the Brumbies lightly, and they have an excellent record against the visitors, defeating Wales 21-20 in Canberra in 1978 and 69-30 in 1996. However, he believes that the Welsh have more depth in the squad, and it is an opportunity for
them to get a run-out.
"They're on a pretty good roll," Jones admitted. "They're pretty well known in the northern hemisphere so it's going to be an ask obviously but a good test for the youngsters and the squad alike.”
He also added, "It's not often you get to play a club side representing your national side, so we're looking forward to it."
Wales will seek to get some confidence back ahead of the match on June 16, and would like to go for the third and final test at Sydney all squared.
Brumbies:
Robbie Coleman; Cam Crawford, Tevita Kuridrani, Andrew Smith, Kimami Sitauti; Zack Holmes, Ian Prior; Ruaidhri Murphy, Anthony Hegarty, Scott Sio, Leon Power, Ben Hand (capt), Peter Kimlin, Colby Faingaa, Ita Vaea.
Replacements: Siliva Siliva, JP Pradaud, Dylan Sigg, Fotu Auelua, Beau Mokoputo, Tom Cox, Jesse Mogg.
Wales:
Liam Williams; Harry Robinson, Andrew Bishop, Ashley Beck, Aled Brew; James Hook, Rhys Webb; Paul James, Richard Hibbard, Rhodri Jones, Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Luke Charteris, Josh Turnbull, Justin Tipuric, Aaron Shingler.
Replacements: Ken Owens, Rhys Gill, Ian Evans, Gareth Delve, Lloyd Williams, Rhys Priestland, Alex Cuthbert.
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