Alun Wyn Jones, like Justin Tipurik, was included in Wales' 54-man training team for the World Cup. Photo: PA/David Davies
Within an hour on Friday afternoon, Warren Gatland will have confirmation that he has lost a total of 251 caps from his World Cup plans.
He barely enough time for a cup of tea to imagine Justin Tipurik's shocking departure from international rugby before the news that all Wales fans feared fell: Alan Wyn Jones was also ending the day. In a season that saw the threat of a player strike during the Six Nations and accusations of sexism and discrimination in the WRU, I think it was just another ordinary day in what has been one of the most tumultuous years in Welsh rugby history.< /p>
There was an oddity about the timing and manner of the announcements. Both were included last week in Wales' 54-man practice squad, so even though their careers were in the twilight, Gatland was still thinking about both.
Tipurik's announcement first appeared on Twitter via the account his management company, and Jones wrote an emotional statement on his Instagram account.
Then came the outpouring of tribute, and rightly so. Jones, 37, is the most capped player in international rugby, having won 158 caps for Wales and 12 caps for Great Britain and Ireland in the four matchdays he captained the Test team in 2013 and 2021. including the 2019 Grand Slam when he was named Six Nations player.
Jones led Wales to the Grand Slam in 2019 is one of two he has won with 158 appearances for his country. Photo: Getty Images/Stu Forster
But more than that, he epitomized the ebullient nature of the Welsh team during the glory years of Gatland's first tenure, including four Six Nations titles and three Grand Slams.
The manner in which he seemed to defy all medical logic by recovering from a dislocated shoulder he suffered in the Lions' match against Japan in Edinburgh to return to his place as team captain in South Africa just a few weeks later epitomizes his admirable dedication and refusal to know when to give in.
The 33-year-old Tipurik will also be remembered as one of the best flankers of his generation, winning 93 matches for Wales in 13 career seasons and also touring with the Lions in 2013 , 2017 and 2021.
The announcements that appeared late in the evening on the eve of the European Cup final were not the removal that both men deserved.
Jones will at least be able to bow out to the crowd at Twickenham on May 28, playing for the Barbarians against World XV. But if he can count on a standing ovation, he won't have the same emotional attachment as at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.
It's understandable that Gatland might consider including both players in the squad during the match. to a celebratory event over the summer and pass on their leadership and experience by reaching out to the players who travel to France.
The possibility of a match in Cardiff after the World Cup is also being discussed.< /p>
It seems that the honesty and integrity that defined their careers were the deciding factors.
While both were included in Gatland's provisional squad, both men needed to know how much the New Zealander intended to promote his team during training camp before leaving for France.
Justin Tipourik will go down in history as one of the best flankers of his generation. Getty Images/Charles McQuillan
Since Gatland's return in January followed Wayne Pivak's sacking, he identified air conditioning and work speed as one of the key areas for improvement. He plans to take the team to training camps in Switzerland and Turkey ahead of three warm-up matches in August — a double against England in Cardiff and Twickenham and a visit by World Champions South Africa to the Principality Stadium.
He also made a major transition from an aging squad to emerging young players as an absolute priority, as he did ahead of the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand when Jones and Tipurik were part of the younger generation. Both men knew the time had come.
It is clear that Tipurik has been contemplating a decision for a while and his body is not quite 100 percent going to fight the demands of the training camps in no time. a time when he has four small children to spend time with. Having taken advantage of the summer to recover, he still wants to play his final season with the Opsreys.
Jones also had a problem, wondering if his body would hold up. He and Gatland had several conversations during the Six Nations campaign in which he started three games about the future and whether he could continue.
The prospect of devoting himself to rigorous training without any absolute guarantee of hitting to the final World Cup team was decisive. But anyone who knows him knows how difficult the decision was.
Surely Wales will miss their wealth of experience, speed and ferocious spirit, but Gatland will surely take advantage of the news. to fire up the bellies of those who want to step up and seize their opportunity.
There is no shortage of Gatland's second row with Chris Chiunza, Adam Byrd, Ben Carter, Rhys Davis, Corey Hill, Daffyd Jenkins. and Will Rowlands argue with each other, and in the back row, Tommy Reffell, Jake Morgan and Thane Basham represent the new generation.
They will have to take an all-powerful position.
Свежие комментарии