Alun Wyn Jones will take even greater satisfaction from leading the British and Irish Lions against South Africa after rescuing his tour from oblivion.
Four weeks to the day after dislocating his left shoulder seven minutes into the curtain-raiser against Japan, Jones will captain the Lions in Saturday’s critical series opener against the world champions in Cape Town.
The Wales skipper had been ruled out of the tour only to learn there was a way back from the injury, enabling him to show remarkable powers of recovery that have seen him dubbed ‘Lazarus’ by team-mates.
“Fast forward to the Tuesday when I was told there was a chance – it was bordering on the surreal. To be here now and taking the knocks and bumps and being in amongst it with the group – it means more, I am not going to lie.
“I had spent two weeks with the guys getting to know people. We were bedding in with the rugby. I had the seven minutes and for those two days that was my tour done.
“I had the decent news on the Tuesday and sometimes all you need is a chance and I was willing to work hard, and make it difficult for Warren Gatland, to make myself available for selection.
? “It’s the hardest selection meeting that I’ve ever been in”
Hear from #LionsRugby Head Coach Warren Gatland as he discusses his team selections for the first Test of the #CastleLionsSeries #BoksvLions pic.twitter.com/uqybfOoLIi
— British & Irish Lions (@lionsofficial) July 21, 2021
“I was fortunate enough to get some game time against the Stormers on Saturday and put myself in contention.
“To be sitting here now and to be involved in the Test team is everything I have ever worked for really over the last…I would be lying if I said it was two years, it is probably four years.
“Obviously when you finish a series or a tour you don’t know whether you are going to tour next and a lot of games go under the bridge.
“To be sitting here now is a very, very special thing, but it is only a very short step to what is going to be, hopefully, a very enjoyable week.”
When Gatland was asked what that achievement means, he joked: “That he’s old! He’s been around a while!
“It’s a fantastic achievement for anyone playing your first Test match, but playing 10…. It’s fantastic. I think it shows who he is as a player.”
Now that Jones has completed a recovery described by Gatland as a “miracle”, he has one objective in his sights.
“We set out – and this is the message I gave to the squad back at the Lensbury in June – to win a Test series. I think we have a squad here capable of starting that ball rolling,” he said.
