WALES FORWARD Alun-Wyn Jones has avoided the humiliation of being dropped for Wales’ Six Nations game against Scotland in Cardiff on Saturday.
It could easily have been a different story after England scored 17 unanswered points following what Jones accepted was “a stupid, idiotic” trip on hooker Dylan Hartley which saw him sinbinned during Saturday’s 30-17 defeat at Twickenham.
Jones lives to fight another day as Warren Gatland has made just two changes, replacing wing Tom James with his Cardiff Blues colleague Leigh Halfpenny and calling up Jonathan Thomas instead of lock Luke Charteris.
Recalling the first-half incident, Jones said: “It was more of a reaction, probably one of the worst reactions I’ve had on the rugby pitch. At the time I thought it would jeopardise my international career.
“Shaun Edwards (Wales assistant coach) spoke to me at half-time so I knew the severity of the viewpoint from the management, and rightly so.”
Coach Warren Gatland said: “He is a player who gives 100 per cent and has delivered well for Wales. He is not a serial offender. If it was someone who had picked up lots of yellow cards and given away lots of penalties, then the sanction might have been to drop him .”
Phil Godman paid the price for Scotland’s opening defeat to France as Dan Parks was recalled at outhalf for Saturday’s game.
Parks’s return was one of three changes from Sunday’s 18-9 loss, with prop Euan Murray and back-three man Rory Lamont also back in the starting XV. Lamont was named on the left wing, with brother Sean moved to outside centre in place of Max Evans. Moray Low also drops out while co-captain Mike Blair is back on the bench. Chris Paterson will become the first Scot to reach 100 international appearances on Saturday.
WALES:L Byrne (Ospreys); L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), J Hook (Ospreys), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), G Cooper (Cardiff Blues); P James (Ospreys), G Williams (Cardiff Blues), A Jones, J Thomas, A-W Jones ( all Ospreys), A Powell (Cardiff Blues), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, capt). Replacements: H Bennett (Ospreys), G Jenkins, B Davies, S Warburton, R Rees (Cardiff Blues), A Bishop (Ospreys), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues).
SCOTLAND:C Paterson (Edinburgh); T Evans (Glasgow), S Lamont (Scarlets), G Morrison (Glasgow), R Lamont (Toulon); D Parks (Glasgow), C Cusiter (Glasgow, capt); A Dickinson (Gloucester), R Ford (Edinburgh), E Murray (Northampton), N Hines (Leinster), A Kellock, K Brown, J Barclay, J Beattie (all Glasgow). Replacements: S Lawson (Gloucester), A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Gray (Glasgow), A MacDonald, M Blai, P Godman (all Edinburgh), M Evans (Glasgow).
Fixtures
FRIDAY
Under 20 Six Nations Championship:France Under 20s v Ireland Under 20s, Mazamet, 745pm (GMT); Italy Under 20 v England Under 20, Stade Comunal, 7pm (GMT); Wales Under 20 v Scotland Under 20, Cardiff Arms Park 7.05pm.
Women's Rugby:France v Ireland, Stade des Allee, Bois 7pm (GMT)
British and Irish Cup:Ulster Ravens v Llanelli, Parc y Scarlets, 7.15pm; Munster v Nottingham, Waterford RSG 7pm
SATURDAY
RBS Six Nations Championship:Wales v Scotland, 2pm, Millenium Stadium; France v Ireland, Stade de France, 4.30pm (GMT);
British and Irish Cup:Exeter Chiefs v Leinster, Sandy Park, 3pm
AIL Division One:Ballynahinch v Dungannon, Ballymacaran Park, 2.30.
Division Two:Clonakilty v Highfield, The Vale 2.30; Greystones v DLSP, Dr Hickey Park, 2.30.
Division Three:(2.30) Portadown v Sunday's Well, Chambers Park; Banbridge v Wanderers, Rifle Park; Co Carlow v Nenagh, Oak Park; Connemara v Barnhall, Monastery Field; Middleton v Rainy OB, Towns Park; Naas v Instonians, Forenaughts; Navan RFC v Ards, Balreask Old; QUB v Suttonians, Dub Lane
SUNDAY
RBS Six Nations Championship:Italy v England, Stadio Flamino, 2.30pm (GMT)
