Wales' growing injury concern as Boks loom
SPOTLIGHT: Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones saw his record-breaking appearance end just 19 minutes into a Test against New Zealand at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Saturday.
Jones, by playing in his 149th Test for Wales, surpassed retired New Zealand captain Richie McCaw’s previous world record of most Test rugby union appearances for one country.
But the veteran lock appeared to suffer a left shoulder or arm injury tackling New Zealand fullback Jordie Barrett and was replaced by Will Rowlands, with the visitors 10-3 ahead.
It was the same arm that Jones injured just eight minutes into the British and Irish Lions warm-up Test against Japan at Murrayfield in June.
However, the second row recovered after just 18 days to lead the combined side during their 2-1 series loss in South Africa.
#OPINION: Tough day at the office for @WelshRugbyUnion https://t.co/zPnM7kcNGJ
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Dan Biggar has also emerged as an injury doubt for next weekend’s Wales versus South Africa clash in Cardiff after the flyhalf exited Saturday’s East Midlands Premiership derby versus Leicester at the interval.
Unavailable to feature for Wales against the All Blacks this Saturday due to the match falling outside the World Rugby window governing player release, Biggar was instead on duty for Northampton in their high profile English league game against leaders Leicester.
The expectation was that despite missing the All Blacks match, Biggar would arrive in Wales camp next week to take back the No10 jersey from the fit-again Gareth Anscombe and resume the rivalry he had with Handre Pollard over the course of the three-game Lions versus Springboks series.
However, Biggar, who missed two first-half kicks from the tee for a Northampton team that fell 27-0 in arrears after just 33 minutes, didn’t make it back out the Franklin’s Gardens tunnel for the second half due to an unspecified knock.
Wales continue their end of year series at home to South Africa a week on Saturday.
Source: AFP & Rugbypass
#REPORT! @AllBlacks kick of their Europe tour with a comprehensive win over @WelshRugbyUnion #WalvNZL #RUGBY https://t.co/RGObyvLnD7
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