By David Williams
Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones believes that this year’s planned British and Irish Lions tour should go ahead “if it can”.
The Lions are due to visit South Africa in July and August, highlighted by a three-Test series against the world champions.
However, the coronavirus pandemic has created considerable uncertainty over whether the eight-match trip will take place.
Possible options, meanwhile, under consideration by Lions chiefs are playing the games behind closed doors, delaying the tour until next year, or hosting games in Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Jones and his fellow skippers – England’s Owen Farrell, Ireland’s Johnny Sexton, and Scotland’s Stuart Hogg – have all been involved in talks about tour plans.
The 35-year-old Ospreys second row has played in nine Lions Tests across three tours.
He also captained them in a 2013 Test series-clinching victory over Australia when tour skipper Sam Warburton was injured.
“I think it needs to go ahead this year,” said Jones, speaking during Wednesday’s Six Nations launch.
“The jury is out on where it will happen.
“We all know the jeopardy that it’s in. All being well, everyone will be safe and looked after if it does go ahead, for those guys selected.
“It would be a travesty if the fans weren’t able to go and see it. Having been involved in a few, it’s a very special tour and the fans make it that way.
“From a captain’s point of view, we (Jones, Farrell, Sexton and Hogg) are all in agreement that, if it can, it should go ahead this year.”
Before any Lions squad is finalised, there is the matter of the Six Nations and in coach Wayne Pivac’s first year in charge Wales suffered seven defeats from 10 Tests in 2020, and two of those were against Ireland.
It took Wales’ run of successive losses against Ireland to four, and Pivac said: “They are going to be a formidable challenge.
“To have it first game up will set the tone for the competition for both sides. We understand the importance of the game.
“We know Ireland’s strengths, it’s about negating that. It is about bringing a lot of physicality ourselves to the game and making sure that we are able to do that over 80 minutes.”
Historically, Wales’ worse losing streak to Ireland came in the early 2000s, when Ireland notched five wins in a row. A loss in the opening round of the Six Nations would match that streak.
While Wales finished fifth in both the Six Nations and Autumn Nations Cup, Jones believes the autumn campaign might have proved an important stepping stone.
“The strength in depth we developed in the Autumn Nations Cup, I said to some of the guys it’s arguably a watershed moment in the number of caps that were gained,” Jones said.
“You probably wouldn’t have seen that over two-and-a-half, three years previously. It had to be done, and took a bit of hurt doing that.
“But we have a squad now that’s exciting and excited to prove a point in this Six Nations, with a layer of experience and other internationals who have not been selected for this campaign, but are ready to step into the breach.”
We have (virtual) launch off! 🚀
It was great to hear from Alun Wyn Jones and Wayne Pivac! 🤝#GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/rasdgQ4or7— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) January 27, 2021
Although the Six Nations will be contested behind closed doors because of the pandemic, Wales are back at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium for the visit of Ireland on February 7, having played their Nations Cup fixtures in Llanelli.
Pivac added: “The vibe around the place, the space, the room, it’s familiar territory for all the players and it has all that history of Test rugby.
“It’s a fantastic place for the Welsh players and management to be. We are looking forward to getting back there.
“No crowds is a disappointment, but the stadium is the home of Welsh rugby, and that’s where we want to be.
“What we are targeting is making sure we are giving ourselves the best opportunity to win every game. It’s about the performance, preparation and players performing their roles over 80 minutes.
“That is going to be our challenge – to play well with and without the ball for 80 minutes.
“If we can do that, I believe we are capable of beating any team on the day.”