Sulk To Hulk

Lazarus captain Jones was ready to mope on the sofa when he got the all-clear to return as the Lion King

- Adam Hathaway

Alun Wyn Jones has revealed he was preparing for a sulk on the sofa when he got the news he could become rugby’s Lazarus.

The second row went from couch potato to Lion King yesterday as Warren Gatland handed him the captaincy for Saturday’s first Test against the Springboks in South Africa.

A bruising training session on Tuesday at the British & Irish Lions base confirmed Jones is fit to lock horns with Bok musclemen Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, and Pieter-Steph du Toit.

International rugby was the last thing on Jones’ mind when he got back to Wales after dislocating his shoulder against Japan, in Edinburgh, on June 26.