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Wales, who has injured Lions skipper Alun Wyn Jones training with them, are waiting on the fitness of stand-in captain Jonathan Davies and two other players ahead of Saturday’s second Test against Argentina in Cardiff. Davies, Willis Halaholo and Aaron Wainwright all suffered knocks in the 20-20 draw in the first Test last weekend.
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The trio will be assessed in training in the coming days with coach Wayne Pivac set to name his side on Thursday for the game at the Principality Stadium. Defence coach Gethin Jenkins said: “There are a few sore bodies. We will continue to look after their recovery.
“Nobody is ruled out yet. There are still a few assessments to go in terms of the three bumps we had. We are lucky to only have had those three. It was quite a physical game and we are coming to the end of a long season for the players.”
Wales are without a host of senior players due to British and Irish Lions call-ups this summer. An inexperienced side showed resilience to come from behind to claim a draw in the first Test, but they did play most of the game against 14 men.
“It was a strange old game,” said Jenkins. “It was what we expected from them but we probably didn’t deal with it as we should have. There was little to trouble us and they lost a man but, the way Argentina play – it is a simple game plan but they do it so well. We have to tighten up a few areas.”
A decision could be made as early as Wednesday on the comeback to beat all comebacks if it is successful#LionsRugby
https://t.co/QuDHJABXOo— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 13, 2021
The draw means Wales still have a chance of winning the series and Jenkins feels the experience will be beneficial to the squad. “It puts more pressure on this weekend,” he said. “It is another chance against the same opposition. We know everything they are about but it is a big challenge for this group. A lot of the players who played at the weekend probably haven’t experienced that intensity and that pressure.
“It is a chance for them to get another hit-out and work it out for themselves. It has been challenging but I have enjoyed it. We just want to go out at the weekend and put in one final good performance.”
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Wales have surprisingly been joined in training this week by regular captain Jones, who is hoping to prove his fitness to rejoin the Lions squad. Jones, the original captain for this summer’s series in South Africa, was initially ruled out of the tour after dislocating his shoulder in a warm-up game against Japan last month.
But Jones, the 35-year-old lock, has made a rapid recovery and could rejoin Warren Gatland’s Lions group if training with Wales is successful. Former Lions international Jenkins said: “I know how professional he is and the standards he sets. Fingers crossed, I hope he does get back.”
What Marcus Smith joining the Lions means for England rugby and Finn Russell ? @jimhamilton4 @StephenFerris6 pic.twitter.com/kCvBG1McZs
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 13, 2021
