Today's rugby news as Alun Wyn Jones 'clone' enjoying new role and Jiffy reveals Six Nations concern
These are your rugby headlines for Saturday, November 4.
Alun Wyn Jones 'clone' relishing new role
Cardiff's Shane Lewis-Hughes says he is enjoying his current switch from the back-row to the second-row. The three-cap Wales international, who was once referred to as a 'clone' of Alun Wyn Jones by former Wales coach Wayne Pivac, has been packing down in the second-row for the Arms Park this season.
And, as Jones ironically bids farewell to Welsh rugby today, Lewis-Hughes will once again start in the second-row as Cardiff travel to the Scarlets for their Welsh derby.
Having struggled with injuries since his Test caps and that comparison to Jones, Lewis-Hughes is now enjoying the change in position - given he sees himself as a blindside flanker.
“I think it's quite clear by the way I play, I’m a six playing in the row," he said. "But these days if you look at teams, there’s no difference between a six and four, really, bar from being in the scrum.
“It takes it out of your legs a little bit more because the props rely on you for weight in the scrum, but apart from that I have the same output when I was playing six really.
“I've really been enjoying it. The main thing for me that I've been enjoying is just being back out on the pitch again. I've been desperate to play.
“I prepare for both. So I prepare to play at six, I prepare to play in the row. So anything that comes up doesn't surprise me.
“I make sure that I'm prepped for both. That weight to power ratio is important in the row and I feel like I have that, but half of it is just having that dog in you. I guess it’s all well and good being big, but if you haven't got that dog in you, it doesn't matter how big you are. It’s just having that determination and being relentless.”
It was 2020 when Pivac, who had given Lewis-Hughes his Wales debut, compared the Cardiff flanker to World Rugby's most-capped player due to his work ethic.
"In the words of Alun Wyn Jones, he said 'I've been waiting 15 years for someone like Shane to come along'. It's pretty high praise coming from our captain," said Pivac at the time.
"If you look at Alun Wyn in terms of his preparation, the way he trains, and the way he reviews and previews his opposition, Shane Lewis-Hughes is a clone.
"He's been leaving the team room at 9.30 to 10pm each night. He's doing his homework and everything Alun Wyn Jones does."
Jiffy reveals Six Nations concern
Dual-code legend Jonathan Davies fears Wales could face a 'very difficult' Six Nations despite their improved World Cup showing.
Warren Gatland's side managed to reach the quarter-finals in France, before losing to Argentina. However, with some key retirements to senior players and the ongoing problems in Welsh rugby, Davies fears the upcoming Six Nations could be tough.
"Wales, I think, had an exceptional World Cup," wrote Davies in his WalesOnline column. "It was disappointing to lose against Argentina as I felt they could have got past them.
"But now it's a very difficult Six Nations. Italy had a dreadful World Cup, but they've got a new coach coming in. England under Steve Borthwick seem to know how they want to play. Then you've got France, Ireland and Scotland.
"They're the top-three favourites and that's not going to go away any time soon. They seem to have developed plenty of players in the pipeline coming through. In that sense, I fear it's going to be a tough Six Nations."
O'Gara teases dream Lions coaching ticket
La Rochelle head coach Ronan O'Gara has teased a dream Lions coaching partnership with Ireland boss Andy Farrell.
World Rugby's coach of the year Farrell is the favourite to land the role for the 2025 tour of Australia, with Warren Gatland having already ruled himself out of contention.
Former Ireland fly-half O'Gara is seen as an exciting young coach, having won back-to-back Champions Cup titles in France, and he has admitted he would be interested in working with the Lions - particularly if Farrell was involved.
“Well it depends what role you are offered obviously,” he told the Off the Ball Breakfast show. “If you are the head coach you would have to go and take a year sabbatical so that obviously wouldn’t work because of my commitment to La Rochelle.
“But if there was a potential opening, depending on my willingness to show interest in it, the bosses here would be very open to hopefully trying to see me in my best version. Maybe my best version might be coaching with Andy Farrell with the Lions. That would be extremely exciting, I think, and I don’t think reasonable people would put a stop to that.”
Former Dragons coach lands surprising new role
Former Dragons coach Bernard Jackman has landed a job as acting head of high performance sport at Horse Sport Ireland in the lead-up to next year's Olympic Games in Paris.
According to HSI, Jackman ‘has been brought in with a focus on high performance, overseeing preparations for the games in a bid to maximise the massive potential of Irish athletes, both human and equine. With the ultimate goal of bringing medals home from Paris, Jackman began working with the high performance sport team in HSI this week and is thrilled to be on board with the Irish Olympic and Paralympic programmes.’
“I’m very excited to have started with the team at HSI as we gear towards the Olympics and Paralympics in the summer,” Jackman said.
“The Irish show jumpers and eventers were the among the first, if not the first teams and athletes to secure a place in Paris last summer – in the 2022 World Championships in Herning and also in Pratoni – so we have been in the unique position to be able to plan and strategise, long term, for a tilt at medals.
“I look at the likes of Michael Blake’s show jumping team and the fantastic results we’ve had in Nations Cups, multiple wins and podium finishes almost every time the team has lined up, including this year’s European Championship silver medal. This has me really excited for what we can achieve in that sphere.”
