SICKENER
Alun Wyn Jones heartbreak as he goes off injured in Wales’ opening Autumn International vs New Zealand
ALUN WYN JONES suffered potential injury heartbreak - just three months after his miracle Lions comeback.
In identical fashion to when he dislocated his shoulder back in July, Jones had to be helped off the pitch as a medic held his crocked left arm.
2
2
The Wales talisman, who was playing his record 149th Test, lasted just 20 minutes against the All Blacks.
He will now be sent for scans to asses the extent of his injury with a final report expected on Monday.
Cardiff fell silent, then stood to salute their hero as he walked off the pitch in this opening Autumn International.
Boss Wayne Pivac tried to stay optimistic and said: "Al feels pretty good.
"We will get a scan, but he is not in any discomfort. He couldn't play on, but he is feeling a lot better, which is a plus.
"I don't think our medical team will write him off, but we will know a lot more come Monday.
"But Ross Moriarty is an AC joint and he is in quite a bit of pain and has pain relief, it doesn't look too good."
Pivac will be sweating after 20 players were already ruled out before this game through either injury, illness or unavailability.
The whole of Wales will also be praying that Jones can complete another remarkable comeback.
After his freak recovery in July he managed to fly to South Africa and lead the Lions - just 21 days after being ruled out of the whole tour.
At the time, then boss Warren Gatland said: “Given his age, they think that they could potentially take a few shortcuts, more than you would do with a young player, if he picked up this type of injury at the start of his career.
Most read in Sport
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
“So he's kind of optimistic that a miracle may happen, and then he can get himself right.
"We're just going to assess it and see how the next couple of weeks goes in terms of that.
“I think the specialist said, when he had to look at it, that it wasn't quite as bad as he thought it would be.
“But not good enough, obviously, to come on tour to start with.
"And we needed a replacement, otherwise we would have put too much pressure on him and the other second rows.
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
"We're going to monitor that and as we come towards the end of the tour.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
"Or if we pick up an injury and he's making amazing progress, something can happen - you never know.
"So it's kind of one of those just wait and see situations.”
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac discusses the impact of injured and absent players on New Zealand clash
Topics