Gatland denies Jones ‘scapegoat’ for Fiji debacle

WALES boss Warren Gatland has rejected accusations that Ryan Jones was made a scapegoat for his team’s shambolic draw against Fiji a week ago.

Jones will be replaced by hooker Matthew Rees as captain when Wales face New Zealand at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow.

Ospreys star Jones has been retained in the team however, moving from blindside flanker to number eight alongside back-row colleagues Dan Lydiate and Sam Warburton.

Jones skippered Wales in the Fiji game, conceding an injury-time penalty which cost his team victory before Gatland told the players Rees would reclaim leadership duties against New Zealand and then informed the media, all within an hour of the final whistle.

But Gatland insisted: “The decision wasn’t made after the Fijian match.

“I had spoken to Matthew about this last week, I had spoken to some senior players, I informed the Ospreys last week before the match this was going to happen, and I decided to make the announcement in the changing room after the game.

“It wasn’t a knee-jerk reaction after the Fiji match, as people are trying to portray it. I don’t think Ryan played badly. One of the things he has done in the past is that he’s responded when he has been under pressure — he has responded well to criticism.”

Gatland, whose team face the All Blacks without a win in their last six Tests, admitted fall-out from the Jones saga had been considerable.

“It’s been a tough week in terms of criticism,” he admitted. “Whenever the decision was announced, we knew it was always going to create some sort of media furore.

“Once I had said to the team that Matthew would be captain for this week, I thought it was only proper to let the media know that decision was going to take place.

“I could understand that people, without myself being questioned, could assume that it was a reaction from the disappointment of the performance, and he (Jones) was made a scapegoat. But that wasn’t the case.”

Meanwhile, England lock Courtney Lawes last night told South Africa’s second row duo of Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield: “I am not scared”.

Lawes is relishing the opportunity to tackle the Springboks at Twickenham tomorrow: “They are big, physical guys and like to throw that around but I’m not scared and if they want to run into me, they can go ahead.

“I am pretty big and physical myself. I will enjoy the challenge. What’s (Botha) going to do — is he going to start a fist fight?

“If he does then he’s going to end up off the pitch and that’s fine by me. I am happy to play against 14 men.”