'He needs 20 minutes': Alun Wyn Jones to be given chance to prove fitness against Stormers

'If the medical team hadn’t passed him fully fit, he wouldn’t be here'

Alun Wyn Jones arrives in South Africa after recovering from injury. Picture: INPHO/Billy Stickland

Alun Wyn Jones will have at least 20 minutes to prove he is ready to face the Springboks in the upcoming Test series and no-one could be happier than one of the men who may miss out because of the veteran Welsh lock’s rapid return to fitness.

Adam Beard was the beneficiary when his Ospreys and national second-row partner and captain dislocated his shoulder just seven minutes into the pre-tour test against Japan at Murrayfield on June 26. The 25-year-old was called up as the replacement for Jones, 36, and took his seat on the plane to South Africa the next day.