Jones was sidelined for eight months with a shoulder injury but got an hour of game time with Swansea last weekend in the 19-19 draw with Llanelli in the Principality Premiership. Providing the Wales and British & Irish Lions back row does not suffer an adverse reaction, Ospreys boss Lyn Jones thinks his namesake’s return will be a welcome boost for his side.
“Ryan Jones should make his debut as skipper against the Scarlets providing he has no adverse reaction following his appearance for Swansea,” said Jones. “It will be a massive positive for both the Ospreys and for Wales to have Ryan back on the park and he is keen to make up for lost time.”
Jones’s shoulder problems have kept him sidelined since April with the Lions No.8 also having missed most of the 2005-2006 season with a shoulder injury. Ryan Jones said: “Now it’s about building and trying to get some form, but that doesn’t come overnight, it’s going to take me a few weeks.”
Coach Jones has turned his attention to the forthcoming match with the Scarlets: “We always look forward to the challenge of Stradey Park and by this I mean not only the challenge set by their players, but also the challenge laid down by a passionate and vocal home support. The three games over the Christmas and New Year period will have a massive bearing on whether we will retain our title and it’s also worth noting that on the two occasions that we have won the Magners League we have been successful at Stradey Park.”
The Scarlets make five changes from the starting side that lost to Munster in the Heineken Cup last time out. Prop Ben Broster and back row James Bater are both out, meaning Deacon Manu and Gavin Thomas replace them. Centre Jon Davies, hooker James Hayter and lock Adam Eustace drop to the bench, with Gavin Evans, Matthew Rees and Scott MacLeod coming into the starting line up.
“There are many fascinating individual battles within this fixture, with Ryan up against Alix Popham, Stoddart against Byrne, and Rees against Hibbard, said Jones. “The half backs will also clearly be out to get one over each other. All of these boys will be looking to give Warren Gatland something to think about when he is considering his RBS Six Nations squad at the end of January. A key man for the Scarlets is clearly Regan King, who is again on top form this season, but we are also expecting a fiery encounter from a Scarlets pack which has won only one of their last six matches.”
Scarlets: Morgan Stoddart; Mark Jones, Regan King, Gavin Evans, Nathan Brew; Stephen Jones, Dwayne Peel; Iestyn Thomas, Matthew Rees, Deacon Manu, Vernon Cooper, Scott MacLeod, Simon Easterby (capt), Gavin Thomas, Alix Popham
Replacements: Bruce Douglas, James Hayter, Adam Eustace, Dafydd Jones, Gavin Cattle, Ceiron Thomas, Jon Davies
Ospreys: Lee Byrne, Nikki Walker, Mark Taylor, Andrew Bishop, Aled Brew, James Hook, Mike Phillips, Ryan Jones, Ben Lewis, Jonathan Thomas, Alun Wyn Jones, Ian Gough, Adam Jones, Richard Hibbard, Duncan Jones
Replacements: Huw Bennett, Cai Griffiths, Lyndon Bateman, Tom Smith, Justin Marshall, Shaun Connor, Jonathan Vaughton
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
