Alun Wyn Jones has warned the British & Irish Lions that the Provincial Barbarians players will “grow an extra arm” because they will be so pumped up for the encounter.
The Wales captain warned that there was no room for complacency, even this morning when the Lions play who are expected to be the weakest of the teams that they will face.
Jones, who starts in the second row, said: “I’ve watched and been involved in these kinds of games, and you can see how much it means because players only have one chance in 12 years to go up against the Lions.
“The opponents grow two inches, grow an extra arm and an extra leg, they are suddenly able to cover more metres, they get faster — because they have an opportunity they know they may never get again. So from our point of view it’s also an opportunity we might not get again as well. So that feeling will be felt both ways.”
Jones shrugged off concerns that the tourists’ schedule will stop them from being competitive. Steve Hansen, the New Zealand head coach, told The Times this week that he would not have signed up to such a schedule, but Jones said that the criticism was not hurting the squad.
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“We could say yes but people always have their opinion,” he said. “It gives us a lot to laugh about. For the most part people are saying things out of concern. But it’s not supposed to be easy when you come down here, and it’s not going to be, so it’s a case of getting down to it.”
● Listen to the British & Irish Lions v Provincial Barbarians on talkSPORT (Kick off 8.30am BST)