Scarlet flyer finds novel treatment

Jones was in danger of missing Wales’s make-or-break clash against Italy in Rome after damaging rib cartilage last time out against France. Yet the Scarlet flyer has wrapped up his place on the wing after resorting to wearing the home-made protection to ensure he lines up for the clash at the Stadio Flaminio.

He said: “It was a big worry for me not being able to play with the bruised ribs so I’ve been using one of the physio’s home-made recipes which is a bubble-wrap pad. I can just strap it on which makes it very useful for me in training and I’m probably going to wear a small one now on the weekend.”

Former players often complain that modern professionals are too often wrapped in cotton wool ahead of an important game but few will have literally been wrapped in bubble-wrap during a Test match.

Jones, 27, has already been labelled the ‘bionic man’ following a catalogue of operations, including two successful knee reconstructions, yet he has no qualms at being dubbed the “Michelin man” by his teammates after being passed fit to play. The inflated protection has even led some in the Wales team to ask whether Gavin Henson is the only father-to-be within the squad.

“I’ve looked slightly one-sided and someone even said I looked pregnant with it on,” admitted Jones. “People may think I’m carrying weight but it’s only a form of strapping really and it keeps the pressure off the ribs. To be honest, as long as it does the job then I don’t mind if it makes a popping sound when I’m tackled.”

The injury-plagued wing will make his first return in the red shirt to the Eternal City since he was part of the shock 30-22 defeat against the Azzurri in 2003.