New Zealand v Wales, Hamilton, June 26
Jones fit for Wales bench
Scrum.com
June 25, 2010
Wales fly-half Stephen Jones kicks long during the Captain's Run, Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand, June 25, 2010
Stephen Jones has been passed fit © Getty Images
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Stephen Jones has been passed fit to take his place on the Wales bench for the second Test against New Zealand in Hamilton on Saturday.

The fly-half has been unable to train this week after picking up a thumb injury in last weekend's 42-9 defeat. Dan Biggar starts at Waikato Stadium, but head coach Warren Gatland admitted that the Ospreys youngster was always set to start one of the two Tests.

"It was always the plan for Dan to get one of the games and it was just deciding whether it was the first or second Test," he said. "Stephen came through a fitness test this morning so he's fine to sit on the bench. We've been a little bit hit by injuries and we didn't bring a big squad with us so to have Steve to cover the bench is a big boost for us."

Despite their injury worries Gatland is predicting that his side can sustain a physical battle against their hosts, who proved too strong in the final game at Carisbrook.

"[Forwards coach] Robin McBryde spoke really well to the players about the physical confrontation and looking within yourself," Gatland said. "You can only answer those questions yourself in terms of your own preparation and what you're prepared to do.

"The body will go as far as the mind will tell it to go in that physical confrontation and there is no tougher place to experience that physical confrontation than New Zealand. It's was one consolation that at least a few of them did get a bit of a battering as we did last week, but that's what Test match rugby is all about. I've made it clear that it was okay for 40 minutes but it wasn't good enough for 80 minutes and we've got to play longer and consistently longer tomorrow night."

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