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JONES READY FOR BATTLE

2 November 2012 16:42pm
By Simon Rimmer


Alun Wyn Jones is at the end of a long week of intense training, 'evil saunas' and 6am starts in Spala, Poland but he knows it could all be for nothing if Wales don't get it right against Argentina in the Dove Men Series opener a week on Saturday.

Jones, who has played 66 times for Wales and is still only 27, is an integral part of the training squad currently working at the same Olympic training village in Eastern Europe which was 'home' for him and his team-mates for two ten day periods prior to the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
The visit to Spala last time was followed by a World Cup semi-final appearance and a trip to a similar resort in Gdansk pre-dated Wales' 2012 RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam winning performance.

The Ospreys lock knows the physical value of these training camps to the national squad but he is quick to point out the players will need to take a psychological edge into match day as well.

"We are all out here working hard and putting the time in which is what we know we have to do to ensure we prepare properly to face some of the top sides in the world," said Jones.

"But, what we do or don't do in Spala will be irrelevant if we don't get it right when we get out on that pitch against the Pumas and we are all acutely aware of that fact as well.

"Coming out to Poland has been a welcome change of environment and a chance to get back into the groove at international level.

Jones, who made his international debut on the 2006 tour of Argentina, has been an ever present in the Wales side through the 2011 World Cup and two Grand Slams (in 2008 and 2012) but it is the three test tour to Australia this summer which is his strongest motivating force at the moment.

"Australia was tough to take for us all. To end the series with a difference of only 11 points across the three matches shows we weren't far away but that's not good enough for us and we are determined to keep going," he added.

"This team has reached the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup and won the Grand Slam last season. After success like that there are always going to be tough times ahead as teams will be well prepared for you.

"But we didn't drop off, we know we could and should have won anyone of those games in Australia and we are pushing the top teams in the world game hard.

"We have the top two teams in the world in our own back yard this autumn and we have another great opportunity to make our mark.

"But Argentina are fresh from a baptism of fire in the Rugby Championship, they will be battle-hardened and coming to Wales looking for victory, so we will have to be ready for them.

"We'll definitely need to keep on our guard, when you come up against these teams you have to front up and show where you're at as a player.

"When Warren Gatland first took over Wales he had a mantra to play against the top three sides in the world, namely New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.

"So as a nation we should be a little envious of Argentina now, seeing them in the Rugby Championship and playing against the best sides in the world.

"They're only going to benefit from it and as I say, look at their performance against South Africa. They were very close to taking a scalp there and as we've improved in our performances, so have Argentina.

"They have got a history of having a strong forward pack and a bit of class behind with the likes of Hernandez.

"They've had a bit of a dent in their forward pack of late with the retirement of some key forwards but they've showed in patches in the Rugby Championship what they can achieve and obviously playing consistently in that competition is only going to benefit them as a team."

Wales also face Samoa, New Zealand and Australia on consecutive weekends at the Millennium Stadium in the 2012 Dove Men Series and will be looking to start their campaign with a win against the Pumas on November 10.

And Jones feels in good form as he looks to help Wales climb the IRB World Rankings and possibly pick up an elusive Southern Hemisphere scalp.

"Personally I'm pretty happy," added Jones.

"I've featured in every game for the Ospreys since the start of the season which I wasn't able to do last year because of the World Cup and when I got back from New Zealand I was injured. Touch wood I'm going okay at the moment."

WALES FIXTURES STILL ON SALE:
10 November 2012, 1430hrs, Millennium Stadium
WALES v ARGENTINA Adults £30 U16 £10
16 November 2012, 1930hrs, Millennium Stadium

WALES v SAMOA Adults £25 U16 £10

1 December 2012 1430 hrs, Millennium Stadium
WALES v AUSTRALIA From £60

Tickets online: www.wru.co.uk Tel: 0844 2 777 888

One of the best captains in the world? Really? Let's not forget that he wouldn't have been captain at the World Cup had Matthew Rees not got injured. He leads well by example, but if he's not at the top of his game, he won't be setting a good example. Finally, I was less than impressed with the way he pinned the blame for our defeat in the second Test against the Wallabies on our half backs. That didn't strike me as great captaincy at all.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:One of the best captains in the world? Really? Let's not forget that he wouldn't have been captain at the World Cup had Matthew Rees not got injured. He leads well by example, but if he's not at the top of his game, he won't be setting a good example. Finally, I was less than impressed with the way he pinned the blame for our defeat in the second Test against the Wallabies on our half backs. That didn't strike me as great captaincy at all.

Ok.! Thanks good to hear your opinion. I think that he showed in the world cup what an inspirational captain he is.

We disagree.

Let's see what happens Saturday.

I think our performances at the World Cup were coincidental to his captaincy and no more.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:I think our performances at the World Cup were coincidental to his captaincy and no more.

I disagree, I thought his candour, teamsmanship, talismanic attributes as well as being one of the very best open sides at the RWC showed him to be an inspirational captain and player that the squad fought for. I noticed that my opinion was reiterated in most of the media, home and abroad.

I hope that now fit, he can find form and get back to is best, improve on it and make Wales a great team again.

You can't pick and choose, though. Presumably you don't put our three-nil series defeat in the summer down to his captaincy, so why do you give him the credit for our performances in the World Cup? And if he was so important to us, wouldn't we have been much poorer when he was missing during the Six Nations?

Also:

maestegmafia wrote:I hope that now fit, he can find form and get back to is best, improve on it and make Wales a great team again.

He should have to find form before he gets selected, otherwise it's punishing Tipuric who has been in fine form all season.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:You can't pick and choose, though. Presumably you don't put our three-nil series defeat in the summer down to his captaincy, so why do you give him the credit for our performances in the World Cup? And if he was so important to us, wouldn't we have been much poorer when he was missing during the Six Nations?

He was missing for most of the Aussie series too, didnt finish a game, being rushed back un fit was the issue. He is fit now, the coaches will get him straight.

If not we have Tipuric as you said. But now matter how well tips has played this year, a fit and on fire warburton, one of the best opensides in the world, will do us more good.

I don't think tips is being punished at all. If Warburtons form is poor, Tips will be in.

maestegmafia wrote:If Warburtons form is poor, Tips will be in.

Evidently not, judging by Howley's team selection in the summer.

The World Cup is a year ago now. Coaches shouldn't select players based on how well they played played that long ago.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:If Warburtons form is poor, Tips will be in.

Evidently not, judging by Howley's team selection in the summer.

The World Cup is a year ago now. Coaches shouldn't select players based on how well they played played that long ago.

Coaches do though, and will continue to give some players a chance to prove it on the pitch and others they won't.

Why? Because they value what the ones they give a chance to can do.


Phill Bennett being instilled at flyhalf for Wales was the same call, he was fourth choice at the time, Gareth Edwards had some appaulling games forcardiff when Chico Hopkins was sublime, Jonathan Davies, Scott Gibbs, Scott Quinnell, Stephen Jones. The list goes on and on, it does so in every country in every sport.

This whole argument is irrelevant anyway. You and I both know Warburton will be selected for Saturday.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:This whole argument is irrelevant anyway. You and I both know Warburton will be selected for Saturday.

I'm not a 100% sure he will be, but I wont be overly critical of his inclusion.

My opinion is similar to the coaches. On form he is the player Wales need at the breakdown. If they think he can play at his best he'll be in, if not they'll say he picked up a knock and will make it for the next game.

APARENTLY JAMES AND JARVIS TO START




Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde has hinted Paul James and Aaron Jarvis could start ahead of Gethin Jenkins in Wales’ front row against Argentina.

McBryde admitted triple Grand Slam-winner Jenkins is under pressure for his place at loosehead following James’ impressive start to the season at Bath.

And he claimed Wales are keen to go with a specialist tighthead rather than play the versatile former Osprey out of position, as has been the case previously when Adam Jones is injured.

Jones' Ospreys understudy Jarvis appears to be ahead of fellow young hopefuls Samson Lee and Scott Andrews in the pecking order after some fine displays at regional level, with McBryde insisting: “If you are good enough, you’re old enough.”

Jenkins has struggled for first-team rugby after his big summer switch to Toulon from Cardiff Blues, with England prop Andrew Sheridan often preferred in the Top14 campaign.

James, meanwhile, has established himself as Bath’s number one loosehead with a series of strong scrummaging displays.


"We do need to increase the strength in depth at tighthead but also because of the law changes at international level where you can carry a full front row on the bench you don't need a player that can cover both sides. You need that specialist tighthead,” McBryde said.

“We have got to support the three young tight-heads in the squad. We are not going to ask them to do anything over and above what they are already capable of doing at regional level.

“We are aware that Samson has only had a couple of games under his belt. Aaron has had a very strong start to the season.

“There is a lot of experience around the squad. Hopefully we will be able to help these young guys out and make sure they ease into international rugby as smoothly as possible.

“Age shouldn't come into it. If you are good enough, you are old enough and the three of them have more than stood up to working with some of the best players we have in Wales in the front row.”

Speaking of Jenkins’ struggles in France, McBryde added: “The boys have been pulling his leg a bit, asking how the cigar smoking has been going out in France.


“He hasn't had it all his own way out there has he, it's fair to say.

“That can work both ways. If you are a young prop who is very hungry for experience and learning your trade that can hamper you in a lot of

ways. If you are an experienced prop and you have been around the block for quite a while, you can perhaps switch your mind-set to making

the most of the opportunity of having a rest and make sure when the opportunity does come you are fresh and raring to go.

“Gethin will be under pressure. Paul James has been playing well. He's been first-choice down there, playing regularly with demands that mirror something akin to Argentina - playing against big packs week-in, week-out in the Premiership.

“I had the conversation with Paul and he was keen to find out whether he was number one or number three on his back. I said let's wait to see how it goes!”

Wales’ other big selection decision is in the back row after it was confirmed Ryan Jones will miss Saturday’s match with a shoulder injury.

Jones’ injury comes on top of the absence of first-choice blindside Dan Lydiate, who will miss the whole autumn series through injury of his own.

Scarlets trio Rob McCusker, Aaron Shingler and Josh Turnbull are all fighting to fill the back row spot, although McBryde refused to rule out the possibility of moving skipper Sam Warburton to six and playing in-form Justin Tipuric at openside.

“I think it's horses for courses, but when you've got two quality players playing openside in the squad, as we have, you can't discount that.

“Both Justin and Sam are hugely effective in their different ways and they could complement each other.

“It's definitely one we wouldn't throw out straight away. Hopefully our hand isn't forced, but should we have to go down that route I'm confident we could be as effective and mould our game around that combination.”



Read More http://www.walesonline.co.uk/rugbynation/rugby-news/2012/11/05/wales-hint-at-paul-james-and-aaron-jarvis-selection-for-argentina-clash-91466-32171145/#ixzz2BROXOXwe