RUGBY UNION

JONES OUT FOR THAT EXTRA ROAR

THE BIG ONE: Wales’ Stephen Jones

Thursday November 5,2009

By Neil Squires

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IF THE Lions’ thrilling legacy has largely been lost in a grey start to the domestic season, then it is to Wales where rugby must look for a reinvigorating red splash this month.

The broad brush strokes of the bold Lions style which took South Africa to the edge proved that even a 2-1 series defeat can still be glorious, and while it might have been signed off by a Scot in head coach Ian McGeechan, it was in essence the Welsh way.

It was the Wales management team who saw to it that if the Lions were to go down against the world champions they would do so, in the best traditions of the spaghetti western, in a hail of bullets, and while the shirt and the setting will be different in Cardiff in November, their demands of a familiar playing cast will be the same.

Ten of the 2009 Lions cast will take on the All Blacks on Saturday including the Test fly-half Stephen Jones, who says the feel-good factor from the summer epic can still be felt around the Wales squad.

“The players who went with the Lions had a very positive experience and it has been good to bring that back to the Wales camp,” said Jones.

“The Welsh boys did themselves justice in South Africa and that will be massive for us over the next few years. There are now Welsh players who know what it takes to beat the world champions and that winning mentality becomes a habit.

“I finished the tour physically tired but I was fortunate that my region gave me five weeks off when I got back and now I am ready for another high on Saturday. It is easy to prepare yourself for the All Blacks. It is a brilliant fixture.”

Over a career which stretches to 80 caps, New Zealand remain the one major nation he has never beaten. The names may change – Crusaders wing Zac Guildford, 20, will make his Test debut in an All Blacks side with six changes from the one who beat the Wallabies in Tokyo at the weekend – but the result stays the same.

Twelve months ago, opportunity knocked loudly as Jones kicked Wales into a 9-6 half-time lead only for normal service to resume depressingly after the interval.

“But we go into this game with the belief that we can win,” said Jones. “We are a settled squad and we are evolving. Since Warren Gatland has come on board we have experienced a bit of success. I would be delighted if we could do it. If you asked any of the Welsh guys that question they would give you the same answer.”

NEW ZEALAND: M Muliaina; C Jane, C Smith, M Nonu, Z Guildford; D Carter, B Leonard; W Crockett, A Hore, N Tialata, B Thorn, J Eaton, J Kaino, R McCaw (capt), K Read. Replacements: C Flynn, O Franks, T Donnelly, A Thomson, J Cowan, S Donald, B Smith.

PAST winners the Ospreys kick off the downgraded Anglo-Welsh Cup tonight against Northampton without 27 of their squad who are either injured, on Test duty or, in the case of Gavin Henson, on indefinite unpaid leave.