T
he times they are a-changing. Wales
are defending Six Nations champions,
“
2008 will sit very
squad that last season had nothing to lose as they
fondly in my memories
limbered up for a tilt at the title.
are currently ranked fourth in the
world and will likely provide the bulk and it’s the biggest
“We have to learn to deal with being favourites,”
says Jones. “Probably historically Wales have
of this year’s British and Irish Lions side to tour
South Africa. Expectations are high, and Warren
achievement of my
performed better as underdogs but if we can have a
successful tournament this year, whether it be win-
Gatland’s men are beginning to look entirely
career for both club
ning it or finishing close to the top, I think it will be
capable of handling them. a massive step forward not only in the performance
Rewind three years to February 2006. Wales, and country. We want of the team but also the psychology of the players
defending grand slam champions, had just been
dispatched 47-13 by England at Twickenham. As
to experience that
within it.”
For the entire squad there is a desire to compete
fans streamed from the home of English rugby
again.
with, and be respected by, the best sides in the
and back across the Severn Bridge, the Welsh
bubble burst.
Two weeks later the national side had lost coach like nothing more for in the last we
Mike Ruddock and the squad were left watching
”
world. For Mark Jones, the focus is squarely set on
bringing more success to the Millennium Stadium
ekend of the and relishing every moment of his second chance.
championship to be playing for a grand slam.” “There was a stage when I suffered my second
Welsh rugby return to the doldrums. Jones has rapidly become one of the senior members cruciate ligament injury and there was serious doubt
For one man however, the Twickenham match was a of the squad in recent seasons, a fact only high- whether I’d play again,” he says. “It was an achieve-
new beginning. Scarlets wing Mark Jones made his lighted by his ability to step into the boots of Shane ment enough for me to come back and play but to be
return to the Test arena in the game after three years Williams when the talismanic wing was ruled out of involved in the Wales squad again, and a Wales squad
away with a series of horrific knee injuries. While all Wakes’ 23-15 win over England on February 14. With that was particularly successful in 2008, was great.
around him fell apart Jones once again became an 20-year-old Blues wing Leigh Halfpenny also looking “I joined the squad with a lot of expectation after
indispensable member of the squad as he had been the part in the No.14 shirt, Wales are developing an seeing the exploits of the boys in 2005 and to have
before his injury, his Lazarus-like return culminating enviable strength-in-depth and squad mentality as the disappointment of 2006 was tough to take. 2008
in four starts during Wales’ 2008 grand slam. they look to compete with the game’s superpowers. will sit very fondly in my memories and it’s the
The turnaround in Welsh fortunes has not been an “Warren, Shaun [Edwards, defence coach] and biggest achievement of my career for both club and
overnight fix and Jones has seen first hand the ebb Rob [Howley, backs coach] do a fantastic job of country. We want to experience that again.”
and flow of their efforts in the intervening years preparing us for the internationals but the regions
between their celebrated Six Nations successes. are producing some
“If you look at 2006 there was massive expecta- quality youngsters at
tion,” he says. “The public was looking for us to kick the moment,” Jones
on, but as history has shown now it was a season continues. “When
filled with turmoil. With the change in coach, Mike they do come in to
[Ruddock] unfortunately leaving and Scott Johnson the international
taking over, it ended up being a very disappointing environment I feel that
year. From that year we learned a fair bit. it is a good place for a
“We also had a difficult World Cup in 2007 in terms youngster to develop.
of results but through that process there was a There’re certainly no
change in mentality from the players. We knew that egos within the squad
we needed to step up a few gears if we wanted to at the moment, every-
compete with the top sides in the world. body is treated on an
“Physically we were as well prepared as we’d ever equal par.
been. What’s happened now is that Warren has come “That’s vital if you
in and brought his own unique expertise and built want to gain respect
on the very firm conditioning base we had then. Now for one another within
I think we’re seeing the rebound from maybe six to the squad. Everybody
eight months of hard work, that came to fruition with is treated the same,
the 2008 grand slam.” no-one is above get-
Confidence is high in the Wales camp following a ting the mickey taken
successful autumn campaign and eyes are beginning out of them whether
to turn to the final game of this year’s Six Nations you’ve got one cap or
tournament and a possible championship decider 80 odd. I think that’s
with Ireland at the Millennium Stadium on March 21. one of the strengths of
“I think if you look at the first grand slam in 2005 the squad.”
then the fixtures lent themselves to a very similar At the time of press,
finale,” says Jones. “Once that third game was over Wales were staring
people were starting to turn to the last game as a down the barrel of
grand slam decider. But Italy is no easy place to go to successive grand
and if they get to that penultimate weekend looking slams for the first time
to stay out of the wooden-spoon slot they are going since 1909, so there
to be very difficult to beat on their home patch. We’d is new pressure on a
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