Croker ‘just another pitch’, says Jones

WALES captain Ryan Jones insists his side are ready to paint Dublin red by ending their Ireland agony, saying Croke Park is ‘just another pitch’.

Wales have not won here for eight years since their 23-19 victory in 2000 and have lost seven of their last eight meetings with Ireland.

But now skipper Jones is ready to break Ireland’s spell after dismissing the Croker factor. Jones said: “Croke Park will be a new experience for us but Twickenham was a fortress for England and we managed to win there.

“We know what it takes to win away and if you get it right on the day, it doesn’t matter if you are playing here, there or anywhere.

“Wherever you go the pitch is always 100 metres by 60 metres, and with all the mad Taff fans going over for the game, we should be OK.”

Wales are gunning for their 19th Triple Crown this weekend and have been thwarted five times by Ireland. But history may be on Wales’ side this year after winning in Dublin in 1978, 1988 and 1998.

Jones said: “I’ve never faced Ireland before but we’re all aware what is at stake.

“There will definitely be an extra edge to this game. The Triple Crown would be great, but we haven’t won anything yet.”

Mike Phillips is determined to forever cast off the unwanted nickname of ‘Splinters’ after being restored to the Wales side for Saturday’s Triple Crown showdown with Ireland in Dublin.

The Ospreys scrum-half, fuelled by the pain and frustration of rejection, has reclaimed his place from arch-rival Dwayne Peel and is not in the mood to give it up easily.

Phillips earned the nickname among some Wales fans because the majority of his career has been spent in Peel’s shadow, initially at the Llanelli Scarlets and latterly with the national team.

His frustration peaked in the build-up to the World Cup, when previous coach Gareth Jenkins told him he was only in the squad as Peel’s back-up and he spent a lot of time sat on the bench, hence the nickname.

But the arrival of Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards gave Phillips renewed hope of a life off the bench and the 25-year-old has flourished.

He earned a bottle of champagne from Edwards for his try-scoring performance in the win over England and has now twice been preferred to Peel this Six Nations.

“Before the World Cup I got told I was second choice by the coaches and that wasn’t a particularly nice thing to be told,” said Phillips.

“When I came back I just worked harder, I wanted to get my head down and show I was more than second best. I have sat on the bench more than anyone in the last couple of years. It does get frustrating.

“I have been very pleased with the way I have played so far and I am delighted to get the opportunity to start again. It is great to be involved in such a massive game for Wales. I loved the game at Twickenham, I will never forget that, and hopefully I can take the same memories away from this one.”

Phillips moved from the Cardiff Blues to join his third Welsh region last summer after the Ospreys offer him a bumper salary of around £180,000 (€235,000) a year.

On Saturday, Phillips will be up against another scrum-half who is finally establishing himself in his national team in Wasps’ Eoin Reddan.

“Reddan is looking very sharp. He has been involved a bit in the Six Nations in the past but is really getting a full chance now.

“He is making breaks, he has good service on him and he likes to box kick,” he added.