Jones: A day for action not words

RYAN JONES will carry the Welsh flag into battle against France today, determined to lead his country to a 10th Grand Slam and a place in Welsh rugby history.

Words will not be required. The team bus will drive past tens of thousands of supporters who are expected to flood into Cardiff, just as they did on this weekend three years ago.

On that day, Wales turned on the style to beat Ireland and end a painful 27-year wait for a Grand Slam.

Jones will demand his troops produce a repeat performance under the closed roof of the Millennium Stadium tomorrow. And he will show them the way, as he has done all tournament.

“I don’t prepare speeches, because you’ve got to judge the mood. When I speak it’s not planned, it’s more from the heart, off the cuff, instinctive,” said Jones.

“I don’t think this is a day for words, it’s a day for actions. No words can get us through, we just have to make sure we’re physically and mentally ready.

“We have set our sights high and we’re on the verge of a special achievement. It’s never going to be a case of motivating guys at a time like this.

“There is no point shouting and screaming and bouncing off the walls, because that won’t do anyone any good. You have to keep a certain composure and focus, so that you can be clinical.”

Coaches Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards have taken most of the credit for transforming Welsh rugby, which hit rock bottom after Fiji sent them crashing out of the World Cup.

But their captain has played a significant role. Jones came into the tournament with just a handful of matches under his belt after a shoulder injury kept him out for the best part of a year.

But he is back with a bang, showing the form that saw Wales win that 2005 Grand Slam and took the Lions tour by storm.

Jones is the leading ball carrier in this year’s championship — his total of 41 is 13 more than his nearest rival — and he is eighth in the tackle count chart.

Last weekend Jones lifted the Triple Crown trophy after a huge individual performance against Ireland.

This week he’s been shortlisted for the RBS 6 Nations player of the tournament.

“It is important I try and lead from the front because I want the respect and admiration of my peers. That is the biggest accolade you can get as a captain,” said Jones.

“Last week was probably my most complete performance. I came off with my head held high. I had given everything.”

The new intense training regimes Gatland and Edwards introduced have been well documented — but they only work if the squad buy into the ethos wholeheartedly, and Jones has ensured that has happened.

“I always believed we could do well in this competition. When we came together, there was a belief and buzz,” he said.

“Yes, the World Cup was a disappointment, but you can’t dwell on things like that. All the boys had already drawn a line under the World Cup and had moved on.

“In fairness, there was nowhere else to go. The regions were going really well — the Ospreys and Cardiff Blues had qualified for the Heineken quarter-finals in fine style — and other individuals were playing well. We were in much better shape than some people gave us credit for.

“On top of that, Warren and Shaun outlined to us exactly what was required and how long they thought it would take to get there.

“We were all positive, bought into it straight away and here we are eight weeks later on the verge of something special.

“Rugged determination has been our chief characteristic. We don’t give up and roll over. That period when we took control in Dublin after Mike Phillips had been sin-binned epitomised this team.

“And it is performances like that which win you championships.”

Jones leads a team featuring only one change from Croke Park, with James Hook back in the flyhalf jersey ahead of Stephen Jones.

“France possibly pose the most complete threat in the tournament because they can attack you from anywhere,” said Jones.

“But we can play in different styles too. If we get it right on the day and impose ourselves on them we will win. That is the belief I have in this team.”