Jones: I've got the number of 'The Beast'

Adam Jones was told by Phil Vickery to “make sure you stuff him” after being picked to face ’The Beast’ in Saturday’s second Test against South Africa.

Vickery lost his place to Jones after being put through the mincer by Springbok loosehead prop Tendai Mtawarira in the Lions’ 26-21 first Test defeat last weekend.

Jones and hooker Matthew Rees have both been rewarded for their performances off the bench in Durban and will start alongside Gethin Jenkins to form the Lions’ first all-Welsh Test front row since 1955.

Jones is ready to invoke the spirit of 1997 by emulating the performances of Irish prop Paul Wallace, whose ability to turn the tables on Springbok Os du Randt was a key factor in the Lions’ series victory.

“Everyone can see he is a big strong bloke. He hasn’t been playing there that long so I will have to pull any tricks out of the bag to stop him pushing me backwards,” said Jones.

“I need to back my technique, back my ability. I have got over any demons in the scrum I had in the past and I have played against him before.

“I know the guy will be a lot stronger than me – it will be very much a Paul Wallace-Du Randt situation.

“To come on last week was pretty special. I am very excited to be starting on Saturday. It is dreams-come-true stuff.”

Head coach Ian McGeechan made one other change in the pack, with Simon Shaw brought in for Alun-Wyn Jones to bulk up the Lions pack and driving maul options.

The Springboks bossed the forwards battle in the first Test, opening a 26-7 lead with a raft of scrum penalties and a Heinrich Brussow try from a lineout drive.

“We need to eradicate those problems,” said captain Paul O’Connell.

“The maul was very disappointing. The penalties in the scrum and the maul were probably the integral parts of the game.

“We are determined to put it right and we have done a lot of work during the week.

“We also have to go out and pay. That is when we have been at our best, when we have retained the ball and put it through the hands. That is when we have really put teams under pressure.”

The presence of Shaw in the second row, Rees at hooker and Jones at tighthead gives the Lions an added three stone with which to fight the powerful Springboks.

Jones is one of the players who has improved the most under the tutelage in Wales of Warren Gatland.

Those demons relate to an “outing” he was given at the hands of New Zealand’s Carl Hayman in November 2006, which wrecked his confidence.

Vickery has remained upbeat but Jones has sympathy for the veteran England prop.

“There is not a prop in world rugby who hasn’t had an outing,” said Jones.

“Phil has been the life and soul of the tour party and he was straight back in on Monday morning bouncing around. He said ’Well done, just make sure you stuff him’.”

Jones’ rise from that pit of despair has been rapid, helped in no small part by the strict fitness regime Gatland imposed when he took over as Wales coach.

Jones is a self-confessed chocoholic but now lives by a strict diet. Vegetables for breakfast and only the occasional indulgence.

“To come on last week was pretty special,” said Jones.

“To start a Test for the Lions is the stuff of dreams.”