Welsh skipper urges new boys to step up

Wales Captain Ryan Jones has urged his World Cup hopefuls to lay down a marker when they face the might of Australia, South Africa and New Zealand during their autumn Test campaign.

Wales, who will also face Fiji in Cardiff in November, are without a win against one of the southern hemisphere giants since defeating Australia at the Millennium Stadium in November 2008.

They lost 34-31 to a weakened South Africa side in June and were well beaten by New Zealand on their subsequent two-Test tour to the land of the long white cloud.

But the trip did see the likes of Newport Gwent Dragons back Will Harries, Scarlets scrum-half Tavis Knoyle and flanker Rob McCusker handed first caps, while Ospreys fly-half Dan Biggar, wing Tom Prydie and Scarlets centre Jonathan Davies were given the chance to continue their education at the highest level.

And Ospreys number eight Jones believes it is vital that the new faces in the squad put pressure on the more established stars and take their chances as Warren Gatland’s side count down towards the global showpiece in 12 months’ time.

“We have 12 or 13 games before the World Cup and it is vital to build a strong squad of players,” Jones said.

“A number of first-choice players have suffered injuries over the past few seasons, but the beauty of the autumn games is that they have given players opportunities to come to the fore.

“That is crucial at this time. You’re not going to win the World Cup with 15 players, there are going to be injuries, guys who miss out, so you’ve got to have the biggest possible playing base with players on top form and fully available for selection to allow us to be competitive within the squad going into these games.”

Wales have already been hit by injury problems ahead of the four-Test series with Lions centre Jamie Roberts ruled out after undergoing surgery on a wrist injury and prop Eifion Lewis-Roberts suffering a serious knee injury while playing for Sale last weekend.

But Jones is targeting victories against the big three and insists there will be no excuses once the first whistle goes against the Wallabies on November 6.

“It all starts with the best three nations in the world on our home patch with Fiji thrown in the mix just to spice things up a bit,” Jones added.

“That’s as tough as it comes. When you’re embarking on a season like this, you need a yardstick to see where you are in the world and this series will certainly do that.

“With the new law interpretations, this campaign will be a good tester for us, a real eye-opener for everyone involved.

“We’re going to give these Tests our all and hopefully come away with some results.

“After all, at our end of the business, we are results based and we will be judged on that alongside performances.”

The recent Tri Nations series has seen the Wallabies and the All Blacks, who Wales have not beaten since 1953, adapt impressively to the new law directives at the breakdown, designed to favour the attacking side, producing a clinical high-tempo style of play.

And assistant coach Neil Jenkins expects the pair to be his side’s toughest assignments, although Wales will not need to be reminded of the importance of striking a psychological blow against World Cup pool opponents South Africa and Fiji, who famously knocked Wales out of the 2007 tournament in France.

“Australia are very similar to the All Blacks at the moment,” Jenkins said. “There is very little kicking in their game, although they have Quade Cooper and Matt Giteau who are more than capable of controlling the game.

“They are a very tough side but a good challenge to start our autumn series.

“New Zealand are unbeaten this year, that says it all. They had a fairly quiet year last year but they have rediscovered their best form this season.

“They look lean and fit, there is a lot less kicking in their game now following the new law directives, they just keep hold of the ball until they get turned over.

“They’re just a fantastic side and are going to be a tough side in the autumn.

“South Africa may have had a poor season by their standards, after winning the Tri Nations and beating the Lions last year, but we’ve only beaten them once in a hundred years so these are the type of games we’d like to do well in and win.

“Fiji are supposedly the easier game of the series but I’m sure they’ll be nothing of the sort, Samoa showed us that at the same time last season.

“After losing to Fiji in the 2007 World Cup and with Fiji in our pool again at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, it would be important to get a win over them.”