Watch out Gav, I want the No.10 jersey at Dragons
DORIAN Jones has warned man of the moment Gavin Henson he wants the Dragons’ No.10 jersey off his back.
And Jones, in a candid interview, opened up about his difficult relationship with father Kingsley Jones when the latter was coach of the Gwent region.
Both were pilloried by some supporters of the Dragons – former Wales captain Kingsley for picking his son amid claims Dorian wasn’t good enough. But the departure of Jones senior at the end of last season and the arrival of ex-Ireland hooker Bernard Jackman as head coach has given Dorian a new lease of life.
“I’m really enjoying it. It’s a fresh start for me and I can prove to people I deserve to be here,” grinned the 24-year-old.
“It’s always going to be hard, whatever line of work you are in, to convince people of your worth when you’re working with your father.
“He (Kingsley) got criticised quite a lot for picking me. He was in a tough situation when it came to picking his son.
“It put more pressure on me to prove I was worthy of being picked. I felt he was the type of father to be hard on me rather than put an arm around me. It was definitely a tough relationship – we speak to each other more now!”
Dorian was hailed two years ago by then Dragons of rugby Lyn Jones as being “as good as any outside-half except Dai Watkins he had seen coming out of the valleys of Gwent”.
Twinkled-toed dual-code great Watkins was the first player to captain Wales at rugby union and league.
But Dorian’s development stalled with a pelvic problem sidelining him for lengthy spells.
He came off the bench as an emergency centre during last weekend’s electric 21-8 triumph over Connacht in the Guinness PRO14 and will start at outside-half against Ulster in Belfast tonight.
“We had to go to the well and dig in. To be on the field with the likes of Gavin and Hallam Amos, those type of players and be learning off each, was great,” he said.
Jones’ inclusion is one of 13 changes made by Jackman for the trip to the Kingspan Stadium.
The only survivors from last week’s victory are back-rower Ollie Griffiths, who will captain the side, and lock Rynard Landman.
American international Thretton Palamo, who joined the Dragons on loan on Monday, is thrown straight in to form a new centre partnership with Pat Howard.
A new back-three sees former Wales under-20s speedster George Gasson also make his debut, while Dane Blacker is on the bench after arriving from Cardiff Blues on loan
In all, 12 players make their first starts of the season, with Griffiths, and second rows Landman and Matthew Screech the only exceptions.
Ulster, who have won all three of their opening games, have named British and Irish Lion Iain Henderson on the bench but are without Wallaby playmaker Christian Lealiifano.