It’s time we delivered Alun Wyn tells Wales
ALUN Wyn Jones has told Wales they will have no excuses if they don’t perform in the Six Nations.
World record cap holder Jones, 35, is back ready to take his frustration out on Ireland today after another tough week for his team.
Captain Jones had praised his team’s Covid-19 protocols at the end of 2020, but last Wednesday wing Josh Adams was thrown out of Wayne Pivac’s camp for breaching the rules.
Adams will miss the Ireland and Scotland games, but Jones knows his team have to perform regardless because this is now or never.
“With the last Six Nations we weren’t able to finish it off in its entirety and the disappointing thing was how we started the Autumn Nations Cup,” Jones told TRP.
“We’ve spoken a lot about the opportunity which was given and in patches it came together, but the results didn’t follow.
“Now this is the Six Nations and it’s tournament rugby. We can’t say we didn’t know it was coming or it was organised late because of Covid. We knew it was coming and we’ve prepared that way.
“Josh has held his hands up and admitted he’s made an error. We were obviously all aware and it was dealt with in house.
“We all realised coming into camp in the Nations Cup there were going to be a lot of firsts. This is just another first and in fairness to Josh he was accountable. Now we move on.
“We had 700 tests in the Nations Cup which were all negative and we’ve continued in the same vein. When Josh comes back, I’ll support him and I’ll expect him to let his rugby do the talking.
“The best thing we can do to support Josh is put a performance in before he comes back to the squad.”
Time will tell how crucial Adams’ absence proves to be.
Without him, his Cardiff Blues teammate Hallam Amos, far right, gets a chance on the wing with George North at centre instead of Jonathan
Davies who will miss the first two rounds with an ankle issue.
With Jones fit after a knee problem and Ken Owens and Dan Lydiate back, Wales field the most experienced starting XV in their history worth 874 caps.
Jones said: “We’ve been trying to deliver for a while, but it’s very dangerous and easy to turn this into a numbers game.
“I had a good recovery and touch wood it’s been pretty seamless in terms of its progression,” added Jones, who hasn’t played since falling lame against Italy on December 5.
“I’ve been a bit frustrated really because it was a similar period for me post World Cup. I’m relishing the chance to get back into it properly.”
Wales were comfortably beaten by Ireland on two occasions last year, both times in Dublin. But the men in green haven’t won in Cardiff in the Six Nations since 2013.
Pivac’s side are back at Principality Stadium for the first time after it was used as the Dragon’s Heart Hospital in the fight against coronavirus for most of 2020.
“There is nothing like it. You can’t replicate it without fans, but being back is a welcome place to be and we’re looking forward to playing there,” Jones said.
Wales were praised for their defensive efforts in the past meetings with Ireland and Jones said: “Defence stood out in the last two games with Ireland because we’ve lost those games.
“But we were successful the last time we played them at the stadium and it’s the Six Nations now. Hopefully they can see the best of us.”
Jones believes the recruitment of Paul O’Connell into the Irish set-up will help them.
“There is a lot of experience there both on and off the park. Paul is a talisman in Irish rugby and a competitor. You don’t lose those characteristics when you come out of the jersey. I’m sure he’ll add to the environment.
Jones and Pivac won just three of ten games in 2020. They failed to beat a tier one side, but the team which will face Ireland looks much more like one which can do a job.
The difference between the teams though could well be the bench with Ireland’s by far the stronger.
It will be up to Jones and Wales’ starters to build a lead.