Alun Wyn Jones out to make up for lost time

Mar 13 2008 by Simon Kendal-Williams, South Wales Echo

HE has been a regular in the Wales side for the past two seasons, has quickly amassed 20 caps and has already been touted as a future captain, writes Simon Kendal-Williams.

But Alun Wyn Jones goes into Saturday’s Six Nations decider feeling he has a point to prove.

Between limping out of the opening fixture at Twickenham with a sprained ankle and returning to the line-up to face the Irish last weekend, the Ospreys lock was forced to watch from the sidelines as his team-mates put themselves within reach of Grand Slam glory.

At Croke Park he picked up where he left off against England, but the fact that he hasn’t played a full part in the campaign clearly plays on his mind.

“I do feel like I have a lot to prove because I missed one of the games (against Scotland) that gave Wales a Triple Crown,” said the 22-year-old.

“I feel I owe the boys a lot, because they gave me the pleasure of being in that historic game against Ireland.”

Ian Evans deputised in the wins over Scotland and Italy, but coach Warren Gatland re-instated Jones for the crucial trip to Ireland.

“I thought it went okay,” said Swansea-born Jones. “I was a little bit rusty in patches, but I was glad I got into the game as much as I did.

“But as far as the team is concerned, once again we showed we can close the game out. The contact area has been immense for us over the last few games and hopefully we can carry that on.”

France stand between Wales and Grand Slam glory, and Jones claims the visitors will pose the biggest challenge of the campaign.

“It is the grand finale,” he said, “and we need to go up the gears for what will be the hardest game of the tournament. They displayed the traits of a French pack early on against Italy – strong drive, decent set-piece and a challenging back row.”

Jones had just helped the under-21s lift their own Grand Slam the last time the senior Wales side clinched the title.

He said: “I was watching in the stands for the decider against Ireland, but this is a different side of the coin now and I am relishing it.”