Jones ready and waiting in the wings for test against Maori

If Stephen Jones is feeling any nerves as he prepares for his big test against New Zealand Maori tonight, he's hiding them well.

The gifted Welshman was full of the joys of life yesterday before a match which may represent his one real chance to embed his name in Sir Clive Woodward's first test notebook.

Wales' tradition of dazzling first five-eighths, the likes of Cliff Morgan, David Watkins, Barry John and Phil Bennett, is long established. Jones is not ready to take his place at that table, but he is a classy performer, with a sharp eye for space, a good tactical kicker and sound goalkicker and, at 27, in his prime.

In the course of about 10 minutes' chat with a group of journalists yesterday, the words Jonny and Wilkinson were not mentioned. If he feels the English hero hovering above him - and if he feels any annoyance at that - it doesn't show.

He knows he has his work cut out, not just because of Wilkinson, who steps out against Wellington next week, but also considering Charlie Hodgson turned in a fine display against Taranaki on Wednesday night.

"We're in a situation where all you can do is concentrate on your own game, your own performance," he said.

"There are so many quality players in the squad, you can't look around to see what's going on. You've just got to focus on your own responsibilities.

"We're all working hard for a test jersey, we're given a couple of opportunities and we have got to make the most of them."

Jones called tonight's match a "huge game for me personally and huge collectively. The Maori have a lot of ABs in their side and we realise it's going to be very difficult, but obviously everyone's motivated to do well". Jones is enjoying his rugby, which should surprise no one.

It is 27 years since Wales won a Grand Slam, so joy was unconfined in the principality in March. Jones was instrumental, with 57 points. And throw in he's relishing his time with French club Clermont-Auvergne, and the Lions tour just tops a memorable six months off nicely.

Jones joined Llanelli from school, had seven seasons there before switching to the outfit formerly known as Montferrand.

"I've enjoyed the rugby and it's been great from a personal point of view," he said of the French experience.

"It's been a challenge for me. The rugby is not as structured as British teams and that's probably helped my game.

"Most teams in France go out with a small game plan, but with a lot of room to manoeuvre and do what you want."

 

He made his Welsh debut against South Africa in 1998. It ended 96-13, and one guess who to. Jones was there through some grim times, but then came the 2003 World Cup. Wales, under Steve Hansen, stunned the casual All Blacks before losing 53-37, then could have toppled England in the quarter-final. The reward finally came this year.

Jones is his country's second highest test points scorer with 441, although daylight separates him from the top dog, Neil Jenkins, who amassed 1049 points.

Jones knows the importance of Welshmen in the Lions story.

"There's lots of Welsh Lions, lots of legends, and for me it's a huge honour to be on this tour. If I look at somebody in my position, there's Phil Bennett and Barry John."

Big shoes to fill? "Big? Huge. It's great. I spoke to some of those guys before I came on tour and they said 'wish you all the best' and that means a lot."

Stephen Jones

Born: December 8, 1977, Aberystwyth
Height: 1.85m
Weight: 90kg
Position: First five-eighths
Clubs: Llanelli, now Clermont-Auvergne
Tests: 48
Points: 441