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CARDIFF - Wales' biggest enemy is their own self doubt says bullocking No 8 Ryan Jones ahead of Sunday morning's rugby test against the All Blacks here.
Jones described the All Blacks trio of Rodney So'oialo, Richie McCaw and Jerry Collins as the world's best loose forward unit but warned his teammates against getting hung up on reputations.
"We're not afraid of them... the biggest fear is not playing, not performing," potent ball carrier Jones said.
"There's no reason we can't perform well against this team. The biggest worry is going out and going into your shell and not performing."
Jones was a standout performer when called into the Lions squad midway through last year's tour of New Zealand.
His first up performance against Otago was arguably the best by any Lions player on the tour and earned him a place in the second and third tests, where he stood tall in a well-beaten side.
A repeat of that form could see him make inroads in a similar manner to France No 8, Elvis Vermeulen, arguably the best of the French players in both test losses to New Zealand this month.
However, Jones, 25, is still finding his feet after spending most of the past year recovering from shoulder surgery.
He had benefitted from nine rounds of club play with Ospreys.
Upon his return to the game in September, he was asked whether he could rediscover the form that saw him burst into public consciousness on the Lions tour.
"I came with a bang and left with a bang. Guess it's time for another bang now," he said.
Jones believed the All Blacks had weaknesses to exploit, just like any team. However, in this case the weaknesses weren't easy to find or exploit.
"It's just the gold standard really isn't it? Everything they're trying to do at the moment is the way the modern game should be played.
"They just keep coming at you and at you and it becomes only a matter of time until they get points," he said.
"But some teams worry about the All Blacks can do and get away from how they normally play. We can't afford that."
Jones felt it would be several months until the Welsh approached the form that saw them win last year's Six Nations.
He was among a host of players who had been injured while Wales' fortunes dived over the past 12 months.
"We've got to look at the big picture. There are things that we're putting in place now that we won't see the benefits of until the Six Nations and World Cup really," he said.
"This is the last time we'll be playing in the red jersey for a few months. This is as good a time as any to stake your claim for the World Cup."
- NZPA
