Ready: Alun Wyn Jones
Wales lock Alun Wyn Jones is hoping a long week of intense training in Poland pays off against Argentina in their November Test opener.
Jones, who has played 66 times for Wales and is still only 27, is an integral part of the training squad currently working at the same Olympic training village in Eastern Europe which was 'home' for him and his team-mates for two ten day periods prior to the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
The visit to Spala last time was followed by a World Cup semi-final appearance and a trip to a similar resort in Gdansk pre-dated Wales' 2012 Six Nations Grand Slam winning performance.
The Ospreys lock knows the physical value of these training camps to the national squad but he is quick to point out the players will need to take a psychological edge into match day as well.
"We are all out here working hard and putting the time in which is what we know we have to do to ensure we prepare properly to face some of the top sides in the world," said Jones.
"But, what we do or don't do in Spala will be irrelevant if we don't get it right when we get out on that pitch against the Pumas and we are all acutely aware of that fact as well.
"Coming out to Poland has been a welcome change of environment and a chance to get back into the groove at international level.
Jones, who made his international debut on the 2006 tour of Argentina, has been an ever present in the Wales side through the 2011 World Cup and two Grand Slams (in 2008 and 2012) but it is the three test tour to Australia this summer which is his strongest motivating force at the moment.
"Australia was tough to take for us all. To end the series with a difference of only 11 points across the three matches shows we weren't far away but that's not good enough for us and we are determined to keep going," he added.
"This team has reached the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup and won the Grand Slam last season. After success like that there are always going to be tough times ahead as teams will be well prepared for you.
"But we didn't drop off, we know we could and should have won anyone of those games in Australia and we are pushing the top teams in the world game hard.
"We have the top two teams in the world in our own back yard this autumn and we have another great opportunity to make our mark.
"But Argentina are fresh from a baptism of fire in the Rugby Championship, they will be battle-hardened and coming to Wales looking for victory, so we will have to be ready for them.
"We'll definitely need to keep on our guard, when you come up against these teams you have to front up and show where you're at as a player.
"When Warren Gatland first took over Wales he had a mantra to play against the top three sides in the world, namely New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.
"So as a nation we should be a little envious of Argentina now, seeing them in the Rugby Championship and playing against the best sides in the world.
"They're only going to benefit from it and as I say, look at their performance against South Africa. They were very close to taking a scalp there and as we've improved in our performances, so have Argentina.
"They have got a history of having a strong forward pack and a bit of class behind with the likes of Hernandez.
"They've had a bit of a dent in their forward pack of late with the retirement of some key forwards but they've showed in patches in the Rugby Championship what they can achieve and obviously playing consistently in that competition is only going to benefit them as a team."
Wales also face Samoa, New Zealand and Australia on consecutive weekends at the Millennium Stadium in the 2012 Dove Men Series and will be looking to start their campaign with a win against the Pumas on November 10.
And Jones feels in good form as he looks to help Wales climb the IRB World Rankings and possibly pick up an elusive Southern Hemisphere scalp.
"Personally I'm pretty happy," added Jones.
"I've featured in every game for the Ospreys since the start of the season which I wasn't able to do last year because of the World Cup and when I got back from New Zealand I was injured. Touch wood I'm going okay at the moment."
Comments
dragon_beat_all says...
Wales have enough to take Los Pumas this time around. Not so certain in future games, though...
Posted 19:16 05th November 2012
melkdave says...
Going on recent form ect ,this really is a close game to call imo,.Alot is going to depend on the pumas state of mind ,as underdogs they battle hard ,and get results.But when they where favourites against the wallabies ,they put in their worst performance for 10 yrs They realy should have had 3 wins in the RC ,while Wales threw away a fantastic oppotunity to have a series win against a big SH team in the summer ,they where a shadow of their 6Ns selves .No intensity,,lack of pace with the ball,i could go on ,but to sum up imo they where just dreadfull.That said though im hoping Wales do well this aurtum,that they can i have no dought ,but doing it is a different matter,and some of their players are not really firing atm imo.Anyway COME ON WALES do the biz
Posted 11:02 04th November 2012
porridge_time says...
Not sure how you work out that Argentina are overrated... they showed up well in the rugby championship. Wales in my opinion are more overrated. Wales could not close out against Australia. Argentina will certainly fancy their chances in Cardiff. Home side need to start well and not get brought into an arm wrestle or it could be long day for them.
Posted 10:56 04th November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
@PREEST when you say "keep up with" you mean win none. Wales came a lot closer to beating Oz than Arg did and they are home. Bad logic... and Wales at home are a different story. The first couple of games after Poland they are a different story.
Posted 10:54 04th November 2012
paulynz says...
I see Marcelo Bosch may not be available for the Wales game.
Posted 00:10 04th November 2012
atg77 says...
Argies are overated, Wales at home will be too strong.
Posted 20:02 03rd November 2012
paulynz says...
If Wales have a suspect tight five their backs will really need to be on song to ensure what little ball they do get will be used well to either score or make significant inroads over the advantage line. They'll also need a quick and well-balance loose trio to ensure ball retention and continuity at and from the breakdowns.
At the moment Argentina tend to give away penalties if the ball is in play too much and they struggle to keep up. I think this will gradually disappear from their game the more they play in the Rugby Championship. Don't discount their back-line. I was very impressed with their half-back, wings, full-back and their centre is very much in the Conrad Smith mold.
I admire the playing style of both teams so looking forward to a cracking game.
Posted 18:58 03rd November 2012
PREEST says...
If they Pumas can keep up with the big 3 then they should be able to knock over Wales. It will be a good game, but I would like to see the Pumas win this, as a successful northern hemisphere tour will give them the confidence they need going into next year for another crack at the Rugby Championship.
Posted 16:17 03rd November 2012
dezz says...
@taddict. You could be right. Priestland can get a backline going ok, it's his kicking from tee that's off form. Thank God for Halfpenny. I see it as great time to blood Sampson Lee and Arron Jarvis. 9 is well covered, if Mike P isn't available then Cymru have Lloyd and Tavis who both have a better pass than Mike.
Posted 16:09 03rd November 2012
TVaddict says...
I get the feeling Argentina will win this. They'll definitely win if they have an inform kicker on the day, and might just scrape to a win if not.
Wales have had a very flaky lineout for the last few years, and without Ryan Jones it's not going to get any stronger. Plus, with Adam Jones injured and Jenkins not getting much game time the scrum is looking like a weakness as well. Sure Wales have great backs, but if they're losing their set pieces and being dominated upfront how are they going to get the ball? Plus I get the feeling Priestland will be starting at 10 and sadly he's looked in pain every time he's the ball's even gone near him since his brilliant display at the world cup ended. Also, what are the options at 9? Exactly.
Posted 13:48 03rd November 2012