Ryan Jones swells with pride
Ryan Jones struggled to put the emotion of lifting the Triple Crown trophy into words after leading Wales to a 16-12 victory over Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
Ryan Jones struggled to put the emotion of lifting the Triple Crown trophy into words after leading Wales to a 16-12 victory over Ireland in Dublin on Saturday.
Just five months after bombing out of the World Cup, Wales are now on the brink of sealing the Six Nations title and will be playing for the Grand Slam when France visit the Millennium Stadium next Saturday.
Jones said: “You can't put moments like that into words. It was fantastic. Very few people get to do it. I am proud and privileged.
“The most important thing was doing it on behalf of the other boys. Individual performances and memories don't mean anything – it is the fact I got to represent those boys.
“I wish we could have all gone up because it was impressive to look out over 73,000 people and hear the cheer go up.”
Wales' achievement is in stark contrast to their disappointing World Cup campaign last autumn.
“No one came back from the World Cup more disappointed than the players,” said Jones.
“But that has gone. It is in past. We made a conscious effort to wipe the slate clean and start again.
“We have worked hard and moved on. It was bitterly disappointing not to be involved in the World Cup (through injury). This is my World Cup.”
Jones' high hopes have been entirely born out by Wales' Six Nations fortunes so far.
“If someone had asked me before the tournament if I thought I would be sat here with the Triple Crown and going for the Grand Slam I would have probably said 'I hope so',” he added.
“We came into this competition with huge belief. The guys were confident, and certainly no one has worked harder than us in the last five weeks – and we have earned the rewards we have got.
“This championship is not over. We have one game to go, and the boys have their eyes on the big prize.”
Warren Gatland's men return home from Dublin with a healthy points difference of plus-65, and France will need big wins over Italy tomorrow and Wales next week to stand any chance of snatching the title.
“Things are in our hands,” said Gatland.
“We are not relying on anyone else to cause an upset. We are in charge of our own destiny, which is the way you want it.”
Shane Williams scored the decisive try – the 40th of his Test career – to equal Gareth Thomas' Wales record after slicing between two defenders and handing off Andrew Trimble.
Williams also had to slot into scrum-half when Mike Phillips was sin-binned, and assistant coach Shaun Edwards said: “He is one of the most exciting players I have ever seen play the game of rugby, be it league or union.
“He is just very special – and he is not a bad scrum-half either!”
Wales spent 20 minutes down to 14 men, after Phillips and then Martyn Williams were sent to the sin-bin – but their defence held strong.
Gatland said: “I was really pleased with the performance. I thought the guys handled both sin-bin situations really well.
“The two yellow cards put us under lot of pressure. We had highlighted how important discipline at the breakdown was.
“There was a fair amount of 'effing and blinding' in the coaches' box. But in fairness to the other 14 guys, they dug deep on those two occasions.”
Gatland dismissed the idea that he had exacted revenge on Eddie O'Sullivan, who replaced him as Ireland coach in controversial circumstances seven years ago.
“That whole issue has been completely over the top. It wasn't about me and Eddie O'Sullivan,” he said.
“I respect a lot of things Eddie said. I thought he was very professional in a lot of the things he said. Perhaps that is something I could learn myself.”