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| Adam Jones: ‘It’s a big year for me. I want to play in the World Cup’ | Adam Jones: ‘It’s a big year for me. I want to play in the World Cup’ |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| “‘It was tough and it hurt me,” Adam Jones says as he tugs his renowned ringlets of hair and remembers his 100th Test match against South Africa four months ago. Jones’s hair is clean and shiny today, and not the sweaty mop that has made him Boris Johnson’s favourite rugby player, but his face clouds briefly. He was in the midst of his 95th Wales international, having also played five Tests for the Lions, and the decision devastated him. | “‘It was tough and it hurt me,” Adam Jones says as he tugs his renowned ringlets of hair and remembers his 100th Test match against South Africa four months ago. Jones’s hair is clean and shiny today, and not the sweaty mop that has made him Boris Johnson’s favourite rugby player, but his face clouds briefly. He was in the midst of his 95th Wales international, having also played five Tests for the Lions, and the decision devastated him. |
| South Africa were leading 21-6 at Kings Park in Durban when, after only 32 minutes, Jones was replaced by a promising young prop called Samson Lee. His proud achievement had turned into humiliation. “It hurt me then and for the next few weeks,” Jones says. “Maybe even for a month afterwards it followed me until I thought, ‘No player is bigger than the team. If they thought they’d have a better chance without me then so be it.’ As a pack and a team we weren’t playing well and for a while I took it as a personal thing from Gats [head coach Warren Gatland] and Rob McBryde [Wales’ forwards coach]. But I want to be a coach one day and I know Gats has to make these big decisions.” | South Africa were leading 21-6 at Kings Park in Durban when, after only 32 minutes, Jones was replaced by a promising young prop called Samson Lee. His proud achievement had turned into humiliation. “It hurt me then and for the next few weeks,” Jones says. “Maybe even for a month afterwards it followed me until I thought, ‘No player is bigger than the team. If they thought they’d have a better chance without me then so be it.’ As a pack and a team we weren’t playing well and for a while I took it as a personal thing from Gats [head coach Warren Gatland] and Rob McBryde [Wales’ forwards coach]. But I want to be a coach one day and I know Gats has to make these big decisions.” |
| The result of the match was not affected by Jones’s brutal substitution. Wales were still crushed and Gatland reacted by excluding Jones from his second Test squad. Jones smiles ruefully. “They had to put their cock on the block for want of any better words.” | The result of the match was not affected by Jones’s brutal substitution. Wales were still crushed and Gatland reacted by excluding Jones from his second Test squad. Jones smiles ruefully. “They had to put their cock on the block for want of any better words.” |
| Wales produced a radically improved performance and, with seven minutes left in Nelspruit, they led 30-17. But, as happens so often against the southern hemisphere giants, Wales imploded and conceded two converted tries. Their 31-30 defeat was particularly painful but at least Jones had distinguished himself throughout a difficult week by helping his replacement. | Wales produced a radically improved performance and, with seven minutes left in Nelspruit, they led 30-17. But, as happens so often against the southern hemisphere giants, Wales imploded and conceded two converted tries. Their 31-30 defeat was particularly painful but at least Jones had distinguished himself throughout a difficult week by helping his replacement. |
| “I’m not a dick,” he says. “I was happy to help Samson. As much as it hurt, Gats and Maccers are both fantastic coaches and they’ve been brilliant with me. It just threw me back 10 years when it happened with Steve Hansen in the World Cup quarter-final.” | “I’m not a dick,” he says. “I was happy to help Samson. As much as it hurt, Gats and Maccers are both fantastic coaches and they’ve been brilliant with me. It just threw me back 10 years when it happened with Steve Hansen in the World Cup quarter-final.” |
| In 2003, with Wales playing England in Brisbane, Jones was also substituted after half an hour by Hansen – who now coaches New Zealand. “I was young at the time and didn’t really know how to react,” Jones admits. “I went off the rails a bit.” | In 2003, with Wales playing England in Brisbane, Jones was also substituted after half an hour by Hansen – who now coaches New Zealand. “I was young at the time and didn’t really know how to react,” Jones admits. “I went off the rails a bit.” |
| Yet, over the next 10 years, Jones established himself as one of the world’s great prop forwards. His recent disappointment could galvanise him to recapture his old form. “I think so,” he says. “I’d put a tenner on Samson Lee being on the next Lions tour – he’s that good. But I just hope he only becomes really good once I’m gone. It’s a big year for me. I want to play in the World Cup. When you get to 33 and you’ve done some good things it’s important to have the hunger. My desire is totally there and I want to prove people wrong after the summer. So this season is a big deal for me.” | Yet, over the next 10 years, Jones established himself as one of the world’s great prop forwards. His recent disappointment could galvanise him to recapture his old form. “I think so,” he says. “I’d put a tenner on Samson Lee being on the next Lions tour – he’s that good. But I just hope he only becomes really good once I’m gone. It’s a big year for me. I want to play in the World Cup. When you get to 33 and you’ve done some good things it’s important to have the hunger. My desire is totally there and I want to prove people wrong after the summer. So this season is a big deal for me.” |
| The season started disastrously. Welsh rugby’s chaotic crisis, with the union and the regions unable to reach agreement over sharing money and contracting players, hit Jones hard. He can dismiss the political wrangling now as “a load of old bollocks really” but Jones could not sign a new contract with Ospreys, for whom he had played since 2003, and the region remained locked in a bitter dispute with the WRU. During pre-season, Jones was without a club and any income. | The season started disastrously. Welsh rugby’s chaotic crisis, with the union and the regions unable to reach agreement over sharing money and contracting players, hit Jones hard. He can dismiss the political wrangling now as “a load of old bollocks really” but Jones could not sign a new contract with Ospreys, for whom he had played since 2003, and the region remained locked in a bitter dispute with the WRU. During pre-season, Jones was without a club and any income. |
| “It was difficult,” Jones says of being unemployed for two months. “The money side wasn’t too bad because I’m pretty thrifty. But I wasn’t playing and it looked like I’d have to go to France. There were a couple of French offers – short-term ones to cover injuries – and I also spoke to Waikato in the Super 15. That interested me but it meant I’d miss the Six Nations. So as soon as Cardiff came in it was obvious what I had to do. My daughter is in her first year of school so nothing has changed for her which is important. It would have impacted massively on my family if I’d gone to France or New Zealand. We’ve now got a year’s stability.” | “It was difficult,” Jones says of being unemployed for two months. “The money side wasn’t too bad because I’m pretty thrifty. But I wasn’t playing and it looked like I’d have to go to France. There were a couple of French offers – short-term ones to cover injuries – and I also spoke to Waikato in the Super 15. That interested me but it meant I’d miss the Six Nations. So as soon as Cardiff came in it was obvious what I had to do. My daughter is in her first year of school so nothing has changed for her which is important. It would have impacted massively on my family if I’d gone to France or New Zealand. We’ve now got a year’s stability.” |
| Wales’ captain, Sam Warburton, was in a similar position as, having been contracted to the union, he also could not play for the Blues until the spat was resolved. “Er,” Jones hesitates before laughing at a big difference in reality. “Well, Sam was getting paid by the union. I wasn’t.” | Wales’ captain, Sam Warburton, was in a similar position as, having been contracted to the union, he also could not play for the Blues until the spat was resolved. “Er,” Jones hesitates before laughing at a big difference in reality. “Well, Sam was getting paid by the union. I wasn’t.” |
| The talismanic figures now play alongside each other for Cardiff Blues. Welsh rugby is fiercely tribal and leaving Ospreys for the Blues meant Jones had to cross tricky terrain. His decision was criticised by Ospreys officials but Jones regards it as more important that the overwhelming reaction from fans in and around Swansea has been understanding. “People have been great. I had to snap up the Cardiff offer because I’d been told for God knows how long – nine months, a year – that we’re going to sign this agreement next week or the week after. Even when Cardiff came in Ospreys were saying it’ll be done next week. Having heard it so many times I just said: ‘I’m sorry but I’m going to do what’s best for me and my family.’” | The talismanic figures now play alongside each other for Cardiff Blues. Welsh rugby is fiercely tribal and leaving Ospreys for the Blues meant Jones had to cross tricky terrain. His decision was criticised by Ospreys officials but Jones regards it as more important that the overwhelming reaction from fans in and around Swansea has been understanding. “People have been great. I had to snap up the Cardiff offer because I’d been told for God knows how long – nine months, a year – that we’re going to sign this agreement next week or the week after. Even when Cardiff came in Ospreys were saying it’ll be done next week. Having heard it so many times I just said: ‘I’m sorry but I’m going to do what’s best for me and my family.’” |
| During the final months of last season he started only one match for Ospreys while his future remained unresolved. It meant that, arriving in South Africa, “I was lacking match fitness and sharpness.” The hope of a much happier 100th cap for Wales, followed by his fourth World Cup next year, drives Jones. Does he feel confident he will be picked again by Gatland? “I hope so. I’ve done pretty well with Gats over the last seven years. Shaun Edwards [the Wales defence coach] also had a chat to me on the plane back from South Africa and he gave me confidence. This season I’ve been involved in all the fitness tests so they’re still looking at me. I also spoke to Gats regarding the Blues and Chiefs – he was advising me and was as good as gold. He’s just glad I’ve got a team and I’m playing again. Rugby is important to me and I didn’t realise how much I needed it until that second Test in South Africa. Pre-season is never much fun but I missed it too.” | During the final months of last season he started only one match for Ospreys while his future remained unresolved. It meant that, arriving in South Africa, “I was lacking match fitness and sharpness.” The hope of a much happier 100th cap for Wales, followed by his fourth World Cup next year, drives Jones. Does he feel confident he will be picked again by Gatland? “I hope so. I’ve done pretty well with Gats over the last seven years. Shaun Edwards [the Wales defence coach] also had a chat to me on the plane back from South Africa and he gave me confidence. This season I’ve been involved in all the fitness tests so they’re still looking at me. I also spoke to Gats regarding the Blues and Chiefs – he was advising me and was as good as gold. He’s just glad I’ve got a team and I’m playing again. Rugby is important to me and I didn’t realise how much I needed it until that second Test in South Africa. Pre-season is never much fun but I missed it too.” |
| Out in limbo, Jones’s pre-season was an informal liaison with Neath, the club for whom he had played for three years before joining Ospreys. “Rowland Phillips [Neath’s coach] played a big part in my early career. He’s a great character and he said: ‘Come down and have a run around with the boys.’ That was good during a very frustrating time.” | Out in limbo, Jones’s pre-season was an informal liaison with Neath, the club for whom he had played for three years before joining Ospreys. “Rowland Phillips [Neath’s coach] played a big part in my early career. He’s a great character and he said: ‘Come down and have a run around with the boys.’ That was good during a very frustrating time.” |
| Training at Neath reminded Jones of his amateur years. “Me and Mike Phillips [Wales’s scrum-half] are the last ones in the squad who worked in a proper job. Mine was making patio slabs. I’d get out there at 8am with the shovel. I’d be mixing cement and it was usually weather like this [Jones gestures at the relentless rain]. I’d then go to the vibrating table to make the mould. I’d make 150 moulds a day. They’d be done by two and then you’d be out doing deliveries after that. The next day you did it all over again. I worked on the slabs a year. | Training at Neath reminded Jones of his amateur years. “Me and Mike Phillips [Wales’s scrum-half] are the last ones in the squad who worked in a proper job. Mine was making patio slabs. I’d get out there at 8am with the shovel. I’d be mixing cement and it was usually weather like this [Jones gestures at the relentless rain]. I’d then go to the vibrating table to make the mould. I’d make 150 moulds a day. They’d be done by two and then you’d be out doing deliveries after that. The next day you did it all over again. I worked on the slabs a year. |
| “I then got asked if I wanted to train with Neath’s first team in October 2000. But I wasn’t offered a contract. My parents said they’d sent my brother to uni so they’d help me financially. I played five games for the first team and then got a contract. Rugby was still social then. You had a fair few pints. We were about to play Munster in the Celtic League final at the Millennium Stadium and the Saturday before, following a game against Ebbw Vale, I didn’t get home until 7.30 in the morning because there was a lock-in. I was staying with my parents and they had a real go at me. The Munster game was huge and they said: ‘Where’ve you been?’ I said I was with Rowland Phillips – our coach! Team bonding! It was a good laugh. I’m not saying drinking is good but sometimes it brings the boys together.” | “I then got asked if I wanted to train with Neath’s first team in October 2000. But I wasn’t offered a contract. My parents said they’d sent my brother to uni so they’d help me financially. I played five games for the first team and then got a contract. Rugby was still social then. You had a fair few pints. We were about to play Munster in the Celtic League final at the Millennium Stadium and the Saturday before, following a game against Ebbw Vale, I didn’t get home until 7.30 in the morning because there was a lock-in. I was staying with my parents and they had a real go at me. The Munster game was huge and they said: ‘Where’ve you been?’ I said I was with Rowland Phillips – our coach! Team bonding! It was a good laugh. I’m not saying drinking is good but sometimes it brings the boys together.” |
| Jones becomes more serious as he considers the sobering fact that his impact last season was also reduced by changes to the scrummaging laws. “It didn’t help. Props who have done it one way the last decade – Castro [Martin Castrogiovanni], Carl Hayman and myself – were most affected. It’s not down to technique now. There’s also ambiguity and referees apply the laws differently. It’s not my ideal way of scrummaging and I’d happily go back to 18 months ago. But there’s too much experience at Cardiff, with Gethin Jenkins and Matthew Rees, not to get it right.” | Jones becomes more serious as he considers the sobering fact that his impact last season was also reduced by changes to the scrummaging laws. “It didn’t help. Props who have done it one way the last decade – Castro [Martin Castrogiovanni], Carl Hayman and myself – were most affected. It’s not down to technique now. There’s also ambiguity and referees apply the laws differently. It’s not my ideal way of scrummaging and I’d happily go back to 18 months ago. But there’s too much experience at Cardiff, with Gethin Jenkins and Matthew Rees, not to get it right.” |
| It’s still been a bumpy start to the season, with Cardiff winning only one of their six Pro12 league games, after suffering another defeat on Jones’s return against the still unbeaten Ospreys last weekend. The struggles of the Blues mirror all the Welsh regions. None of them made the Pro12 semi-finals last season year nor the knockout stages of either the Heineken Cup or Amlin Cup. This weekend Cardiff begin their adventure in the European Rugby Challenge Cup at home to Grenoble. | |
| “It’s down to money,” Jones suggests. “Our budget is £3.7m compared to places like Toulon and the players they’ve got. It’s a bit unrealistic but everyone’s striving hard to overcome the odds. Hopefully this game against Grenoble can kickstart our season.” | “It’s down to money,” Jones suggests. “Our budget is £3.7m compared to places like Toulon and the players they’ve got. It’s a bit unrealistic but everyone’s striving hard to overcome the odds. Hopefully this game against Grenoble can kickstart our season.” |
| In the World Cup, despite being in the same pool as England and Australia, Jones believes “Wales can do something special. If you look at our team on paper it’s pretty good. There’s a sprinkling of gold dust so I can see us qualifying from that group even if we’ve got two games at Twickenham. We’ve won there before against England.” | In the World Cup, despite being in the same pool as England and Australia, Jones believes “Wales can do something special. If you look at our team on paper it’s pretty good. There’s a sprinkling of gold dust so I can see us qualifying from that group even if we’ve got two games at Twickenham. We’ve won there before against England.” |
| The mayor of London fell for the hairy prop at Twickenham. “We played England in 2010 and I scored a try. Boris Johnson was there. One of my wife’s friends then met a writer at the Independent and he said he’d had a letter off Boris’s people saying I was his favourite player. It was the hair that did it. Boris wrote in my testimonial brochure and then we went to Downing Street last year with the Lions. I was with Gats and [the Lions manager] Gerald Davies’s wife came rushing over. She said: ‘Boris wants to talk to you!’ I said: ‘Christ, does he?’ But he was a good bloke and exactly the same as he is on TV.” | The mayor of London fell for the hairy prop at Twickenham. “We played England in 2010 and I scored a try. Boris Johnson was there. One of my wife’s friends then met a writer at the Independent and he said he’d had a letter off Boris’s people saying I was his favourite player. It was the hair that did it. Boris wrote in my testimonial brochure and then we went to Downing Street last year with the Lions. I was with Gats and [the Lions manager] Gerald Davies’s wife came rushing over. She said: ‘Boris wants to talk to you!’ I said: ‘Christ, does he?’ But he was a good bloke and exactly the same as he is on TV.” |
| Jones might be more famous than Johnson in Wales but he chuckles. “I wander around Tescos in my flip-flops and shorts and no one bats an eye – they’re so used to me.” | Jones might be more famous than Johnson in Wales but he chuckles. “I wander around Tescos in my flip-flops and shorts and no one bats an eye – they’re so used to me.” |
| The Wales squad for the autumn internationals will be announced soon and Jones is determined that he will occupy his familiar position at the shaggy head of the scrum. “I want my place back in the squad,” he says quietly. “I want my place back in the team.” | The Wales squad for the autumn internationals will be announced soon and Jones is determined that he will occupy his familiar position at the shaggy head of the scrum. “I want my place back in the squad,” he says quietly. “I want my place back in the team.” |