The prop who admits to being scared
Posted on 29/01/2010Undoubtedly the most insightful article of Friday’s newspapers comes from the Independent, which features a Brian Viner interview with Wales prop Adam Jones. Props aren’t like your average sportsman, they don’t crave the limelight like your Cristiano Ronaldos or even your Danny Ciprianis of this world, although they do often crave the odd beer like Ricky Hatton. Jones is guaranteed to be an integral part of Wales’ opening Six Nations match against England, but he admits to being a little scared of such big games, like the Ospreys’ recent victory over Leicester...
The funny thing was that I'd been struggling for confidence all last week, because the year before against Leicester I'd had a nightmare, a really hard day at the office. If you ask my fiancée she'll tell you how nervous I was. Scared, if you want. Scared of being embarrassed. I thought if I got hammered again then people might think the Lions tour was a fluke.
The prospect of facing England must be one of the scariest prospects on offer for the straggly-haired front row then? Viner puts that exact question to his subject.
A few years ago it was, but maybe not anymore.
That must be because England are without regular man-mountain Andrew Sheridan, who Jones admits is something of a one-off.
I usually find it harder against shorter props. I'd rather prop against someone taller. But [6ft 4in] Sheridan is the exception. I can't compete with him strength-wise, I definitely don't want to get in a one-on-one wrestle with him, so it becomes more a case of technique, and maybe a bit of cheating. I don't mean punching, gouging, stuff like that. That doesn't really happen anymore. No, I wish him well. We played together a few times in the summer and he's a nice fellow. His wife's Welsh.
The same can be said of Gavin Henson, a man Jones is happy to defend but rather less prepared to call a friend.
From a young age he's had a lot of media pressure, he has a super-famous partner, if he wants time out he should have time out. We'd welcome him back with open arms, but we've seen what we can do without him. We have two not-bad centres in [James] Hook and [Andrew] Bishop.
Would he consider Henson a friend?
"I've known him since the Under-21s. Look, I hope he comes back, but it's up to him. If he's happy, that's fine. Leave the boy alone.