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Jones warns Welsh hopefuls: Another beating will end your Lions dream
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13 June 2008
Ryan Jones has warned his Wales side their Lions hopes will be significantly
damaged if they succumb to another hiding by South Africa.
Wales meet the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld in the second and final Test of
the series with Lions head coach Ian McGeechan watching from the stands.
The Lions tour South Africa next year but Jones - a leading candidate for the
captaincy - insists Welsh representation will be minimal if they do not produce
a sharp improvement.
Warning: Ryan Jones has a message for his Wales team-mates
"After everything I've been through over the last 12 months, I know that a
year is an awful long time, so we won't be thinking too much about the Lions," he said.
"But it's fair to say none of us will be going if we don't pull our fingers
out and start putting in some big performances.
"You're only as good as your last game so you must go out and perform.
"But this Saturday is not about playing for anyone else, it's about giving a
good account of ourselves as a group."
Wales coach Warren Gatland has made some bold selections for the second Test,
picking James Hook at full-back and Jamie Roberts at inside centre.
Gatland hopes the changes - two of seven from the first Test, including three
positional switches - will invigorate a team that was swatted aside with ease
last weekend.
Skipper Jones, who has been moved to blindside flanker to accommodate Gareth
Delve in the back row, admits it has been a hard week but insists Wales are
ready to claim redemption.
"Sunday and Monday were pretty difficult. It's always tough when you lose,"
he said.
"We're a proud bunch and like all sportsmen we take losing personally,
especially in the manner that we did.
"It was a tough couple of days but all you have to do is get back on the horse
and refocus as quickly as possible.
"We need to get ready physically as quickly as we can, get the game out of the
system, deal with the mental demons and put everything right.
"We have to be upbeat. We've only got each other out here. We're thousands of
miles away from home and there are 26 of us.
"It doesn't get any bigger than Saturday. We're optimistic - we go into every
game hoping to win.
"This is an opportunity to redeem ourselves. That's what it's all about."
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