Jones recalls 1998's 96-13
Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:06
Wales coach Warren Gatland described last Saturday's 17-43 hammering at the hands of South Africa as "embarrassing". Veteran Welsh flyhalf Stephen Jones remembers something far more humiliating against the Springboks.
Jones made his Test debut as a fresh-faced 20-year-old when the Boks ran 15 tries past a hapless Welsh outfit at Loftus Versfeld - venue for Saturday's return Test - on June 27, 1998.
That 96-13 victory by the Boks remains the Welsh Dragons' biggest defeat in over a century of rugby, but for Jones it is a nightmare he hopes to erase from memory with a win over the Boks.
The Scarlets No.10 is preparing to go back to the Loftus Versfeld for the first time in 10 years.
"I'm just hoping we do ourselves justice on Saturday," said told BBC Sport.
The rookie Jones came on for centre John Funnell on that infamous yet forgettable afternoon almost 10 years ago.
Such a thrashing on a Test debut could have detrimentally affected some players, but Jones recovered to be a virtual ever-present at flyhalf ever since.
The 30-year-old has had the honour of captaining his country and starring for the British and Irish Lions on tour to New Zealand.
And Jones is sure that in his 72nd cap in Pretoria, back where it all began on the world stage, a similar thumping does not await Grand Slam winners Wales despite their 17-43 'humiliation' last Saturday by the world champions in Bloemfontein.
"I'd like to think we have much more to offer and that was the frustrating thing about last Saturday," said Jones.
"If you come off the pitch having lost yet given your all, you accept it. But when you haven't contributed like you know you can, it hurts.
"The match slipped away without us having contributed anything. We were good at keeping the ball in the Six Nations but against South Africa it just wasn't there for us.
"The positive side of it is we have Saturday to put it right so we have to come back strongly in the second Test."
Recalling his debut, Jones added: "I'm aware it was my first cap 10 years ago but things have changed a huge amount since then.
"I came on for what was pretty much tackling practice!
"It was great to win my cap and to get on the pitch. But it's water under the bridge and is long gone."
