Jones followed in the footsteps of Bleddyn Bowen who led the Three Feathers to glory back in 1988 after a stunning 26-19 win over England. While Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards will get the plaudits for turning around Welsh fortunes off the field, it was Jones who led the charge on it.
Jones took over captain’s armband that has been dubbed a poisoned chalice in recent years following the run of bad luck to strike those who have held the ‘honour’. He responded with a captain’s performance from the top draw and now believes Wales can only get better thanks to this opening victory.
Jones said: “It was a huge honour to be asked to captain my country and this win was probably the best moment in my career so far. We believed all week that we could win this game and that never changed. But it is hard to put into words what it means to us all to do it.
“We showed real composure and courage to impose ourselves the way we did. We really matured in this game, especially in the second half, and that will give us something on which to build confidence and self-belief. We’re on the verge of something very good.”
Jones was handed the job of leading Wales for the first time and fought back the tears at the national anthem before kick-off after the dragons were fired up for this Anglo-Welsh clash by new coaches Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards.
He said: “The new coaches have really had an impact and brought a winning mentality to the squad. They’re all very direct guys who don’t mince their words and are very intense in training which has been a lot shorter and sharper with the smaller squad.”
Jones made his Twickenham debut but still maintained his remarkable run of never losing to England following victories in 2005 and 2007 in Cardiff. And despite trailing 16-6 at the break, the skipper insisted he was confident Wales could weather the English storm.
He said: “You don’t go to Twickenham and not have periods when you’re up against it but I’m so proud of the boys because they showed real composure and belief.
“We hadn’t had much of the ball in the first half but we re-grouped at half-time and there were a few choice words said in the changing room. We knew we had so much to give and we went out there and showed that. It’s a very proud moment.”
