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Jones: We handled favourites tag

Jones: We handled favourites tag

Ryan Jones reckons Wales have proved they can handle the favourites tag after clinching a third RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam in eight seasons.

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Warren Gatland’s side were tipped to storm the Championship following a fourth-place finish at the World Cup.

And they handled the pressure to sweep all before them and clinch the Slam with a 16-9 victory over France – the team that ended Wales’ World Cup hopes.

“We came in arguably as favourites, or at least as strong contenders, and we were able to convert that and sustain some form,” said Jones.

“We had the rub of the green at times, a few bounces of the ball went our way, but that’s sport and we managed to convert those into points and claim the five wins.”

Jones is one of three players to contribute to all three of Wales’ recent Grand Slams, alongside props Adam Jones and Gethin Jenkins.

Jones burst onto the scene during the 2005 clean-sweep and captained Wales to another all-conquering campaign in 2008.

The Ospreys back-row forward was overwhelmed to join 1970s legends Gareth Edwards, JPR Williams and Gerald Davies with a hat-tick of Slams and reckons Wales can build on their success.

“It was very special, but it hasn’t sunk in yet and I don’t think it will for a long, long time yet,” added Jones

“It’s something you can only reflect on in years to come when you have opportunity to do so, so I think it will be a few more years yet.”

“It’s great to feel you have contributed and feel a part of it and I felt I did that on Saturday. It means you feel you have the right to be there and share it with the guys.

“This was a different campaign to previous ones, this feels like a more constructed Six Nations win. It is something we can build on.”

Next up for Wales is a summer date with the Barbarians, before a three Test tour of Australia.

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