The Pumas are set to face the final round of the inaugural Rugby Championship on Saturday and Jones is wary that the team will emerge a stronger force from the battle for the southern hemisphere title.
“The more you play against the better teams the better you become and, like Gats has proved with us; they’ll be a hard side to play against following the Championship,” he said during an exclusive interview with WRU TV to promote the sale of tickets at Tesco.
The Argentinians are currently sitting just two places behind Wales in the IRB Rankings and the British & Irish Lions prop believes there is more to the mighty Pumas than the effectiveness of their scrum.
“They’ve got a lot of history in Argentina related to the scrum but they’ve also got a good backline and they’re not just a 10-man team anymore. They’re a strong team and we know it will be difficult,” he added. “We can’t take anyone for granted.”
Jones believes that the Samoa clash (Friday, 16 November) will also bring its challenges following a narrow win against the South Sea Islanders in the Rugby World Cup.
“They (the Samoans) are obviously very physical and they don’t mind chucking a big hit in every now and again but we’ve got to try not to play an open game: We have to tighten the game up, drive the mauls and the scrums, and hopefully get the better of them like we did in the World Cup.”
Just as the fans packed out the Millennium Stadium for the live screenings of the Rugby World Cup quarter-final last autumn, the three-times Grand Slam winner is hoping the fans will be back once more to support the boys on home turf.
“The Millennium Stadium can be a daunting place for the opposition and it’s very emotional for us because it’s the national stadium with regularly more than 70,000 people there. It always makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up when you’re running out and during the anthems and even more so when you get a win!
“With tickets for Autumn games against Argentina and Samoa widely available, I’m hopeful that the fans will show their support. More and more people are now realising how easy and affordable it is to get tickets and that, before New Zealand and Australia, we’re playing another two good sides. It’s all the more special when there’s a full house and we really appreciate it when the fans come to watch us.”
Tickets are available to watch Wales face Argentina and Samoa at a Tesco store near you. Tickets are also available here on the website and via telephone 08442 777 888
