Wayne Pivac’s first game as head coach in world rugby’s most traditional of tournaments may be a step into the unknown for him, but he has a wealth of experience to lean on in his skipper, Alun Wyn Jones. As far as he is concerned, it will be business as usual.
The Ospreys lock, Wales’ most capped player with 134 appearances, is raring to go at the start of what will be his 14th successive Six Nations. He will have a number of landmarks in sight as he continues his record breaking career.
None more so than trying to equal the most Grand Slams every achieved in the history of both the Five and Six Nations. Last year’s triumph made him the 13th member of the exclusive club of Welsh players boasting three Slams.
The only players to have been a part of four Grand Slam teams are the English trio of Dave Davies (1913, 14, 21, 23), who was born in Pembroke Dock, Ron Cove-Smith (1921, 23, 24, 28) and Jason Leonard (1991, 92, 95, 2003), as well as France’s Fabien Pelous (1997, 98, 2002, 04)
“We have had a lot of change,” explained Jones, “but I’ve had a few before. It’s the first tournament under Wayne Pivac, so it’s exciting.
“We’ve had a few weeks together and we are all raring to get out there. We had the Barbarians game in the Autumn, but this is different.
“It’s in the same place, but it feels different. We’ve had a good vibe in camp, and there has been a lot of energy, but we just need to see where we are.
“It’s exciting starting at home in the greatest stadium in the world. To see Johnny (McNicholl) get his opportunity, and to have Taulupe (Faletau) back in the fold and Webby (Rhys Webb) on the bench, is great because in Welsh rugby you want everyone who is available to put their hands up.
“Gats was here for a long period, 11 years, but this is the first one for Wayne. I’m conscious, and the group is conscious, that we are not going to look back.
“The new management is in-situ and the focus is on tomorrow and what’s to come. We’ve had the one win already and that was big for the new management team.”
Jones believes Italy could be the “surprise package” of the tournament under new coach Franco Smith and is taking nothing for granted as he attempts to lead his side to a record seventh successive home win in the Six Nations.
“There has been a lot of change with Italy with a new coach and new captain. They have always been a surprise package and you don’t really know what you are going to get,” said Jones.
“Franco Smith has shown with the Cheetahs and other teams he has coached that he likes to use the ball and mix things up. They will be a surprise package.”
On a personal front, the Welsh skipper needs one more win to overtake Gethin Jenkins and JPR Williams’ Welsh Championship record of 34 victories. He is also only three games away from matching Jenkins’ Welsh record of 56 Championship appearances.
After the Italian game he will need one more game in charge to equal Sam Warburton’s Welsh Six Nations record of 17 matches as captain. Then it will be on to Arthur Gould’s Championship record of 18, which the legendary Newport centre has held since 1897.
And if he plays in all five matches in the tournament he will equal World Rugby cap record Richie McCaw’s total of 148.
