The second-row great will move level with All Blacks legend Richie McCaw on 148 international caps in the Guinness Six Nations finale against Scotland at Principality Stadium. During his 12 years at the peak of Test match rugby, Jones has very nearly won it all.
His sparkling honours list includes three Guinness Six Nations grand slams, four championship winners medals and a British and Irish Lions series victory before you even start delving deeper into his array of personal accolades. Despite all he has achieved, the Wales captain continues to lead from the front, and head coach Pivac expects him to be around for a many more unforgettable moments in the Wales jersey.
“I find him a pleasure to work with,” he said. “The way I would like all players to be. If he is not sure on things he will certainly let you know, he will ask questions, and they are all positive questions. I think he’s an outstanding player and leader for this team and the way he trains and plays you wouldn’t think he’s the age that he is. He has a big future in the game.
“Every player decides when they have had enough and Richie made his decision at 148 Tests, and Alun Wyn is still going. Unless there are circumstances out of his control he’ll break that record shortly.
“They are immense players – anyone who plays 100 Test matches is a fantastic rugby player and deserves the accolades, to get to the 150 mark was unheard of a few years ago so for Alun Wyn to challenge that and surpass that I think everyone in Wales should be proud of his efforts.”
Jones, who has 138 caps for Wales and a further nine for the British and Irish Lions, has been at the centre of Pivac’s plan to fine tune the Wales attack. There have been some thrilling tries scored during the campaign, and Pivac believes they are getting closer to delivering an 80 minute display thanks to the likes of Jones buying into the new system.
“If you looked at the try we scored against Ireland in the first half, where we built multiple phases, used the width of the pitch, Alun Wyn in the wide channels getting an offload away, and Dan Biggar gets an offload away and we score,” added Pivac.
“That is a lot of the work we are doing behind the scenes – having the skillset to offload in the tackle for some of the guys who haven’t been in that role before. Alun Wyn is enjoying that role because he is an athletic player rather than being out in the middle of the park getting belted all day long.
“It does take a bit of time and Alun Wyn said at the start don’t expect it to happen overnight and there will be some ups and some downs. That’s pretty much what has happened in this competition.
“Clearly we are disappointed with the French game and getting back into the English game and then having that 15-minute period where we let it slip away again. That’s the grey area I’m talking about with the players. Do we move the ball here? Do we go for field position?
“That will come in time but we feel the players are happy and they’re enjoying the training sessions, the way we’re trying to play the game, and they can see it building. They know we’re a couple of passes or good decisions away from winning those close Test matches.
“Moving forward that will put us in good stead for when we play the best teams in the world. You’ve got to do that to win a Rugby World Cup.”
