100 Greatest All Blacks: Ian Jones

Anyone doubting Ian Jones' willpower should watch him pounding through the hills, streets and waters around Auckland these days.

That same resolve marked his rugby career. Jones inherited his family's athletic genes and had plenty of height at 1.98m but he was lean. Even that seemed to be overstating the case when he began provincial rugby for Northland but Jones' lineout prowess was the clincher.

The man could jump and coped with the physical inquests. He survived his apprentice All Black tour and then with Robin Brooke, started a remarkable locking partnership and lengthy All Black test career.

Jones' mix of athletic ball-handling complemented his mandatory set-piece obligations and those skills were shown at their best in the 1995 World Cup and the next year as the All Blacks brought a fresh perspective to their work.

Jones knew his game then and in a powerful All Black tight five, had proven his endurance and brought a point of difference to their work. He had the pace and skills to range up in support, deliver an offload and brought the work rate coaches demanded of their men.

There was a swagger about the All Blacks and Jones' play through '96 and '97 as they strode the globe but when it unravelled many found it tough to unstitch their games and regroup.

Opponents began to challenge Jones more as his career entered its natural conclusion but he held on for a third World Cup and the last of his 79 tests.

When Jones finished a decade of international rugby, he had played more All Black tests than anyone except Sean Fitzpatrick in what had been a remarkable haul for someone of his physique.

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Statistics
Date of birth: 17 April 1967
Position: Lock
Matches: 105
Tests: 79
Test debut: 14 October 1989 v Cardiff, Cardiff
Final test: 24 October 1999 v Scotland, Edinburgh
Province: Northland, North Harbour
Franchise: Chiefs
Test tries: 9
Test points: 42