A flanker with rosy prospects

By DAVID LEGGATT

There's something of the wide-eyed kid plonked in a deserted lolly shop about England flanker Chris Jones.

He gives the impression of having to constantly pinch himself as he prepares for tomorrow night's test against the All Blacks at Carisbrook.

Having just cracked the England team in the Six Nations championship this year, Jones was a minor surprise in Sir Clive Woodward's starting XV for the first test; a surprise in that Woodward had banged on this week about the need for experienced, durable campaigners who knew their way round the sharp edges and dark corners of top-level rugby at Carisbrook.

And here he is picking Jones for just his fifth cap.

But those who have seen his rise in the past few months are not surprised. Indeed, longtime England-watchers reckon Jones is the bee's knees, the next big thing.

Extremely tall and not especially bulky, his speed and lineout ability are his biggest assets. Not a classical No 6, and not really a specialist open-side, Jones has been used at lock and No. 8 for his club, Sale. But natural talent demands selection.

He made his debut against Italy as a replacement in the Six Nations and promptly scored a try.

He got starts against Scotland and Wales and has established first dibs on the loose-forward spot previously the long term property of Neil Back.

"It's been a strange season really," said the amiable 23-year-old.

"From a personal point of view I won my first few caps for England, which I didn't think would be happening. That's fantastic.

"At Sale things haven't quite gone right, but personally they couldn't have gone much better."

Growing up in Cheshire, Jones had a crack at "every single sport you could imagine" in his youth. He played rugby for Cheshire - as a parallel, think Auckland - at under-18 and under-20 level and the senior side.

He was off to Sheffield Hallam University when he was spotted and signed on for the Sale Sharks in England's premiership.

He's three years into a business degree and can go back to it at any time.

He made his mark in sevens and A teams, played for England against the Barbarians 13 months ago, toured North America and Japan before catching Woodward's eye early this year.

Jones will make life difficult towards the back of the lineout tomorrow night, and it wouldn't surprise if he is shunted further forward in the line as well. He has gained a reputation for having sufficient speed to make something of an art form out of the 50m runaway try.

How fast can he cut out 100?

"Don't know; depends who's chasing me," he laughed.

Jones was not part of the World Cup victory last year. But he believes there is no chance of the tourists having any claims to favouritism, World Cup or not.


"The World Cup has increased interest in rugby back home massively," he said.

"It means more people will be watching, but I don't think there's an expectation of winning."

Maybe not, but England will expect to head home from their three-test tour - two here and one against the Wallabies - with, at the very minimum, one win behind them.

Woodward this week made it clear he doesn't think in terms of four-year cycles geared around World Cups. The most important assignment is the next game, he argued.

Now Woodward and his fresh-faced No 6 might have slightly different perspectives on the expectations for the next three tests, but they're singing from the same sheet on this point.

"Every game in international rugby, you've got to give it your all," said Jones.

"If you think this is a buildup for the years down the line, then you won't be there a few years down the line.

"You've got to give it 100 per cent every game or there'll be someone nipping at your heels."

Partnering rugged captain Lawrence Dallaglio and Richard Hill, 70 and 68 caps respectively, won't hurt the fledgling flanker's learning process. Talk about growing up in the school for hard knocks.

"I expect it'll be a very physical game in Dunedin. Playing in the Six Nations, that was a big step up for me from club rugby. This is going to be another step up.

"You learn a lot against a side like New Zealand, but hopefully I can put my mark on the game."

If he does, it's likely to mean a grim night for Graham Henry and his cronies.

Chris Jones

Born: August 24, 1980, Manchester

Height: 1.98m

Weight: 99kg

Educated: Stockport Grammar and Sheffield Hallam University

Position: Utility loose forward/lock

Club: Sale Sharks

Test debut: v Italy, February 2004

Test caps: 4

Test points: 5