RYAN JONES admitted walking out at Croke Park will be a step into the unknown before reminding his players it is no different from any other 100 x 60.
The Welsh captain has led his side to three victories in this year's Six Nations in their best start since the 2005 Grand Slam and thinks they have the desire and the belief to finish the Triple Crown job against Ireland.
"It's going to be tough, but Twickenham was a tough place to go and we managed to win there," said Jones. "There's a lot of guys here who have been through a lot. So we know what it takes and if things are going well it’s only 100 x 60 wherever you play. It's just a pitch at the end of the day."
The Ospreys’ number eight is well aware of the expectancy weighing on the team with silverware at stake and claims individual criticism spurs the team on.
Under Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards the Welsh players have learnt to live or die by their decisions on the field, being rewarded or reprimanded accordingly at each debriefing. "It's not about pointing fingers, it’s about learning from your mistakes.
"The moment you're in trouble is when they stop criticising you because that means they don't care. The next step from there is out. In Wales everybody has got an opinion and they're free to express it," he said.
Jones is equally aware of the euphoria sweeping the country. He said. "I'm speaking to my old man most days. We don't live in a vacuum and we're not going to throw it away. If you earn it, and you deserve it, then you'll get it."
The Welsh captain has led his side to three victories in this year's Six Nations in their best start since the 2005 Grand Slam and thinks they have the desire and the belief to finish the Triple Crown job against Ireland.
"It's going to be tough, but Twickenham was a tough place to go and we managed to win there," said Jones. "There's a lot of guys here who have been through a lot. So we know what it takes and if things are going well it’s only 100 x 60 wherever you play. It's just a pitch at the end of the day."
The Ospreys’ number eight is well aware of the expectancy weighing on the team with silverware at stake and claims individual criticism spurs the team on.
Under Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards the Welsh players have learnt to live or die by their decisions on the field, being rewarded or reprimanded accordingly at each debriefing. "It's not about pointing fingers, it’s about learning from your mistakes.
"The moment you're in trouble is when they stop criticising you because that means they don't care. The next step from there is out. In Wales everybody has got an opinion and they're free to express it," he said.
Jones is equally aware of the euphoria sweeping the country. He said. "I'm speaking to my old man most days. We don't live in a vacuum and we're not going to throw it away. If you earn it, and you deserve it, then you'll get it."
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