SIX NATIONS NEWS: WHEN RYAN Jones was appointed Wales captain last month it prompted a chorus of surprise. The number eight had only just returned from a long period out with a shoulder injury, he was relatively inexperienced in terms of caps and he was not regarded as a shoo-in in the back row.

Three victories later, with Wales the only team in the Six Nations still on course for the Grand Slam, the 26-year-old is being touted as the leading contender to captain the Lions in South Africa next year, having been one of the few players to emerge from the 2005 tour of New Zealand in credit.

"It is flattering to be linked with such a position but it was only a few weeks ago that far less nice things were being said and written about me," said the 19-cap Jones. "You cannot afford to get caught up in it all and have to remain detached.

"I remember hearing before the Lions squad was announced in 2005 that I was sure to be included, with Wales winning the Grand Slam, but the phone call never came and I ended up going out as a replacement. You have to let things take care of themselves.

"I have only played eight games after being out of action for nearly a year. There is a long way to go before the Lions tour. I have not hit the form that I aspire to, I am struggling with certain aspects in matches and am very sore afterwards, but then I am not sure that I have ever been happy with the way I have played. You have to strive for more. Wales have played superbly this month and I am riding on the shirt-tails of others."

Jones was speaking at the announcement of a sponsorship deal for the Welsh Cup, Swalec having come back on board after a 15-year absence.

Next month will see a repeat of 1978 and 1988 when Wales first travel to Ireland and then entertain France in the quest for the Triple Crown and Grand Slam. Thirty years ago they achieved both but a decade later they had to settle for victory in Dublin.

"I believe we can continue our winning streak when we go to Croke Park," Jones said. "If we impose ourselves on Ireland in the way we have on our first three opponents and keep demanding more of ourselves, I think we will do very well. We are under no illusions that it will not be anything other than one hell of a battle.

"I've never been to Croke Park and don't know what to expect, but it is a patch of grass, 100 metres by 60, and we will be ready to go. We had not won at Twickenham for 20 years before this month and if you get it right on the day it does not matter whether you are playing. We are focused on what we need to do. We have a huge belief and it is a case of making sure we are mentally and physically prepared."

Jones is aware the Ireland Wales face are a different beast from the one at last year's World Cup and the opening weekend of the Six Nations when they laboured to beat Italy.

"They played some good stuff against Scotland," he said. "They will probably have Paul O'Connell, the secondrow, back in their starting line-up and he will have a huge influence. I was fortunate to play alongside him with the Lions and I have a huge respect for him as a player and as a man. He is a talismanic figure and he is someone we will have to keep an eye on."

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has always changed a winning team this season and is likely to do so again when he announces his team next week. He looks set to release scrumhalf Dwayne Peel, who started against Italy last Saturday, to play for Llanelli Scarlets at Ulster in the Magners League on Friday night, putting Mike Phillips in line for a recall.

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