Henry: Jones is the future

Stephen Jones is seen as Wales' future No 12

Graham Henry has not yet called time on the international career of Scott Gibbs, but the Swansea centre can feel Stephen Jones breathing down his neck.

Jones was first seen as the successor to Neil Jenkins at fly-half, where Jones plays his club rugby, by Wales coach Henry.

Experimenting with Jones at full-back during this season's Six Nations was a less than spectacular success, but Henry believes he may have found the Llanelli player's best position.

Jones replaced a tired-looking Gibbs in the second half of the magnificent win over France in Paris and looked at home at inside centre.

You don't drop players on one game

  Graham Henry
Wales coach

Just like Mike Catt has been able to do for England, Jones gave Wales another tactical option with his kicking out of hand, taking the pressure off Jenkins inside him.

"I think that's his best position and he could well find himself playing a lot of games at No 12 for Wales in the future," Henry said.

Pressure

"Some games are suited to a ball carrier to take the ball up and set targets for the rest of the team, other games you need somebody with a good kicking variety.

"It would be good with somebody who could do both."

That suggests that Gibbs is far from ready to be put out to pasture just yet, although the pressure is on the two-time Lion to prove himself.

"Scott Gibbs has played a lot of games for Wales but he probably didn't have his finest game against France," Henry said.

"But you don't drop players on one game. He's got an opportunity to prove himself."

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