Jones sings praises of All Blacks' Hansen

All Blacks forward coach Steve Hansen will deserve all the praise if Stephen Jones, the Welsh Grand Slam-winning outside-half, guides the British and Irish Lions to triumph in Saturday's First Test in Christchurch.

Hansen rescued Welsh rugby after he took over the coaching role in 2002 when Graham Henry, the All Blacks head coach, left the Principality to return home.

Hansen followed the same path in 2004, having taken Wales to the World Cup, and his legacy was a new playing and training structure which underpinned their success this season.

The Welsh players are quick to praise Hansen's influence and Gareth Thomas, the Wales captain, believes his words of advice saved his own Test career. Thomas is on the wing for the Lions while Jones will pull the tactical strings from outside-half where he is preferred to England's Jonny Wilkinson, who has moved to centre.

Jones said: "I would be delighted to get a win against the All Blacks who are now coached by Graham and Steve. I have a huge respect for them and what they did for Welsh rugby.

"It was Graham who first brought me into the Welsh team but it was Steve who had a big influence on me. He was very honest from the start. He had a huge impact on my rugby.

"We were a million miles away from where we are now and had fallen off when Steve took charge. He said we had to improve our fitness standards, training and how to handle ourselves away from rugby. Steve opened our eyes and minds to what was needed.

"We had to get our backsides in gear to improve. When Steve finished with Wales, he left Welsh rugby in a much healthier state than when he took over."