Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones believes the idea of losing a third successive Guinness Six Nations match is something that doesn’t even bear thinking about.
After slender defeats to Ireland and France in the last two rounds, Wales will travel to Twickenham to face England next weekend looking to avoid three defeats in a Championship for the first time since 2007.
The past month has been something of a baptism of fire for new coach Wayne Pivac after taking over from Warren Gatland following the 2019 World Cup, as his side have come out on the wrong side of two tightly-fought encounters.
Gatland avoided losing more than twice in a single Championship in all of his 12 years at the helm, and Jones admits it is not something he has been accustomed to as Wales skipper.
“It is uncharted territory and the pressure is on,” the 34-year-old said. “It does not get any easier. It is Wayne’s first one [Championship] but Warren, while he had a first one, had 12 years to establish himself and everyone was used to what he was about and what he did.
“From the coaches’ point of view, you cannot compare. But you do not want to think about losing a third game.
“You look at the margins against Ireland and France, and I am not saying we could have or should have, but those margins are smaller and smaller the further up the tree you go.
“The comparison is a tough one, unfair from the coaching point, but as players we do not want to go into that uncharted territory.”
Gatland won four Guinness Six Nations titles in his time in charge of Wales, including a record three Grand Slams, before Pivac took over ahead of the 2020 Championship.
But despite the change of management, Jones is adamant that the buck shouldn’t stop purely with Pivac, with those on the pitch also having to stand up and be counted.
“Players take responsibility first and foremost, he added. I take my responsibility and my performance as an individual first, then as captain, then as part of a team.
“Peel the facades and veneers away and that is the first port of call. Then you have to be process driven.
“Did we do what we said he would? Yes. If it is a better team fine, but if we have not done that we have not given ourselves the best possible chance to get the outcome.
“We are trying to play heads up and develop the style of play Wayne wants. That is a positive but we are scrutinised, and rightly so, by the scoreboard.”
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Source: 6 Nations