Jones, who has played 66 times for Wales and is still only 27, is an integral part of the training squad currently working at the same Olympic training village in Eastern Europe which was ‘home’ for him and his team-mates for two ten day periods prior to the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
The visit to Spala last time was followed by a World Cup semi-final appearance and a trip to a similar resort in Gdansk pre-dated Wales’ 2012 RBS 6 Nations Grand Slam winning performance.
The Ospreys lock knows the physical value of these training camps to the national squad but he is quick to point out the players will need to take a psychological edge into match day as well.
“We are all out here working hard and putting the time in which is what we know we have to do to ensure we prepare properly to face some of the top sides in the world,” said Jones.
“But, what we do or don’t do in Spala will be irrelevant if we don’t get it right when we get out on that pitch against the Pumas and we are all acutely aware of that fact as well.
“Coming out to Poland has been a welcome change of environment and a chance to get back into the groove at international level.
Jones, who made his international debut on the 2006 tour of Argentina, has been an ever present in the Wales side through the 2011 World Cup and two Grand Slams (in 2008 and 2012) but it is the three test tour to Australia this summer which is his strongest motivating force at the moment.
“Australia was tough to take for us all. To end the series with a difference of only 11 points across the three matches shows we weren’t far away but that’s not good enough for us and we are determined to keep going,” he added.
“This team has reached the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup and won the Grand Slam last season. After success like that there are always going to be tough times ahead as teams will be well prepared for you.
“But we didn’t drop off, we know we could and should have won anyone of those games in Australia and we are pushing the top teams in the world game hard.
“We have the top two teams in the world in our own back yard this autumn and we have another great opportunity to make our mark.
“But Argentina are fresh from a baptism of fire in the Rugby Championship, they will be battle-hardened and coming to Wales looking for victory, so we will have to be ready for them.
“We’ll definitely need to keep on our guard, when you come up against these teams you have to front up and show where you’re at as a player.
“When Warren Gatland first took over Wales he had a mantra to play against the top three sides in the world, namely New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.
“So as a nation we should be a little envious of Argentina now, seeing them in the Rugby Championship and playing against the best sides in the world.
“They’re only going to benefit from it and as I say, look at their performance against South Africa. They were very close to taking a scalp there and as we’ve improved in our performances, so have Argentina.
“They have got a history of having a strong forward pack and a bit of class behind with the likes of Hernandez.
“They’ve had a bit of a dent in their forward pack of late with the retirement of some key forwards but they’ve showed in patches in the Rugby Championship what they can achieve and obviously playing consistently in that competition is only going to benefit them as a team.”
Wales also face Samoa, New Zealand and Australia on consecutive weekends at the Millennium Stadium in the 2012 Dove Men Series and will be looking to start their campaign with a win against the Pumas on November 10.
And Jones feels in good form as he looks to help Wales climb the IRB World Rankings and possibly pick up an elusive Southern Hemisphere scalp.
“Personally I’m pretty happy,” added Jones.
“I’ve featured in every game for the Ospreys since the start of the season which I wasn’t able to do last year because of the World Cup and when I got back from New Zealand I was injured. Touch wood I’m going okay at the moment.”
WALES FIXTURES STILL ON SALE:
10 November 2012, 1430hrs, Millennium Stadium
WALES v ARGENTINA Adults £30 U16 £10
16 November 2012, 1930hrs, Millennium Stadium
WALES v SAMOA Adults £25 U16 £10
1 December 2012 1430 hrs, Millennium Stadium
WALES v AUSTRALIA From £60
Tickets online: www.wru.co.uk Tel: 0844 2 777 888
