First cap Ceri tastes highs and lows

The 29-year-old NEC Harlequins loose head was ecstatic at playing for Wales for the first time after a few years around the squad, just a few weeks short of his 30th birthday.

“When the call came down I could not wait to take my top off and get on the field, it was an amazing experience,” said Jones.

“I have got to keep that jersey, there was no way that one was going anywhere other than home to my wife and baby – they can have a good look at that.

“But then we were immensely disappointed with how we let it slip, really. Like Gareth Jenkins said, we had control of the game and just needed to grind down that clock and take the win.

“I think once the Aussies got that line-out in the 22 their tails were up and they just went for it.”

The Wales new boy is not fazed by the prospect of being up against world rugby’s most capped player, with an expected recall for scrum half George Gregan along with outside half Stephen Larkham.

“Everyone is really focussed on next week,” said Jones.

“They will probably try to write us off again and say they will bring back all their big names, but we just have to go there with the same confidence in our ability and go out there to see what we can do.”

Jones wants to show the Australians that there is a plenty to look forward to as he starts out on his international career.

Jones admitted, “I was a little disappointed at the start of the game when I looked in the programme and it said ‘the veteran’. I thought that was a little cheeky, I am not quite a veteran but I can understand where they were coming from because I have been playing a while now and it was just fantastic to get on the field.”