Stephen Jones rates Larkham "Most Influential player"
Jones has huge respect for Larkham
(Rugby News Service) Wednesday 12 September 2007
By Russ McKinnon
PORNICHET, 12 September – Wales fly half Stephen Jones can't remember Stephen Larkham having a poor game while flanker George Smith rates his Australia team-mate the most influential player in the world.
Jones will line up against Larkham in Saturday's Pool B match against the Wallabies in Cardiff.
He has a healthy respect for the former ACT Brumbies playmaker, who has played 102 Tests but will retire from the international arena after the IRB Rugby World Cup.
"I have (respect for him) because of his skills really and his ability to make things look easy," said Jones, who was instrumental in Wales' 42-17 win over Canada in Nantes on Sunday.
"He's proved his quality over a long period of time. It's not often you say he's had a bad game. You'd be struggling to think of one."
Larkham world's most influential?
Smith agrees New Zealand captain Richie McCaw is the best flanker in the world but not the most influential player.
"I wouldn't say (McCaw) is the most influential," Smith said this week.
"I would say Stephen Larkham is for mine. Whenever I play alongside him and then in teams Stephen Larkham is not involved in, you can definitely tell the difference."
On the Australia backline threat, Jones noted the Wallabies scored plenty of tries from set play in their 91-3 victory over Japan on Saturday.
"They really are clever. They attack well, they are very efficient," he said.
"They are a very well-balanced side with a lot of experience, a great runner in (Stirling) Mortlock (and) obviously (Matt) Giteau has got exceptional gas."
Wales must raise the bar
Jones, who came on as a second-half replacement for James Hook against Canada, said Wales would need to "raise the bar" to beat the Wallabies.
"It's a huge game for us," he said.
"We're up against a really good side and we're in good form.
"We've got to raise the bar. We've got to make sure we perform to a better standard."
Jones believed playing at the Millennium Stadium was a bonus for the Welsh but he did not want to overstate its importance, pointing to France's loss to Argentina in the tournament opener in Paris.
"Hopefully we can play in such a way, early goals in the game, where we gather momentum to involve the crowd," he said.
