Jones' trip agony

lowest point [of my career], but it was one of the most stupid, idiotic acts I have done.

"This opportunity is now there to put it right.

"You don't want to try too hard because you could go over the edge, and you don't want to play too conservatively because you would jeopardise your selection for the next game.

"A text came through earlier from a friend saying 'Just do what you do usually, and don't think about anything else.' I think that is apt for the weekend.

"I have never said I am an enforcer. I have always said I like to play my rugby, I'm not one for the dark arts."

For his part, Gatland just wants Jones to do the job he normally does when Wales aim for a victory that would put their Six Nations title bid back on track.

"He is a player who gives 100 percent and has delivered well for Wales," said the coach. "He is not a serial offender.

"If it was someone who had picked up lots of yellow cards and given away lots of penalties, then the sanction might have been to drop him because you needed to make that decision.

"There was no discussion from us in terms of dropping him. We all felt he'd made a stupid error and he is an intelligent enough person that he is remorseful and he will learn from it."

And there are also signs of normality returning to Jones' rugby life at Wales' rural training retreat in the Vale of Glamorgan as his prankster team-mates have a field day.

"A few of them are creeping back in with a few jibes and stuff," said Jones.

"Ryan Jones showed me the [yellow] lid of a Marmite jar this morning. He thought it was hilarious."