Stung by their heartbreaking loss in Paris at last year's World Cup, the Irish prop says they will give it everything to emerge victorious
Over the course of his stellar 139-cap career, he was their starting No9 when France were beaten in the 1999 Rugby World Cup final and also heavily involved two years later when the touring British and Irish Lions were dramatically seen off in an epic three-Test series that went down to the final play.
The back-row had a rollercoaster start to life in Welsh rugby but is raring to prove his worth on his return from injury.
England centre Guy Porter looks set to be on the move to Super Rugby after Leicester Tigers announced he was leaving at the end of the season.
The exits of players such as Springboks No8 Jasper Wiese and Scotland midfielder Matt Scott were already known, while former Wallabies scrum-half Joe Powell left the club at the start of the calendar year.
The 39-year-old former hooker from Padova was firmly established in Italy’s front row when they downed Ireland 22-15 in March 2013, a result that is unthinkable in the current rugby climate and seems a very long time ago.
Nathan Catt was in his element the other day. He had popped up on Zoom to generally preview Friday night’s England versus Wales U20s clash at The Rec.
Following historic losses to Fiji and Wales, which put the Wallabies on the brink of missing the quarter-finals for the first time, Jones said he was responsible for the humiliating defeats rather than the players.