Monday 29 June 2015 09:57, UK
Former Wales captain Ryan Jones believes his country must hit the ground running at the Rugby World Cup if they are to emerge from the ‘Group of Death’.
All eyes will be on Pool A in September to see which two teams emerge from a mouth-watering group that contains three of world’s best sides in England, Wales and Australia, alongside Fiji and Uruguay.
Jones, who won 75 caps for Wales, is optimistic Warren Gatland’s side can qualify for the knockout stages but feels starting fast is pivotal to doing so.
"You can't afford a slow start, it's an incredibly tough group," Jones said.
"Whether they get out or not is going to be dictated by how well they start, how quickly they galvanise over the next 10 weeks and also how England and Australia fare.
"I think we'll have a better idea of that when we see the friendlies in the summer, when we see the squads settle a bit, see the form the players are in, what shape they're in, see what injuries they come out with. There's a lot to go between now and then before we start talking about favourites.
"There's certainly no reason why Wales can't get out of the group."
Wales will play three games prior to the tournament, with home and away fixtures against Ireland in August before their final warm-up game against Italy at the Millennium Stadium on September 5.
The Welsh open their campaign with a game against Uruguay on September 20 before facing hosts England six days later at Twickenham.
"That could define both nations' World Cups," said Jones, who was speaking from a community event at South Gower RFC as the Rugby World Cup Trophy Tour continued its route around the British Isles.
"That's an enormous fixture. It is an enormous fixture outside of a Rugby World Cup, let along with everything that is at stake on September 26."
