Jones: No World Cup hangover

France head to the Millennium Stadium just five months after destroying Wales' World Cup dream.

A 9-8 semi-final victory in Auckland was only achieved, though, by Les Bleus holding on for the best part of an hour after Wales captain Sam Warburton was sent off following a dangerous tackle on France wing Vincent Clerc.

Ospreys lock Jones is among 11 survivors in Wales' starting line-up this weekend from that dramatic Eden Park encounter, the only exceptions being wing Alex Cuthbert, fly-half James Hook, hooker Matthew Rees and second-row forward Ian Evans.

"In all honesty, I think it is something you will never forget, the disappointment of that game," Jones said.

"But if you feature in the international set-up I suppose you can chip away at the angst of losing.

"I am not going to say revenge, that is a bit cliched. It is a different tournament now, and a different trophy at stake.

"It has been and gone, and you can't dwell on it. I am not going to focus on the World Cup experience too much - the hangover has gone now."

Jones started three games of Wales' 2008 Grand Slam campaign, but the fact he has been involved at all this time around says everything about his recovery powers.

A toe injury that required surgery post-World Cup threatened to render the rest of his international season a write-off.

But 61 times-capped Jones returned for Wales against England at Twickenham three weeks ago, and he admitted: "That England game was a bit surreal for me.

"Three months prior to it, I was coming out of hospital and not expecting to be anywhere near the squad. I didn't think I would be involved at all.

"This campaign has probably been a little bit more low-key than the 2008 (Grand Slam).

"We had a new coach in 2008, so there was a little bit less expectation. This time, the expectation is there off the back of the World Cup.

"We have been able to reinforce the performances from the World Cup in the Six Nations and deal with the expectation that we possibly didn't deal so well with in the past."

If Wales triumph tomorrow, they will achieve their third Grand Slam in eight seasons, matching the so-called golden era feat between 1971 and 1978 when players like Barry John, Gareth Edwards, Gerald Davies and JPR Williams reigned supreme.

It would also be the second Six Nations clean sweep of coach Warren Gatland's four-year reign, although the New Zealander feels comparisons are difficult.

"It is a different time, a different era, and the structures are all completely different," Gatland said.

"A lot of those players from the 1970s are still household legends in terms of not just what they achieved for Wales, but with the 1971 Lions in New Zealand and the 1974 Lions in South Africa.

"We haven't been as successful against the southern hemisphere teams as we would have liked, and that is the next step we have got to take.

"It's tough to win a Grand Slam. You need some luck, and we have had a bit, you get a bit of confidence and momentum and you have a chance.

"You think how dominant England have been since the conception of professionalism, and they have won one Grand Slam - in 2003.

"It is not easy to do it, but we have given ourselves an opportunity. We are excited about not only where we are now, but also what we think we can build on over the next couple of seasons."