Jones was selected as captain by new Wales coach Warren Gatland after playing just three matches in six months following a shoulder injury which ruled him out of the World Cup.

Two operations have limited Jones to just 16 appearances for Wales since he made his debut in 2004 but there was no sense Gatland had taken a gamble. If anything, his selection was seen as inspired.

Jones had a huge impact on Wales’ Grand Slam triumph in 2005 and later that year as a replacement on the Lions tour of New Zealand.

When fit he is a guaranteed to start at number eight and Jones showed enough in those three games, including the Ospreys’ Heineken Cup win over Gloucester, that he is back to his best.

In Australia, the position of national cricket captain is seen as second only in importance to the prime minister.

In Wales, Jones will get far more attention, press coverage and either adulation or criticism - depending on results - than Gordon Brown.

“Rugby is massive in Wales and that just goes to emphasise what an honour this is,” said Jones.

“My life will not be the same again and my private life is not going to be my own. But I go in with my eyes wide open and I know what the job entails.

“It was a special day for me. I have had another rollercoaster year but phone calls like the one I had from Warren Gatland offering me the captaincy make it all worthwhile.

“It took me all of three seconds to accept and I have felt 10-feet tall ever since.

“I am in a privileged position and it is a great job to have. People talk about it being a poisoned chalice but those things are out of your control.

“This is another one of my dreams I will get a chance to live and I am lucky and grateful. If we get off to a winning start everything will be rosy and people will jump on the bandwagon.

“But I know the buck stops with me and I have to take the highs with the lows.”