Coach Warren Gatland has introduced a new style of training sessions along with defence coach Shaun Edwards and backs coach Rob Howley.

Fly-half Jones is poised to miss out on the weekend at James Hook’s expense, being named among the replacements, but he underlined the feelgood factor generated by Gatland’s arrival.

He said: “Things have been very organised and very thorough.

“The structure of the week has been different, with shorter, but more intense, training sessions.

“We have been raising the bar in training, and we have to make sure we continue to do that. I believe we are going in the right direction.”

The Welsh squad spent the weekend at their rural training base while England players endured a gruelling round of Guinness Premiership action.

Wales’ solitary injury concern is scrum-half Dwayne Peel, whose battle to overcome a shoulder problem could see him make way for Ospreys number nine Mike Phillips.

Areas for selection debate include second row and back row, where the anticipated partnerships are Ospreys pair Alun-Wyn Jones and Ian Evans at lock, with Jonathan Thomas packing down at number eight alongside flankers Ryan Jones and Martyn Williams.

Gatland, who announces the line-up on Tuesday, is set to name five Ospreys among his back division - Phillips, Hook, centre Gavin Henson, wing Shane Williams and full-back Lee Byrne.