The first pictures of Stephen Jones coaching Wales have emerged as he races to get up to speed before the start of their Rugby World Cup campaign.
The former fly-half has been parachuted in after Rob Howley was relieved of his duties pending an investigation into a potential breach of World Rugby’s betting regulations.
Jones joined up with the squad as they arrived in Toyota City ready for their opening game of the Rugby World Cup against Georgia on Monday.
He spent his day off studying footage and getting acquainted with the calls and tactics.
Jones took an active part in training on Saturday and will have more of an influence in how the team plays against Australia six days after the Georgia clash.
"It’s been really good," said Wales boss Warren Gatland. "He’s come in and sat down with the analysts, myself, Dan Biggar and Jonathan Davies.
"[On Friday] we had a day off and he spent all day in the team room looking at game footage, going through training and the calls and everything.
"He took a full part in training today. Earlier in the week the players took a lot of responsibility, as you’d want them to.
"Stephen has started to have a good look at Australia.
"He’ll have much more of an input into things and the plan that we put in place for the Australia game."
Jones was the first choice among the senior players when it came to selecting Howley’s replacement.
He has played with some of the squad and coached many of them during three seasons at the Scarlets. He was due to take over from Howley after the World Cup but has been parachuted in early.
Speaking on the transition, Gatland said: "He’s fitted in well and it’s been easy because he’s been in this environment as a player, he knows so many of the players as well.
"One of the things about Stephen is that he’s a very popular person, he’s a very amicable person and easy to get on with.
"I think it’s been good how he’s fitted in so quickly in the first few days."
