WALES would probably be content with just one southern hemisphere scalp this autumn but Cwmcarn's Brian Jones already has the hat-trick.

Warren Gatland's side attempt to end a run of heartbreaking defeats when they take on Australia at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

Then, after hosting Fiji, Wales welcome New Zealand and South Africa to Cardiff with one bookmaker pricing them at 40/1 to enjoy a clean sweep.

Given that it's six years and 20 games against the southern hemisphere trio since the Wallabies were beaten at the Millennium Stadium it is unlikely that there will be many takers.

And the size of the task facing Sam Warburton and his team is emphasised by the fact that former Newport centre Jones, now 79, is one of just two Welshmen to have beaten the big three on home soil.

'BJ' followed Cardiff's Percy Bush by being on the winning side against the touring Wallabies with Newport in 1957 (11-0), the Springboks with the Barbarians in 1960 (6-0) and then the All Blacks with the Black and Ambers n 1963.

Plenty has changed since those days but one thing remains the same ahead of tomorrow's opener in Cardiff – the Aussies are seen as the golden opportunity.

"The anticipation was that we were going to win against Australia with Newport," said Jones, who was capped twice by Wales alongside Pontypool's Malcolm Price against Ireland and France in 1960.

"I would say throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s they were very much the weakest country of the big three, in fact it was South Africa who were the formidable ones.

"At the time Wales had never beaten them and now they've only been beaten once (in 1999), although they should have done in Nelspruit last summer. The Boks didn't win it, Wales threw it away.

"The All Blacks are the toughest team now but at the time they had been beaten by Wales and Cardiff."

Jones' hat-trick started at Rodney Parade when, fresh from national service, he was in the only Newport side to have beaten the Wallabies.

The 11-0 was secured by tries from Jack Hurrell and Leighton Jenkins as well as the boot of Norman Morgan.

"We had three Cwmcarn boys in the side that beat Australia – me, Des Greenslade and Jack – and we were feted in the little village," said Jones, who was inducted into Newport's hall of fame this year.

Next up was Avril Malan's South Africa in a Barbarians side that featured Newport teammates Brian Price and Billy Watkins along with Derek Morgan of Newbridge and Hayden Morgan from Abertillery.

"We had lost to them 3-0 at Newport and I had missed three kicks at goal and Barry Edwards missed another," said Jones.

"That showed how hard South Africa are to beat but the following month we managed it in Cardiff."

Then Wilson Whineray's visited Rodney Parade in 1963 and the famous victory was even more special thanks to a call from rugby writer John Billot, who informed Jones that he could match Bush's feat.

He said: "The win was meticulously planned and I was elated for the personal record but that paled into insignificance for what it meant for the club and the supporters – that victory meant we were on a par with Cardiff after they had beaten the All Blacks in 1954.

"I'd been in a side that came close that year (when beaten 11-6) so there was such elation when we won.

"Dick Uzzell (his midfield partner who kicked the winning drop goal) jumped on my back after the final whistle and said 'you've done it'.

"But the record disappeared in the euphoria of the win with the crowd coming onto the field and it taking half an hour to get back to the dressing room."

It's unlikely that Bush and Jones will be joined by anyone soon but if they are then the former Black and Ambers icon hopes that, like him, they ply their trade at Rodney Parade.

"It's sad that this record hasn't been matched since 1963 but I'd love to think that someone like Toby Faletau could do it," he said.

"I strove to achieve equalling Percy Bush because I didn't want Cardiff to crow over us at Newport! If someone's going to do it then I'd like them to be from Rodney Parade."