It has been 11 years since Jones was most recently involved on the international stage, in what was a controversial end to his Test playing career.

Gatland brought Jones off after just 30 minutes against South Africa in his 100th and final international.

Jones was unhappy at the time and also wrote about the experience later in his autobiography. He insists any issues are now a thing of the past.

“We have kissed and made up,” said Jones.

“It got twisted a little bit when I finished. Anyone who finishes their career is going to be upset. What he (Gatland) did for me as a player was huge and I worked with him for a decade.

“I wouldn’t have got to 95 Wales caps, won Grand Slams or gone on Lions tours if he hadn’t have come in at that time and pushed me in the right direction.

“He had a certain way of doing things and got me to that level and I was always be thankful for that, so I’m happy to work for him because he had such a massive influence on my career.”

Gatland is under extreme pressure having been given a vote of confidence for the Six Nations despite overseeing Wales’ worst losing run.

“For someone who has been around the block as long as he has, he’s calm and knows what he wants,” said Jones.

“What he is good at, when I was a player, was that backs-to-the-wall narrative.

“Gats is brilliant at the underdogs mentality and bringing a team together quickly in a short space of time and getting results out of them. He’s exceptional at that and I’m backing him to pull it round.”