Jenkins looking for Welsh to kick on

Rugby reporter

Saturday 9 March 2013

We can probably dismiss the old speculation that the distinctive handles on the RBS 6 Nations trophy were inspired by Neil Jenkins' ears, but the former Wales fly-half (and Lions full-back) sports a pair of lugs that are one of the wonders of the rugby world, rivalled only by the two squashed cauliflowers attached to the head of the former England prop, and now England scrum coach, Graham Rowntree.

Legendary fly-half aware title contenders are not yet finished article

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Alasdair Reid

Nor should we fall into the trap of believing Jenkins became such a good kicker because he was aerodynamically unsuited to developing a running game. Instead, let's concentrate on the grey matter that fills the space between those magnificent aural appendages.

These days, Jenkins earns his corn as the Wales kicking coach. Or, rather, he earns it as one of the Welsh team's skills coaches, but after an international career in which he knocked over 248 penalties, 131 conversions and 10 dropped goals, his own particular area of expertise is not a matter of much debate.Long before Jonny Wilkinson came along, Jenkins' metronomic action virtually defined what a modern kicker should be. He was the first man to break the 1000-point barrier in Test rugby. By the end of his career he had moved that figure on to 1090, making you wonder what he might have done if he had played in a Wales team that was any good.The fact of the matter is Wales blew a bit hot and cold during Jenkins' 1990s heyday. And they found it chilliest of all at Murrayfield. Jenkins played for his country six times at the Edinburgh stadium and won just once. Small wonder, then, that he is in no mood to fuel the fires of Welsh triumphalism ahead of a match that is, on paper at least, a Six Nations title eliminator, from which the victors will emerge with a slim hope of pipping England to the championship.Wales, like Scotland, may have won their last two games, but when the 41-year-old Jenkins sat down to discuss today's match between the two countries he was quick to offer the reminder that they had also lost their previous eight.Certainly, he had no time for loose talk about Wales going on a points chase to close the gap on England, whose points difference is 17 better than his own side's. Jenkins was always a rugby pragmatist, and winning still comes first. "It is obviously nice to play good rugby," he said. "It's always nice to win games and express the way you can play. In Wales, we do like to play with ball in hand, but when you come down to it, it's all about winning. It doesn't matter how you win. A 3-0 win might not be great for spectators but that's the reality at Test level."The last two games have mostly been tough but we have played some good rugby. And we have won, which is what it is all about. That's satisfying, considering we had come off eight defeats on the bounce, losing by small margins. Test rugby is tight, but the last couple of games have gone our way."You can see his point. In their final group game at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, Scotland had to beat England by more than seven points to have a chance of reaching the quarter-finals. So they chased the game, took risks, turned down kickable penalties. They were still chasing near the end when England broke away and Chris Ashton scored a try. Scotland had been the better side but lost the game 16-12.But what if Wales were well ahead with 20 minutes left this afternoon? What if they had the game in the bag and the firepower to lever up the margin?It is actually a familiar scenario, and a painful recollection. "The last quarter of an hour against Italy [two weeks ago] was a little bit disappointing," said Jenkins. "We were 26-9 up with 18 minutes to go and didn't put our foot on the gas. We probably just accepted the win. That's something we've spoken about and looked at, but tomorrow is still all about winning."We've been there as players. We've been lucky enough to win the last two games as coaches, but we know how tough it is here. Scotland are on a pretty good roll with the last two wins and performances. We need to win the game first and if other things come our way, then great."Were he not so intimately involved in the occasion, Jenkins would surely enjoy just being a spectator at a match in which his own specialist positions are such a focus of attention. The respective fly-halves this afternoon will be the fast-improving Dan Biggar of Wales and Scotland's Duncan Weir, making his first Test start after three appearances as a replacement. And at full-back we have Leigh Halfpenny against Stuart Hogg, a contest which may well decide who gets to wear the No.15 Lions jersey in which Jenkins was such an influential figure in South Africa in 1997.Jenkins reckons Weir's selection may be down to a weather forecast that appears to demand territorial control. On the Halfpenny-Hogg contest, however, he was far more effusive."Leigh is setting a mark in every game," he enthused. "If you watch the way he prepares and the way he practises, he is the same for every game. He is up against an excellent player tomorrow, but he will focus on his own game. If he can play like he has been playing things will look after themselves. "Hogg has been outstanding for Scotland. He is a huge talent. It will be a great test for us tomorrow in terms of our kick-chase and how we defend and mark him. But Leigh is just going about his business as he normally does. He is real class just now."

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Jenkins looking for Welsh to kick on

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