Past form no prop in Gatland's set-up

SIX NATIONS IRELAND V WALESGethin Jenkins has found that reputation counts for nothing, writes John O'Sullivan

The arrival of a new management team tends to inspire a blend of curiosity and uncertainty among players. When Warren Gatland agreed to become head coach of Wales, he did so with a clear idea of the required route and those who would accompany him on the journey.

Armed with that knowledge he set about assembling a coaching framework.

Experience taught him not to recklessly discard previous back-room incumbents and so Neil Jenkins and Robin McBryde were invited on to the new coaching ticket along with newcomers Rob Howley and, perhaps most importantly, Shaun Edwards.

Players are notoriously subjective when it comes to their own personal prospects and would have canvassed the opinions of those who had worked under Gatland; desperately seeking comfort or at least a clue to what the immediate future might hold.

The new coaching regime quickly established the parameters of selection: one principal tenet being that reputations would be earned, not bestowed on foot of past achievements. Gethin Jenkins would bear testament to that statement.

In last November's Test against then recently crowned world champions South Africa, the Cardiff, Wales and Lions prop became the 125th player to captain the Principality.

Nigel Davies, caretaker coach at the time, said of the loosehead prop: "He's a 26-year-old with 50 caps, two World Cups and a British and Irish Lions tour (New Zealand 2005, three Tests) under his belt which shows his dedication in itself, and you only have to look at his ability to contribute to both sides of the front row to know you have something special as a player."

Wales's next competitive game following the South African match was on the opening weekend of the Six Nations against England at Twickenham. It would have been a reasonable assumption that Jenkins would earn a starting jersey, possibly continuing as captain.

He managed neither as Gatland turned to number eight Ryan Jones to lead the side while the poodle-topped Duncan and Adam Jones represented the twin pillars of the frontrow. Jenkins reflects on the preamble to Gatland's first team selection.

"The first week he (Gatland) turned up I realised I wasn't going to be starting. You can always sense from training whether you are going to be in the team. To go from captain to the bench was really disappointing for me. I wasn't given too many reasons.

"Warren just said he wanted to go with Duncan and Adam Jones and he was going to put me on the bench. It is up to Warren what he thinks is the best team. I am used to coming off the bench but that doesn't mean I was happy with it. I hate not starting."

Jenkins was not about to sulk, conscious that a pathway to a starting berth lay on the training paddock. Once he accepted there would be a performance-related meritocracy to selection, it made it easier to recalibrate his sights.

"Everyone is enjoying training, everyone is enjoying the build-up to games and you're just hoping to play in the next one. It's great. They (the new management) have challenged us on the field, in training and in the way we play. It is a new mentality that they have brought because of the way they approach the game. They are pushing us towards a better future.

"There is no cruising through training. You have someone breathing down your neck for a place and the coaches are watching what you're doing on the training ground as well as in matches. It makes for a more competitive environment.

"The training is a lot more detailed. The coaching points are really detailed as well. It's (the coaching package) to do with attitude, responsibility as well as the technical aspects of the game. They are focused individuals and they have just given us direction.

"A lot of stuff we have done has been short, sharp drills. There has been a lot intensity brought to training and that's what the boys have really been thriving on. There has been a great spirit in the squad.

"Those coaches have sort of brought things like that in. It's just a buzz for the whole squad who are going into a game knowing what they are doing and actually feeling confident."

The infusion of self-belief was helped by the victory over the English at Twickenham, an unlikely prospect at the interval during that match. Wales had been abject in the first half, stockpiling errors, but in the second 40 minutes England imploded as the visitors cast off their inhibitions.

That victory in London gave the Gatland bandwagon a decent shunt from a standing start and remains a personal highlight of the new regime to date for Jenkins.

"Yeah, it would be the game against England. I came off the bench and it was great to be involved, especially at the end, for those last five minutes when we were keeping the ball and stopping them from getting out of their own half.

"We just ran the clock down, shutting them in and in the past we mightn't have been able to do that. It showed how far we have come.

"I can't explain how we managed to turn it around but I think it was just the fact we believed in ourselves a lot more, and decided to throw caution to the wind a bit more (in the second half) and take them on in one-on-one in certain situations.

"When Mike (Phillips) went over for that second try, we felt then that we had that game in the bag and all we had to do was shut down the game for the last 10 minutes. It was a great feeling."

Jenkins had to be patient, his call to arms again coming from the bench in the victory over Scotland before he was finally chosen to start against the Italians.

Prior to that match the player mused: "The boys who have come in all have a point to prove. We all have a chance to show that we deserve that jersey. This is the first chance I have had in front of Warren, the first chance he has given me to start. Now I just want to keep the jersey for the next three games."

There's no indication yet that his wish will be granted as Gatland hasn't confirmed his line-up for next Saturday's clash with Ireland at Croke Park, although Jenkins might point to his contribution the last time the sides met with trophies at stake.

That was at the Millennium Stadium in 2005, with Wales chasing a Grand Slam and Ireland pursuing Triple Crown glory. It was a red letter day for the home side and Jenkins' early try was the catalyst for that success.

"The whole day was a bit of a blur for the players. There was a big build-up but the game sort of flew by. I don't remember much of the game apart from the try, a charge down and then getting over the line. I don't score many (tries) so I'm inclined to remember the ones that I do score. I think it (the run) started at about 40 metres and has gone out to 60 over the years," he chuckled.

His modesty undersells the moment. He blocked down a Ronan O'Gara punt, hacked on precisely with his right foot and won the race to the touchdown. It showcased the athleticism for which he is renowned.

Most players studiously avoid providing material for opposition dressingroom walls in the build-up to Test matches and Jenkins isn't about to buck that trend in his summation of Ireland's campaign.

"Obviously they started quite slowly against Italy but managed to get a win and I thought they were outstanding in the manner in which they came back against France. The way they took apart Scotland showed how well they can play, how varied their game is and how they can perform on a top stage."

His preoccupation is with Wales, however, and he confirms that there is no comparison between the 2005 Grand Slam achievement and the patterns of play of the current squad.

"The game has moved on a lot. In 2005 we played an expansive, offload game where the onus was on everyone passing the ball around. Since then the game has moved on and defences are better able to cope with that sort of approach and so you have to adapt your style of play."

The intervening years have been a fallow period, last year's World Cup defeat against Japan a low point. "The whole World Cup was a big disappointment but what it does do is make you savour every victory before moving on to the next game: every win in a Welsh jersey is a proud moment for us."

Date of birth:Nov 17th, 1980

Place of birth: Llantwit Fardre, Wales

Height:6ft2in (1.88m)

Weight:18st 6lbs (117 kg)

Position:Prop

Tests:56. Tries: 3

School attended:Bryncelynnog Comprehensive

Club:Cardiff Blues

Previous clubs:Treorchy, Pontypridd, Celtic Warriors

Representative honours:Wales Schools, Under-19, Under-21, Wales, Lions (3 tests, 2005 NZ)