Jenkins: ‘I want us to go to another level’

One of the finest players in Welsh history, Jenkins revolutionised the role of the loosehead prop with his ability around the field and especially at the breakdown standing out.

Jenkins was also always more than your typical front-row forward in that he thought deeply about the game and its intricacies. For him, rugby was far more than just shoving in a scrum.

In his 14 years with Wales, Jenkins was often like an extra back-row on the field and his all-round game was superb so it is no surprise his career post playing is in coaching.

After retiring in 2018, Jenkins worked with Cardiff RFC in the Welsh Premiership, the Cardiff Blues academy, and the Wales Under-20 set-up.
Now he is back in the senior Wales environment as defence coach to head coach Wayne Pivac.

“It has happened quite quick. I’ve really enjoyed doing it,” Jenkins said of his Wales role.

“I know it was at a lower level with Cardiff RFC, but what it enabled me to do was really get in the mix, almost run it anyway I wanted, and learn on the job.

“With the Blues and working with the younger players it gave me a chance to learn and think a lot more about the technical side of the game.

“If you are coaching at regional level you are preparing for games week in, week out which is tough going. I’d like to think coming into this environment I’ve got a good handle on it already because I’ve been here so long. I know the routine, how it works, and how the players work.

“I’m probably the first port of call when we’re talking about how the players might think. I’ve got that link because in the management group I am the last one out of playing.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

Jenkins, now 40, joined the Wales environment at the end of 2020 and is still at the start of his coaching career. But those who know him best truly believe he is destined for big things.

Former Wales prop Adam Jones packed down alongside Jenkins for most of his international career and the pair were also team-mates for the Lions.

Jones said: “First and foremost Gethin basically coached the Welsh team when he was playing on the pitch! He’d bark orders and he’s got a really good rugby brain.

“He did from the first time I came across him. He’s a prop that is most unlike a prop, if that makes sense. He was always thinking more about the exit or kicking strategy from a scrum than the scrum itself. We’d come up from a scrum and he’d say it was OK but was then thinking then about what to do in attack. He’s been coaching the Blues Academy and the Under-20’s so it’s a huge step up.

“But I’m sure he’s got the respect of all the boys and many of them will probably look at him in awe at what a great player he was. It’s early for him to get the job, but if anyone can step into it, he can.

“I’m sure he will take to it like a duck to water.”

Steve Law is one of the most experienced coaches in the Welsh Premiership and is in charge of Cardiff where Jenkins first started.

He steered the side to their first WRU National Cup triumph in 23 years in 2019 and had guided them into the semi-finals last season and to the top of the Premiership when the first lockdown came.

“All defence coaches need to have an edge about them and Gethin certainly has that. He learned under Shaun Edwards as a player at the highest level and he showed how much he picked up from his playing days when he worked with me at Cardiff RFC,” said Law.

“We conceded fewer points than any other team last season and were on course to do the double.

“The previous year he helped us to win the WRU National Cup. What really impressed me about him and hit home with the players was his attention to detail.

“On top of that, he set high standards, worked hard with the players to achieve them, and always seemed to find a way to help them understand his philosophy. He may be young in coaching terms, but he has a vast array of knowledge picked up from so many great coaches over the course of one of the greatest international careers of any Welsh player.

“I have no doubt he will grasp this opportunity with both hands and prove he is more than capable of stepping up to the international stage once again. He was courted by at least one professional club in the summer to take over as their defence coach, but he wanted to stay at the Blues and continue his development.

“This opportunity to work with Wales is a dream come true for him and I know he will be up to it.”

Jenkins helped Wales start their 2021 Six Nations with a win over Ireland and next up is Scotland in Edinburgh on Saturday. He is clear in what he wants to see from the Welsh defence.

“I think the main one for me and what starts it all is our work rate to get in position. Then we need to put pressure on teams,” he said.

“The game has changed at the moment. I don’t think there is as much emphasis on the breakdown and people turning the ball over, especially at international level.

“I think a lot of it is about winning collisions. We’ve been doing a lot of work on that and developing the younger players so they realise they need to be talking more and the body language needs to be good. We need to be consistently getting up off the line and getting back into position.

“There are little intricacies in defence which you can work on, but a lot of it comes down to your mindset and wanting to get out there and defend and be aggressive.

“I’m still building that and I’ve had two weeks coaching in that area. You build over time. A few people have said to me the defence was better against Ireland. For me it was an improvement.

“I wouldn’t say it was great. There are still a lot of areas we can work on. At the end of the day I’ll take a win in the first game, but we need to keep working on those areas.

“I want us to go to another level again.”

Jenkins played alongside several of Pivac’s current squad including captain Alun Wyn Jones, fly-half Dan Biggar and both Ken Owens and Jonathan Davies among others.

Now he is their coach, but Jenkins is adapting quickly.

“I wouldn’t say it’s odd, it’s probably easier because you almost know how they work,” he said of his work with the likes of iconic captain Jones. “I’ve got a good relationship with all of them from my playing days and almost know what they want out of a coach. I know where I am with them because they’ve got to the top by working hard and playing well at international level.

“I’ve got a good relationship with the boys I played with – they’re the easy ones. It’s the other boys who are coming through that you have to work with a bit more to build a relationship with them.

“I obviously miss playing, but everything comes to an end and making sure the boys are prepared as well as they can be to put a performance in is probably the closest an ex-player gets to that match-day feeling.”

You can keep in touch with both camps as we head for round two of the Guinness Six Nations for the Scotland v Wales clash on Saturday – we’ve got interviews, videos and social posts covered right here.

You can keep in touch with both camps as we head for round two of the Guinness Six Nations for the Scotland v Wales clash on Saturday – we’ve got interviews, videos and social posts covered right here.