Wed, Jan 24, 2007 page18

• Wales coach hoping for an upset

  WORLD CUP WARM-UP Jenkins knows Ireland are going to be no pushovers after their impressive displays last year, but says his side needs to be able to beat the best

  • AFP
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  Wales coach Gareth Jenkins believes playing tournament favorites Ireland in the first match of this season's Six Nations is the ideal way for his side to start the Championship.

  Ireland were the form European team during last November's international program, with wins against South Africa and Australia to their credit.

  Some pundits have even gone as far as to tip them to complete what would be only their second Grand Slam in Championship history to go alongside their clean sweep of the then-Five Nations in 1948.

  But the Feb. 4 match at Wales's Millennium Stadium home in Cardiff represents a tricky opening fixture and Jenkins is relishing the prospect of his side causing an upset in what will be both countries' first international of the year.

  "If you'd asked me to pick the game to open our Six Nations campaign this season it would have been this one," Jenkins said.

  "Ireland are very much the team to beat this year, they will come to us as firm favorites and it's probably the toughest start to the year we could've been given," the former Llanelli boss added.

  "But that's how you measure yourselves and we have to be realistic about what is achievable this year. We want to beat every team put in front of us and, if we can get off to a good start against Ireland in front of our home fans, then we have a chance to lay down a marker for ourselves for the gruelling season ahead," he said.

  "Our regions have been performing well against the very top sides in Europe, they've all been competitive and played some great rugby," Jenkins said. "We have some injuries, which is not ideal, but the players we have been able to bring in show we have more strength in depth than we've had as a nation in the past."

  "Our challenge now is to bring all of that together at national level," he said.

  Jenkins recalled two experienced forwards in former captain Colin Charvis and hooker Mefin Davies when he announced his Six Nations squad on Monday.

  Back-row forward Charvis has impressed during his debut season with the Newport-Gwent Dragons and Jenkins said: "We have brought Colin back into the fold at the age of 35 and his performances at regional level justify his selection in the light of the injury problems we have in his position."

  "There are a number of players who have not been considered in our initial thinking due to injuries and lack of game time. Ian Evans and Jonathan Thomas have both been out of contention for the Ospreys with shoulder problems and Dafydd Jones is just returning for the Scarlets," he said.

  "Their absence has paved the way for Colin's return. His high level of experience is an added bonus and the same applies to Mefin," Jenkins said.

  The only uncapped player in the squad is Cardiff forward Scott Morgan, whom Jenkins intends to use as a second row.

  "Scott has played himself into contention with some sterling performances for the Blues as a middle line-out jumper mostly from the No. 6 position, but our squad make-up means we will be looking for him to give us options at lock," Jenkins explained.

  Gavin Henson was named as one of the fullbacks in the squad, with teammate James Hook tipped to play at center outside captain Stephen Jones.

  Wales won just one game in last season's Six Nations, a 28-18 victory at home to Scotland, and finished a lowly fifth in the table.
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