'He is exactly the kind of guy you want as captain of your team'
Exeter lock Dafydd Jenkins could find himself in the Wales captaincy conversation ahead of this season’s Guinness Six Nations Championship.
And Jenkins’ leadership qualities have received a ringing endorsement from his Exeter boss Rob Baxter, who believes he is “exactly the kind of guy you want as captain of your team”.
Ospreys flanker Jac Morgan led Wales in their last capped game – a World Cup quarter-final defeat against Argentina – but he is currently sidelined due to a knee injury.
It is understood Morgan might not play any part in the Six Nations, while Wales’ tournament opener against Scotland is just three weeks away.
Candidates to replace him are likely to include Morgan’s Ospreys colleagues Dewi Lake and Adam Beard, especially as Lake was named by Wales head coach Warren Gatland as a World Cup co-captain with Morgan.
Lock Will Rowlands and flanker Tommy Reffell, a former Wales Under-20 skipper, might also be in the mix, yet Jenkins’ current credentials should attract Gatland’s attention.
The second-row forward only turned 21 in December, yet his calm authority has surged through a new-look Exeter team following the departure last summer of star names such as Jack Nowell, Sam Simmonds, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Dave Ewers.
He has guided Exeter to a strong position among the Gallagher Premiership title contenders, while they are also well-placed in Europe.
Victory over Sandy Park visitors Glasgow on Saturday could secure a round-of-16 place for the Chiefs with one pool game to spare following impressive wins against former European champions Toulon and Munster.
“I probably can’t say enough good things about Daf. He pretty much gets everything right,” Baxter said.
“Attitudinally he is good, individually he wants to improve and be successful, and he wants to be part of a collective improvement.
“He understands the importance of the team, he is a good squad man, club-man and team-mate. There are a lot of really good qualities to Daf.
“Our job is to try not to put too much on his shoulders, but at the same time he is exactly the kind of guy you want as captain of your team.”
Jenkins has won 12 caps for Wales and he featured in the match-day 23 for all five of Wales’ World Cup fixtures, which included starts against Portugal and Georgia.
And, while Rowlands and Beard have proved an impressive second-row partnership at Test level, Jenkins’ form suggests he could challenge strongly for a starting spot.
Baxter added: “It didn’t take long to see he (Jenkins) has a lot of leadership qualities.
“He has shown those qualities of being someone who sets very high standards for himself and for the players around him.
“I made the decision we were going to chuck the young lads in there and get on with it.
“And if you are doing that all over the pitch, you might as well do it at captain as well, especially if you have got a guy who is going to be doing it down the line.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Tamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to comments