Wales skills coach Neil Jenkins – who achieved as much as many can only ever dream of as a player – believes this Autumn’s internationals at the Millennium Stadium will be a battleground for the ‘ultimate honour’ in world rugby.
For Jenkins it doesn’t come any bigger than the Rugby World Cup and, despite his legendary status as a British & Irish Lion and as the former world record points scorer, he says making it to the New Zealand 2011 tournament should be the only thing on the minds of the young players he now coaches.
“Playing in a World Cup is the ultimate honour for a player and this Autumn will be a good chance for players to stake their claim for a place in the Six Nations squad and for the world cup, which only comes round once every four years,” said Jenkins, who sealed his legendary status in the game on the successful 1997 Lions tour of South Africa and was the first player to breach the 1,000 points barrier.
“We did reasonably well in the summer against the big nations, we should have beaten South Africa before leaving for New Zealand and we performed reasonably well against the Tri Nations champions, despite falling away in the first Test.
“But performance is key for us this November. We would like to win every game and it’s the same this time – we will go into every game wanting, and expecting to win.
“We have a tough challenge in Fiji but we will be judging ourselves on our performances against the three southern hemisphere sides and there are games we can win.”
Jenkins is expecting a new style of rugby from the Wallabies and the All Blacks in particular from that seen at the Millennium Stadium as recently as last November.
He believes both sides have adapted well to the new law directives and is also expecting the Springboks to bounce back from indifferent form in the Tri Nations.
“Australia are very similar to the All Blacks at the moment. There is very little kicking in their game – although they have Quade Cooper and Matt Giteau who are more than capable of controlling the game. They are a very tough side but a good challenge to start our autumn series,” said Jenkins.
“New Zealand are unbeaten this year, that says it all. They had a fairly quiet year last year but they have rediscovered their best form this season.
“They look lean and fit, there is a lot less kicking in their game now following the new law directives – they just keep hold of the ball until they get turned over.
“They’re just a fantastic side and are going to be a tough side in the autumn.
“South Africa may have had a poor season by their standards, after winning the Tri Nations and beating the Lions last year, but we’ve only beaten them once in a hundred years so these are the type of games we’d like to do well in and win.
“Fiji are supposedly the ‘easier’ game of the series but I’m sure they’ll be nothing of the sort – Samoa showed us that at the same time last season.
“After losing to Fiji in the 2007 world cup and with Fiji in our pool again at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, it would be important to get a win over them.”
Tickets to see Wales take on New Zealand, as well as Australia, South Africa and Australia, this Autumn at the Millennium Stadium are available now from…Web: www.wru.co.uk/tickets Tel: 08442 777888 and to Personal callers: Cardiff Arms Store, 8 Westgate Street, Cardiff.
Saturday fixtures against the Wallabies, on 6th November, the Springboks, on 13th November and the All Blacks, on 27th November are priced at £25, £40, £60, £65 and £70, with the Friday night clash with Rugby World Cup Pool D opponents Fiji priced at just £20 and £25 with a children and concessions available for just £10.
Official hospitality packages can be purchased from just £99 per person for Wales v Fiji at the official Millennium Stadium website: www.millenniumstadium.com.
Prices start at £169 for games against Australia and South Africa and from £179 for New Zealand – packages include a ticket located in the best seats of the house, a complimentary match programme and a guest speaker from the world of rugby.
